The UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 kicked off on Monday and Tuesday with some thrilling matches that kept fans on the edge of their seats. With the top teams from each group facing off against one another, the stakes were high as they battled it out for a spot in the quarter-finals.
On Monday, the action started with a bang as the defending champions, France, took on Portugal in a highly anticipated match. Both teams came into the game with strong performances in the group stage, and it was expected to be a tight contest. However, it was France who came out on top with a 2-1 victory, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. Portugal fought hard till the end, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a late goal, but it wasn’t enough to save them from a heartbreaking defeat.
In another exciting match on Monday, Italy faced off against England in a clash of titans. Italy, led by their dynamic midfield duo of Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella, put up a strong fight against the home team. However, it was England who emerged victorious with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a goal from Harry Kane. The victory sent the home crowd into a frenzy as they cheered on their team to the quarter-finals.
On Tuesday, the action continued with Spain taking on Germany in a thrilling encounter. Both teams had shown their attacking prowess in the group stage, and it was expected to be a high-scoring affair. The match lived up to the hype as Spain and Germany played out a 2-2 draw, with goals from Ferran Torres and Isco for Spain, and Timo Werner and Kai Havertz for Germany. The match went into extra time and ultimately penalties, where Spain came out on top with a 5-4 win to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.
In the final match of the Round of 16, Belgium faced off against Netherlands in a battle of the neighbors. The match was evenly poised, with both teams putting up a strong fight. However, it was Belgium who emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. Despite a late goal from Memphis Depay, Netherlands couldn’t find the equalizer, and Belgium advanced to the quarter-finals.
The UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 certainly didn’t disappoint, with thrilling matches and unexpected results keeping fans entertained. As the tournament moves into the quarter-finals, the excitement and anticipation continue to build as the top teams battle it out for European glory.
