2024 Euro Cup Group Stage Round 2

 Written By: Danny Albers 

Group A 

1. Germany VS Hungary 

Result: Germany wins 2-0 (Germany: 2-0-0, 6 Points; Hungary: 0-2-0, 0 Points) 

Germany stayed hot in the 2024 European Championship. In the 22nd minute, Germany had the ball in the box of Hungary. It looked like Hungary successfully defended the attack when they stopped Ilkay Gundoğan. But the Barcelona midfielder stayed on the ball and dumped it off to Jamal Muisala who put it in the back of the net. Hungary didn’t go away to their credit. They fought hard and had two near misses towards the end of the first half. In the 67th minute, Ilkay Gündoğan scored the dagger when he took a cross and put it in the back of the net with a chip shot. Hungary are now without a win in their last 8 appearances in the European Championship since they beat Austria in 2016. 

2. Scotland VS Switzerland

 

Result: Draw 1-1 (Scotland: 0-1-1, 1 Point; Switzerland: 1-0-1, 4 Points) 

Scotland looked like a completely different team in their second appearance of the 2024 European Championship. After showing no fight against Germany, they were a lot more balanced against Switzerland. The match was evenly matched for the most part. They nearly split the possession battle and just one shot on goal separated them in that department. Scott McTominay scored in the 13th minute to breathe life into the Scottish side. But the Switzerland veteran Xherdan Shaqiri scored an electric goal in the 26th minute from far away. Xherdan Shaqiri has become the only European player to score in each of the last six major tournaments since the 2014 world cup. Scotland now has an opportunity to jump into the second spot in the group playing the winless Hungary next while Switzerland plays the host Germany.   

Group B 

1. Croatia VS Albania

Result: Draw 2-2 (Croatia: 0-1-1, 1 Point; Albania: 0-1-1, 1 Point) 

 Croatia is officially in trouble. The team came into this game needing 3 points with the Italians next. Albania jumped all over them with Qazim Laci scoring an electric goal in the 11th minute. Croatia would put pressure on the Albanian defense. They had 22 shots on goal, with 10 of those shots being on target. It wasn’t until the 74th minute that Croatia would tie this game at 1 on a goal from Andrej Kramarić. Just two minutes later, disaster would strike Albania when Klaus Gjasula would allow an own goal in the 76th minute. Croatia looked like they were going to lock in a 2-1 win after that break, but their defense broke down to Albania in stoppage time when the Albanian offense turned up the pressure. Klaus Gjasula would make up for his own goal when he scored a key equalizer in the 95th minute. Croatia really needed this win, and Albania puts them in a tough spot where Croatia needs to earn at least one point against Italy to stay alive   

2. Spain VS Italy

Result: Spain wins 1-0 (Spain: 2-0-0, 6 Points; Italy: 1-1-0, 3 Points) 

Italy once again shot themselves in the foot with an own goal, but this time Spain was too good on defense to let Italy rebound. The game was scoreless until the 55th minute when a mistake by Riccardo Calaflori found its way to the back of the net. Italy struggled all game to find life, as they only had 4 shots on goal with 1 on target. Spain’s defense sucked the life out of the Italians. Italy now enters an important game with Croatia to determine placing for the knockout stages. Spain, now 2-0, has won the group, and will get a good low pressure touchup game with Albania. 

Group C 

1. Slovenia VS Serbia

Result: Draw 1-1 (Slovenia: 0-1-1, 1 Points; Serbia: 0-1-1, 1 Point) 

Serbia stays alive in the 2024 European Championship! The Serbians played a balanced game against Slovenia, looking like they had a slight edge against their Balkan rivals. But Slovenia scored in the 69th minute from an effort by žan Kamičnik and desperation sinked in for Serbia. They kept the pressure on but failed to convert for the entire 90 minutes. It wasn’t until a last ditch effort 5 minutes into stoppage time that Luka Jović scored the equalizer. For now, Serbia is still alive, and must get a point in their group finale against Denmark to advance to the knockouts. 

2. Denmark VS England

Result: Draw 1-1 (Denmark: 1-0-1, 4 Points: England: 1-0-1, 4 Points) 

A statement made by Denmark, who looked like the better team against a tournament favorite in England. Denmark never stopped with the pressure, and remained poised even after Harry Kane scored in the 18th minute to put England up 1-0. Denmark would have a rebuttal in the 34th minute, when Morten Hjulmand scored an electric goal. The Danish and the English would play to a stalemate in the second half, making the scenario for winning this group very interesting on Monday. 

