On the top of the left side of the Bracket, Belgium v. Portugal. What a great round of 16 game. This side of the bracket is absolutely loaded, and this game will not disappoint. Portugal finished third out of the group of death but is no slouch as Cristano Ronaldo leads all goal scorers with 5 goals and 1 assist. They need to get better play out of Bruno Fernandes and they need to tighten up their defense having given up 6 goals in the last two games (Germany and France), but they certainly can score, especially on counterattacks. Belgium is coasting and would be expected to win with KDB and Lukaku being the forces of nature you would expect. Roberto Martinez has also done a fair amount of squad rotation from game to game especially on defense where 5 different players have started in the back 3 and he was able to start a significantly different midfield for the third game. Tielemans in particular was singled out for one excellent game performance. Belgium is a beast and could easily earn their way to the final, even from the tough side of the bracket.
Belgium (or Portugal) would next play the winner of Italy and Austria. Italy has looked fantastic. They have to work out how they will integrate Veratti into the midfield that was already working with Locatelli, Jorginho and Barella having done so well the first two games . Berardi, Immobile and Insigne could remain the front line though Chiesa is an option. Not sure if Chellini will be back or Acerbi and Bonucci will be the centerback combo, but it hasn't really been pushed. Italy should not have much trouble with Austria. Alaba stepped up and had a great game for them to put them through, but all their midfield and forwards haven't really been that impressive for a group of Bundesliga veterans, though they finally got the under 21 Baumgartner to step up a bit. My guess is Austria does not have the speed or discipline to slow down the Italian express and Italy and Belgium should be a great showdown in the quarters.
At the bottom of the bracket, the French haven't really got it going, though they did score one truly fantastic goal against Portugal and Mbappe has definitely shown up. Benzema stepped up big time against Portugal. THat being said, they won't be tested by the Swiss. The Swiss are happy to get through to the round of 16 and Shaquiri and Xhaka proved me wrong and had great games in the third game. But, there just isn't enough there to stop the French.
At the bottom of the bracket, Spain plays Croatia. Spain finally put it together after failing to impress in the first two game and made a statement with 5 goals in the third, though there wasn't one attacking player that really stepped up more of a team making great plays and applying pressure. Croatia has great individual talent that pushed them through the group. Croatia is a much better team than Slovakia, but Spain would be expected after that big performance at the end for it to carryover and be a bit too much for that Croatian side, who got just enough from Modric to stay alive but probably not enough for Spain.
What a bracket, as the quarters could see Belgium v. Italy and France v. Spain, and Belgium and Italy for a quarter could be a final if the brackets were power rated after group play.
On the other side.
Sweden v. Ukraine- Ukraine was the last team to go through and Sweden saved their most impressive performance for Poland. This is the weakest of the round of 16 games by a mile though, as neither team has shown enough to go far in this tourney, but Sweden has at least shown enough to be considered a favorite over Ukraine, especially with Forsberg stepping up.
The winner of that matchup, which is the weakest of the round of 16, gets the winner of England v. Germany. What a great draw for England or Germany, as meeting Sweden or Ukraine to advance to the semis-seriously? This was expected to be a monster matchup before the tourney, but the English have just failed to impress with the two defensive midfield combo of Rice and Phillips just not really working and Kane struggling to get service or finish the few chances he does get. Sterling has been a lot for the opponents to handle and Grealish was excellent in the third game. Pickford has been the real surprise with some of the best and most athletic stops of the tourney. Germany, meanwhile, remains a mess at the back for the second consecutive major tourney. Gosens had great games in the first two games but struggled against a tough Hungarian 5 man backline. Havertz has been their main goal threat and is super active, an incredibly hard worker, and even if his finishes leave much to be desired gets himself in positions to make a difference. Mueller and Hummels have been worth their weight in gold, even if Hummels lacks recovery speed of any kind, and Goretzka was a force in the third game off the bench and will send Gundogan to the bench for the elimination rounds. Kimmich is a force. Ginter and Rudiger are struggling at times badly, though Loew's scheme often has Ginter and Kimmich so far forward that they simply can't be expected to defend that much space. Neuer is more kamikazee than ever, having been caught way out against Hungary and failing to get the ball (oops). Something tells me this is going to be 3-2 or 4-3 type game with even odds of either prevailing, but Southgate could go super-conservative as the back 5 and super low bloc worked for Hungary.
Many have looked at this side of the bracket and said that it is Netherland's to lose. They have looked better than either England or Germany and Sweden, Ukraine, Wales and Denmark have not been juggernauts. Depay and Dumfries have shown the speed and skills to take apart the defenses in their group, Wijnaldum is having one hell of a tourney and owning midfield, and the blind, de Ligt, de Vrij backline hasn't really been tested. Netherlands to the semis seems like a safe bet. The Czechs have been okay. Nothing to write home about. Schick had that amazing goal that was one of the best group stage goals ever. He is dangerous.
