Big favorite in its round of 16 against a surprising and uninhibited Georgia, Sunday in Cologne (9:00 p.m.), Spain is fully committed to aiming for nothing other than the sacred final at Euro-2024. In the other meeting of the day, (6:00 p.m.) in Gelsenkirchen, England, in small form, will face a Slovakia which can allow itself to dream.
With three wins in as many matches in a group B that was not easy, notably with the defending champion Italy and the third-placed team in the last World Cup, Croatia, La Roja made an impression.
Spain have not had such a start in a major competition since Euro 2008.
“There are similarities” between Spain in 2008 and 2024, said former striker Fernando Torres, crowned champion in the edition in Switzerland and Austria, in the columns of the Spanish daily Marca, citing as an example “the lack of credit with which both teams attacked the competition.”
Because Luis de la Fuente’s Spain, which has undergone a spectacular tactical transformation since the departure of Luis Enrique, with less possession of the ball and more speed in transitions, has slowly seduced, even in the country where people now firmly believe in their chances of a final title
Opposite Georgia, a novice in international competition, but charmed by a game full of panache from which she will not deviate.
“We will go into this match with a lot of confidence because we have absolutely nothing to lose. For me, we have already won Euro 2024,” warned Georgia coach Willy Sagnol at a press conference.
“We’re not just a combat team. We have to make people want it,” he added.
England, royal road and maximum pressure
The weight of expectations crushes England, a favourite in poor form, before facing Slovakia, a first obstacle within their reach in a part of the table that was clear until the final.
The Three Lions lost momentum and charm on the first tour, ending in a 0-0 draw with Slovenia amid whistles and a few plastic cups thrown at Gareth Southgate.
The fans have short memories and limited patience when it comes to the coach who brought them back to the heights of European football (final in 2021) and world football (semi in 2018, quarter in 2022).
For now, they haven’t seen much: only one victory against Serbia (1-0), a too limited match against Denmark (1-1) then Slovenia, and only two goals scored.
Far, very far, from the limitless potential lent to the attacking quartet of starters: Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane, credited with 114 goals in total this season with their respective clubs.
For the Slovakian captain (opponent of the day) and defender of Paris Saint-Germain, Milan Skriniar, “they rely a lot on their individual qualities. I think we can succeed if we continue to play as a team.”
His team is ranked 45th in the FIFA rankings and does not have any big-name players in its ranks, but it did beat Belgium 1-0 in the tournament final, for example.
Under the leadership of Francesco Calzona, Slovakia is in many ways a very Italian team which can be summed up in three words: rigor, aggressiveness, pressing.
In the event of a victory against Slovakia, England would face Switzerland in the quarter-finals, who beat Italy 2-0 on Saturday. And in the semi-finals, they would face Austria, the Netherlands, Romania or Turkey.
