Euro 2024, as always, has brought a feast for the eyes and souls of football fans around the world. In this summer, on the green field of Europe, every game is full of suspense and surprises, and every goal is condensed with sweat and dreams. From the frequent upsets in the group stage to the thrilling knockout rounds, this is not only a sports competition, but also an emotional stirring.
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In the group stage, the European Championship is like an unfinished script, and every page is full of unknowns. France, the world's No. 2 powerhouse, were supposed to be favourites to win the tournament, but they faltered in the group stage. They performed well below expectations and only fell into the "death half" as group runners-up. Similarly, Belgium suffered two upsets in the group stage and eventually reached the knockout stage as group runners-up. The struggles of these strong teams have once again reminded people of the uncertainty and cruelty of the game of football.
Team Switzerland - Team Italy
The first round of the knockout round pushed the unpredictability of the European Cup to a climax. Defending champions Italy shocked the football world with a 2-0 defeat in a 2-0 matchup against Switzerland. Switzerland, on the other hand, relied on their tenacity to reach the quarter-finals of two consecutive European Championships. In the other match, the host German team encountered stubborn resistance from the Danish team, but finally advanced to the quarterfinals with a score of 2-0 with strength and experience.
England-Slovakia
In today's third 1/8 final, the matchup between the favorite England and Slovakia was equally eye-catching. At the end of the first half, England unexpectedly trailed Slovakia 1-0. However, it was Bellingham's injury-time goal in the second half that helped England equalise. After extra-time, Ivan Toney's header set up Kane to take the lead as England eliminated Slovakia 2-1 to complete a thrilling comeback victory and successfully advance to the last eight.
Spain-Georgia
In the fourth 1/8 finals, the Spanish team played against the dark horse Georgia and was also exciting. Despite Lenormand's unfortunate own goal in the first half, Rodri's close-to-the-ground arrow quickly equalised. In the second half, Yamal assisted Fabian for a header and then created an own goal, but it was ruled offside. Goals from Nico and Olmo secured victory for Spain, who eventually secured a 4-1 win over Georgia to advance to the quarter-finals.
With the birth of the quarterfinals, the next quarterfinals will be more intense. Spain will face Germany, while England will face Switzerland, who have reached the quarter-finals of two consecutive European Championships. In the remaining four quarter-finals, France and Belgium will undoubtedly be in the spotlight, with Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey and Austria also battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals.
Euro 2024 is not only a football event, but also a baptism of emotions. Here, we have witnessed the struggles of strong teams, the birth of underdogs, and the rise of new stars. Every game is the best example of the spirit of football – no matter what the result, as long as you give it your all, it is the greatest respect for the sport. Let's look forward to more exciting moments in the next games, because the charm of football will always shine in those unpredictable moments.