Group D 

1. Poland VS Austria

 

Result: Austria wins 3-1 (Poland: 0-2-0, 0 Points; Austria: 1-1-0, 3 Points) 

Heartbreak for the Polish side as they played Austria. The teams are very evenly matched, and this game was a lot closer than the score shows. Austria needed to breathe life back in their team after losing the opener against France. They accomplished that with an incredible early goal by Gemot Trauner. Down 1-0, Poland needed to get a big play to erupt the rowdy Polish crowd. In the 30th minute, Krzystof Piatek tied the game by drilling a rebound to the back of the net for a goal. The advantage for Austria came when Christoph Baumgartner scored a chip shot on a rebound in the 66th minute, giving Austria a 2-1 lead. Poland got desperate, and their desperation caused Marko Arnautović to be rewarded with a penalty shot in the 78th minute. When he converted, Austria killed any momentum Poland had.  

2. Netherlands VS France

 

Result: Draw 0-0 (Netherlands: 1-0-1, 4 Points; France: 1-0-1, 4 Points) 

No Mbappe for France after he broke his nose in the opener. For the most part, France didn’t need him. France looked like the better team for most of the game. Netherlands bend don’t break defense coupled by their aggressive attack didn’t pull through late in this game like they did against Poland. They scored late, but after video review, revealed they jumped offside. That was the 4th offsides of the game for the Dutch. France had 15 shots on goal, but very few of those were on target. Both teams will advance to the next round, but have looked shaky so far. 

Group E 

1. Slovakia VS Ukraine

 

Result: Ukraine wins 2-1 (Slovakia: 1-1-0, 3 Points; Ukraine: 1-1-0, 3 Points) 

Slovakia picked up where they left off after upsetting Belgium in the opener. In the 17th minute, Ivan Schranz scored a goal to give Slovakia the early 1-0 lead. Things looked hopeless for Ukraine after they lost 3-1 to Romania. Whatever Ukraine did in the locker room at half time worked. The Ukranians looked like a much more inspired team. Mykola Shaparenko scored in the 54th minute to tie the game. They kept the pressure on from there. In the 80th minute, Roman Yaremchuk chipped in a goal off an awkward rebound to give Ukraine a 2-1 lead. Ukraine would hunker down defensively and pull off the upset win.   

2. Belgium VS Romania 

Result: Belgium wins 2-0 (Belgium: 1-1-0, 3 Points; Romania: 1-1-0, 3 Points) 

Belgium needed a rebound performance after dropping their opener to Slovakia in a shocking upset. Belgium came out aggressive and looked much more like the team we all thought they were leading up to the tournament. Youri Tielemans scored an emotional goal in the 2nd minute of the game. That kind of start seemed to remind Belgium who they were as a team. Belgium limited any type of threat from a Romanian team that stunned the Ukranians a couple days before. Manchester City veteran Kevin De Bruyne would close the game out in the 80th minute, scoring a goal and giving Belgium a 2-0 advantage. 

Youri Tielemans 2’

Kevin De Bruyne 80’ 

Group F 

1. Georgia VS Czechia

 

Result: Draw 1-1 (Georgia: 0-1-1, 1 Point; Czechia 0-1-1; 1 Point) 

If Czechia isn’t able to defeat Turkey in their final game of the group stage, they will look back on this game in regret. The Czech side dominated Georgia throughout the entire affair. Czechia outshot Georgia 27-5, with 12 shots on target to Georgia’s 1. Czechia had 11 corners, and controlled the possession for 62% of the game. Right at the end of the first half, Georgia was awarded a penalty shot, which Georges Mikautadze put in the back of the net. Czechia would even the score in the 59th minute with a goal by Patrik Schick. Georgia didn’t generate much of a threat the entire game. This was a  missed opportunity for Czechia to position themselves to qualify for the knockout stage. 

2. Turkey VS Portugal

Result: Portugal wins 3-0 (Portugal: 2-0-0, 6 Points; Turkey: 0-2-0, 0 Points)

This was a balanced performance for Portugal. Christiano Ronaldo is stepping into a more passive role as the veteran and elevating the other players around him (similar to Messi’s performance in the Copa America). Turkey’s do-or-die style that helped them jump all over Georgia in the opener, was what killed them against a skilled and experienced Portugal attack. Portugal was patient, and made the most of their chances. It began with Bernardo Silva’s opening goal in the 21st minute, and ended with Bruno Fernandes putting a nail in the coffin in the 56th minute. In the mix of Turkey’s struggles, with the Portuguese fans making themselves heard, Samet Akaydin committed an own goal in the 28th minute. A dominant performance for Portugal, and a statement to the other top countries before the knockout stages.