After 13 straight days of Euro group play, fans can finally take a moment to catch their breath. Over 3,240 minutes of soccer were played in the group stage and now it’s time for the Round of 16. Before moving on, it’s worth looking back at the worst Euro teams from the group stage that left us disappointed.
Footballers have frequently spoken about how the periods of “rest and relaxation” at major international tournaments are merely a euphemism for being bored out of their collective minds. It’s always a fascinating subplot to a month-long period spent holed up in a resort, doubly so during the time of Covid-19 — when leaving the hotel, or inviting someone inside, is bound to cause a national stir (see: Chile).
The European Championship is entering its knockout phase and the following is an overview of the remaining 16 teams:
AUSTRIA
The Colombian Football Federation (FCF) has asked Copa América organizers to suspend the referee from their 2-1 defeat by Brazil, saying he prejudiced the result by not halting play when the ball hit him in the lead up to a goal.
Néstor Pitana, the Argentine who refereed the 2018 World Cup final, waved play on when the ball bounced off him outside Colombia's box and Brazil continued passing for Roberto Firmino to head in an equalizer.
The New York Red Bulls are transferring 18-year-old midfielder Caden Clark to RB Leipzig of the Bundesliga.
Clark will remain with New York for the rest of the 2021 MLS season, the club announced Thursday.
Hey, Caden!
We interrupt your evening to bring you a goal that you absolutely must watch. Luis Díaz unleashed a wicked bicycle kick goal against Brazil during their Copa América match on Wednesday evening in Brazil.
I’m just going to stop talking because you’ve either already watched the highlight or waiting to watch it, and either way nothing I say will do the goal justice.
¡Goooooool golaaazo de Colombia! ���⚽
Last week, Hungary passed an anti-LGBTQ+ law outlawing any content that might “promote homosexuality” to Hungarians under the age of 18. It’s a law that has already sparked legal proceedings against it, and one that came front and center in the soccer world for Hungary’s Euro 2020 match against Germany on Wednesday in Munich.
Los goles son goles. Sean de chilena, de cabeza o de rodilla. Cristiano Ronaldo los ha hecho de todas formas, pero por alguna razón hay un grupo de personas que trata de invalidar sus logros porque muchas de esas conquistas han sido de penal. Hasta lo llaman Penaldo.
Obviamente, es una insensatez.
Lo relevante es que mientras sus críticos pierden el tiempo en boberías, Cristiano Ronaldo hoy ante Francia marcó dos goles y consiguió convertirse en el máximo goleador masculino a nivel de selecciones, igualando al iraní Ali Daei, con 109 conquistas.
Wipe the sweat off your palms, Portugal fans, your team survived the group stage.
The rematch of the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France proved infinitely more entertaining five years later. Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace with two kicks from the penalty spot to tie the men’s all-time international scoring record and confirm Portugal’s place in the knockout stages.
Lackadaisical, idealess and without any clear attacking direction, Germany still managed to dramatically avoid an early Euro 2020 exit after Leon Goretzka’s 84th-minute strike salvaged a 2-2 draw with Hungary in Munich on Wednesday night.
It was never going to be easy in the group of death, but no one could’ve predicted Hungary’s ability to take points off both France and Germany to hugely alter the shape of the group.