Wales v. Denmark- Ramsey, Bale and James stood out in their group as players that did not disappoint as being legit Premiership players and the rest of the team plays really hard. Denmark has the emotion of Eriksen and then the youngster Damsgaard stepping up and having a great game against Russia. The Denmark team that played Russia was a massive step better than the team that started the tourney. My opinion is that the Denmark backline and Schmichael in goal will hold up against Wales, though Bale and Ramsey in particular are playing great, and Poulsen has a big game up top to put Denmark through to quarters, but no enough for Netherlands.
Netherlands and Germany/England winner seem to be on a collision for the semis.
Belgium (or Portugal) would next play the winner of Italy and Austria. Italy has looked fantastic. They have to work out how they will integrate Veratti into the midfield that was already working with Locatelli, Jorginho and Barella having done so well the first two games . Berardi, Immobile and Insigne could remain the front line though Chiesa is an option. Not sure if Chellini will be back or Acerbi and Bonucci will be the centerback combo, but it hasn't really been pushed. Italy should not have much trouble with Austria. Alaba stepped up and had a great game for them to put them through, but all their midfield and forwards haven't really been that impressive for a group of Bundesliga veterans, though they finally got the under 21 Baumgartner to step up a bit. My guess is Austria does not have the speed or discipline to slow down the Italian express and Italy and Belgium should be a great showdown in the quarters.
At the bottom of the bracket, the French haven't really got it going, though they did score one truly fantastic goal against Portugal and Mbappe has definitely shown up. Benzema stepped up big time against Portugal. THat being said, they won't be tested by the Swiss. The Swiss are happy to get through to the round of 16 and Shaquiri and Xhaka proved me wrong and had great games in the third game. But, there just isn't enough there to stop the French.
At the bottom of the bracket, Spain plays Croatia. Spain finally put it together after failing to impress in the first two game and made a statement with 5 goals in the third, though there wasn't one attacking player that really stepped up more of a team making great plays and applying pressure. Croatia has great individual talent that pushed them through the group. Croatia is a much better team than Slovakia, but Spain would be expected after that big performance at the end for it to carryover and be a bit too much for that Croatian side, who got just enough from Modric to stay alive but probably not enough for Spain.
What a bracket, as the quarters could see Belgium v. Italy and France v. Spain, and Belgium and Italy for a quarter could be a final if the brackets were power rated after group play.
On the other side.
Sweden v. Ukraine- Ukraine was the last team to go through and Sweden saved their most impressive performance for Poland. This is the weakest of the round of 16 games by a mile though, as neither team has shown enough to go far in this tourney, but Sweden has at least shown enough to be considered a favorite over Ukraine, especially with Forsberg stepping up.
The winner of that matchup, which is the weakest of the round of 16, gets the winner of England v. Germany. What a great draw for England or Germany, as meeting Sweden or Ukraine to advance to the semis-seriously? This was expected to be a monster matchup before the tourney, but the English have just failed to impress with the two defensive midfield combo of Rice and Phillips just not really working and Kane struggling to get service or finish the few chances he does get. Sterling has been a lot for the opponents to handle and Grealish was excellent in the third game. Pickford has been the real surprise with some of the best and most athletic stops of the tourney. Germany, meanwhile, remains a mess at the back for the second consecutive major tourney. Gosens had great games in the first two games but struggled against a tough Hungarian 5 man backline. Havertz has been their main goal threat and is super active, an incredibly hard worker, and even if his finishes leave much to be desired gets himself in positions to make a difference. Mueller and Hummels have been worth their weight in gold, even if Hummels lacks recovery speed of any kind, and Goretzka was a force in the third game off the bench and will send Gundogan to the bench for the elimination rounds. Kimmich is a force. Ginter and Rudiger are struggling at times badly, though Loew's scheme often has Ginter and Kimmich so far forward that they simply can't be expected to defend that much space. Neuer is more kamikazee than ever, having been caught way out against Hungary and failing to get the ball (oops). Something tells me this is going to be 3-2 or 4-3 type game with even odds of either prevailing, but Southgate could go super-conservative as the back 5 and super low bloc worked for Hungary.
Many have looked at this side of the bracket and said that it is Netherland's to lose. They have looked better than either England or Germany and Sweden, Ukraine, Wales and Denmark have not been juggernauts. Depay and Dumfries have shown the speed and skills to take apart the defenses in their group, Wijnaldum is having one hell of a tourney and owning midfield, and the blind, de Ligt, de Vrij backline hasn't really been tested. Netherlands to the semis seems like a safe bet. The Czechs have been okay. Nothing to write home about. Schick had that amazing goal that was one of the best group stage goals ever. He is dangerous.
Wales v. Denmark- Ramsey, Bale and James stood out in their group as players that did not disappoint as being legit Premiership players and the rest of the team plays really hard. Denmark has the emotion of Eriksen and then the youngster Damsgaard stepping up and having a great game against Russia. The Denmark team that played Russia was a massive step better than the team that started the tourney. My opinion is that the Denmark backline and Schmichael in goal will hold up against Wales, though Bale and Ramsey in particular are playing great, and Poulsen has a big game up top to put Denmark through to quarters, but no enough for Netherlands.
Netherlands and Germany/England winner seem to be on a collision for the semis.
