June 24: Lewandowski, Bale, Ronaldo. Three big players for three big games? Lewandowski has still to score, Bale has scored in every game and Ronaldo came to life scoring twice in Portugal’s last group game. Will they step-up as the European Championships enter the last 16 knockout phase?
Poland vs Switzerland
Is this the moment when Poland’s Robert Lewandowski finally strikes? The round of 16 is upon us and the first of the fixtures is tough to call.
Switzerland have got better as the tournament has progressed but need to be sharper in front of goal. Yet they have already made it beyond the group stage for the first time so anything more will be a bonus.
Despite collecting seven points from three games, Poland are still yet to completely find their rhythm, with Bayern’s Lewandowski not yet firing and Arkadiusz Milik missing a hatful of chances. But they have yet to concede a goal and may just nick it in St Etienne.
Switzerland may name the same side that drew against France in their last game, which would mean 19-year-old forward Breel Embolo again starting.
Poland remain without Wojciech Szczesny due to a thigh injury so Lukasz Fabianski is set to continue in goal while midfielder Bartosz Kapustka is suspended.
The fact is this is unchartered territory for both sides having reached the knockout stage of a European Championship finals for the first time. Lewandowski top scored in qualifying with 13 goals. Could this be his moment when it matters most?
Wales vs Northern Ireland
Certainly not the all-British clash many might have predicted in the last 16 but a mouthwatering occasion in Paris just the same with one of them gaining an unexpected glamorous quarterfinal place.
All the talk is of Gareth Bale against the Irish defence with both sides confident of victory. It’s the first time two British “home” nations have met in the knockout rounds of a major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
Wales will be slight favourites after their 3-0 victory over Russia that was probably their finest hour. Whether they have peaked too soon remains to be seen but Bale is arguably the player of the tournament so far. Wales’ all-time record scorer at major tournaments is the first player since 2004 to score in all three group games.
But Northern Ireland fancy their chances big-time. Their path to the last 16 may have been very different to that of Wales, based on resilience and brilliant goalkeeping from Michael McGovern. Michael O’Neill’s side finished bottom of the table for average possession and total shots in the group stage but they are where they are on merit.
After the Germany game, McGovern was given a standing ovation when he walked into the dressing and was compared by O’Neill to the great Pat Jennings after helping his side qualify as one of the four best third-place teams. There is only one place in the world rankings between the sides but Wales should edge it on quality.
Portugal vs Croatia
Both these teams would have targeted the last eight but now find themselves in opposition, cruel on Croatia who topped their group over Spain.
At least Luka Modric could return for the Croatians after a groin problem while up front coach Ante Cacic must decide whether to recall striker Mario Mandzukic or again select Nikola Kalinic, who scored against the Spanish.
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos, whose team only edged into the knockout round as a third-place finisher, has a full-strength squad to pick from. It seems unthinkable that Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo could exit the tournament without winning a game. But also that Croatia could bow out after such an impressive tournament so far. However, one of them has to go.
Santos knows there can be no more defensive lapses. “There is no room for error. We have to strike the right balance between defence and attack because when we come forward we leave too many gaps at the back, as our group stage results show,” he said.
Croatia have had the benefit of an extra day of rest, but the draw has not been kind to them. Expect goals from two attack-minded teams, both of whom have the talent to advance. Much depends on whether Ronaldo can outperform Croatia’s star-studded midfield.
How they qualified:
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Albania | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Romania | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| England | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Slovakia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Russia | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Poland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| N Ireland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Ukraine | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Spain | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Turkey | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Czech Rep | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungary | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| Iceland | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Portugal | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Austria | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
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