Euro 2024 power rankings: how the teams in the last eight shaped up | Euro 2024
1) Spain (–)
They needed to come via one hell of a battle towards Germany, shedding Pedri to damage after eight minutes, however in the finish the gamers stood there, arms aloft, having made the semis because of Mikel Merino’s late headed aim. Dani Olmo had stated beforehand that the sport felt like a last and afterwards it was tough to understand that Spain weren’t even in the last but. Against France, they are going to be with out the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, with Jesús Navas and Nacho Fernández more likely to deputise. It might disrupt the selección’s rhythm however they need to have the squad to deal with the difficulties. Olmo began on the bench towards Germany however in the finish was arguably Spain’s greatest participant.
2) Netherlands (up 1)
From being closely criticised after the last group sport defeat towards Austria to reaching the semis – these Euros have been a rollercoaster for Ronald Koeman and his gamers. Even the quarter-final towards Turkey had its personal highs and lows with the Oranje having to come back again from 1-0 right down to win 2-1 after which solely averted further time after an excellent Bart Verbruggen save in the 91st minute. At the finish they’d accomplished simply sufficient to win, Wout Weghorst – who else? – having come on at half-time to create havoc in the Turkish defence. Memphis Depay is wanting livelier for each sport, Cody Gakpo has been irrepressible and Tijjani Reijnders is rising into the midfield chief Koeman felt he had misplaced when Frenkie de Jong needed to pull out on the eve of the match.
3) England (up 5)
Never in doubt was it? After Jude Bellingham’s late heroics in the last 16 towards Slovakia it was Bukayo Saka’s flip to step up towards Switzerland and equalise with 10 minutes to go of regular time. A win on penalties adopted. For England it was a step up performance-wise though they’d set a really low bar to attain that with their first 4 showings in Germany. There was a transfer to a again three and the staff felt higher balanced. Ezri Konsa did nicely in place of Marc Guéhi in defence and Kobbie Mainoo continued his upward trajectory. And with Luke Shaw getting his first minutes of the match and no suspensions for the semi-final towards the Netherlands issues are wanting up. “We are fighting and we are not going to stop fighting,” stated Gareth Southgate and perception in the squad that England can win the match is constructing.
4) France (–)
It could be simpler to listing the issues that are working for Les Bleus at this match fairly than the ones that aren’t, however Didier Deschamps won’t care. His staff are via to the semi-finals after defeating Portugal on penalties after one other fairly disjointed show. The midfield just isn’t working, Antoine Griezmann is off form and Kylian Mbappé is struggling along with his damaged nostril and different health points. Deschamps stated: “For different reasons, Antoine and Kylian are not at the top of what they can do but we are through. We are a group, the collective strength is still there.” Ousmane Dembélé made a constructive affect from the bench and should nicely begin towards Spain.
5) Germany (down 3)
And so the Sommermärchen 2.0 got here to a juddering halt 118 minutes into the quarter-final towards Spain, Mikel Merino leaping to go in a 2-1 winner for the guests. It was an aggressive efficiency by Julian Nagelsmann’s staff – ugly at instances – however they’d causes to really feel onerous accomplished by with Niclas Füllkrug and Florian Wirtz hitting the submit and the non-award of a penalty after the ball struck Marc Cucurella’s hand. Nagelsmann was rightly happy along with his staff, saying: “I told the players we didn’t deserve this. There was a great togetherness. We are a country that is too sad in too many situations, with a dark perspective on things, and I hope this symbiosis can create something. We are stronger with unity, when we think about what we can do together; together with your neighbour you are stronger.”
6) Turkey (–)
“I’m proud of my team,” Hakan Calhanoglu stated. “They played with great spirit, the Turkish spirit.” In the finish they didn’t have fairly sufficient to come back via towards the Dutch, shedding 2-1 in Berlin. Once once more, although, they had been a pleasure to look at with Arda Guler the breakout participant of the match. But it wasn’t simply the Real Madrid ahead. Baris Alper Yilmaz was a power to be reckoned with up entrance, Hakan Calhanoglu pulled the strings in midfield and Mert Gunok impressed along with his saves and the ball at his ft. As the coach, Vincenzo Montella stated: “I look at the future with much more confidence and clarity. My opinion after this European Championship is that Turkey will be seen with different eyes in the future, probably with more respect.”
7) Switzerland (down 2)
“The pain will subside. What will remain is a terrible scar, of a miracle that never happened, and that disappeared just outside Düsseldorf.” Those had been the phrases of Swiss paper 24 heures after Murat Yakin’s aspect had been eradicated on penalties towards England. The basic consensus was that the staff had given all the things with one other paper, NZZ, including: “Switzerland missed out on their goal [semi-finals’] – but it was a joy.” Considering the kind was patchy going in to the match, the Swiss overachieved however there shall be a way of remorse: they’d the likelihood to achieve the last right here and who is aware of when they’ll get one other likelihood prefer it. Yakin stated on Sunday that there shall be talks over his future now however that each one he cared about was “the best for the national team”. It is truthful he achieved that this summer time.
8) Portugal (down 1)
There is not any shame in going out to France however Portugal shall be kicking themselves for shedding a decent quarter-final throughout which they had been the higher aspect. Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leão stood out as Roberto Martínez’s aspect put strain on France’s aim however Mike Maignan stood agency, producing a beautiful one-handed save to disclaim Bruno Fernandes and likewise parrying Vitinha’s effort. It was simple to really feel sorry for João Félix, the solely participant of 10 to overlook his spot-kick (and even that hit the submit) however possibly if you don’t rating for 120 minutes towards Slovenia and 120 minutes towards France you don’t deserve to achieve the semi-finals. Would Gonçalo Ramos have made a distinction had he began – and even acquired some minutes – as an alternative of Cristiano Ronaldo towards France? We won’t ever know.
