Euro 2020 - Knockout Stages, Day 1
The Euro’s are getting interesting. All throughout the group stage things cropped up that were worthy of discussion, the magnificence of the Italians, the early struggles of the Spanish, the glory of the Hungarians on the pitch alongside some equally shameful business off it. Ronaldo and Lukaku have led their respective nations to the last sixteen where they will face off in perhaps the tie of the round. France and England have both stuttered but ultimately qualified with a game to spare. Scotland were terrific against England but ultimately did what they always do at major tournaments, while the Welsh continued where they left off in 2016, bustling their way through to the knockout stages thanks to that great win against Turkey on the edge of the continent.
But of course, the biggest story of the last two weeks had nothing to do with football even though it happened on the pitch. I am talking, of course, about the Christian Eriksen situation that unfolded on the opening Saturday. The outpouring of emotion for Eriksen from all corners of the footballing globe is entirely understandable. He is by general consensus a likable and well-spoken chap, one of the good guys by all accounts. However, was the reaction not something of an overreaction? It was obviously a traumatic event for those who know him, those who were there, and those who were watching on TV, but he did survive. Was it just me, or did the reaction to a single Danish footballer almost dying, seem greater than the reaction to the ongoing exploitation and manslaughter of thousands upon thousands of migrant construction workers in Qatar? However, that is an argument of another day and perhaps a correspondent more educated on these matters than myself.
Moving back to football and the knockout stage commences this afternoon. No more second chances, no more third-place teams sneaking through on goal difference, this is what international summers are about and these are the games that we remember for the rest of our lives. In many ways, this feels like the proper start of the European Championships. If a group stage in which only eight of the twenty-four participants are eliminated feels very much like the appetiser, then the last sixteen most certainly feels like the main course.
It all kicks off on Saturday at 5pm (UK time) with Wales versus Denmark in Amsterdam. I have heard the Danes referred to as everybody’s second team since the Eriksen incident, but not for me. I like Wales, my Mum lives there, my sister went to university there, I even lived there myself for three confusing and marijuana fueled months, what feels like many lifetimes ago. Wales have Gareth Bale too, a man who fascinates me. Football’s Peter Pan, a boy wrapped in a man’s clothing. His wide-eyed interviews and enthusiasm for his country is refreshing and he gives Wales something that Denmark does not have. A player who has done everything that there is to be done in club football in one of the most high-pressure environments that exist. To shine for Real Madrid, to score winning goals in European Cups, is admirable under any circumstances, but to do it whilst in the shadow of a peak Cristiano Ronaldo is exceptional.
The other fixture on Saturday looks like, on paper at least, a gimme for Italy against Austria. The Azurri have been the most consistent side in the competition so far, even their second team was good enough to do for the Welsh, but there are no guarantees in football. Austria are no mugs and they will be looking to sit deep, defend for their lives, and hope that Marko Arnautović can produce a moment of magic to pull off the shock.
Whatever happens by the time the night is done sixteen will have become fourteen, heroes and villains created and memories that will last a lifetime will have been made.
I'll be having a few bets on the knockout stages starting with a £200 bank. I'll begin with a tenner on Wales to win in 90 minutes on the draw no bet market. I got 9/4 with Coral.
