RESULTS
SWITZERLAND 1 SPAIN 1 (SPAIN WIN 3-1 ON PENALTIES)
BELGIUM 1 ITALY 2
World No 1. Big name players. Golden generation. All the pre-tournament hype and Belgium, billed ‘strong favourites’ since the 2014 World Cup, flatter to deceive yet again at another major tournament. In this morning’s battle of wits and grit, the wily Italian gladiators were the last ones standing at Munich’s football Coliseum. With that, it’s official Belgium makes better chocolates than it does national football teams. Italy’s upcoming challenge – Spain, whose manager might not like this:
July 2, 1994: Luis Enrique the player scores as Spain knock Switzerland out of the World Cup.
July 2, 2021: Luis Enrique the manager knocks Switzerland out of Euro 2020.
In 1994, Spain lost to Italy in the next round.
FUN FACT: Gianluigi Donnarumma has never conceded more than once in a game for Italy since making his debut five years ago.
TONIGHT …
CZECH REPUBLIC vs DENMARK
Olympic Stadium, Baku, 12am
The battle of the darkhorses slants towards the Czechs – they have lost only twice in 25 meetings with Denmark. And their 3-0 win in 2004 over the Scandinavians remain their biggest at the Euros. They are also on a high after shocking Holland in the previous round. But so too are the Danes, who buried eight goals in their last two games.
UKRAINE vs ENGLAND
Stadio Olimpico, Rome, 3am
Unbeaten and yet to concede at this edition, the Three Lions are eager to book a semifinal spot at Wembley. If England hit their stride, Andriy Shevchenko’s men might struggle against a team that has not allowed them a goal in two of their three most recent matches.
