In the early morning of July 2, Beijing time, the third day of the European Cup 1/8 finals will have two blockbuster matchups, the most high-profile of which is undoubtedly the match between France and Belgium, although the two teams have not performed well in the group stage, but this game is expected to be a tough battle, Belgium's performance may need to prove itself more than ever, and France needs to find their championship nature.
France are seen as one of the favourites to win the title, but their performance in the group stage did not live up to expectations, their attack was not sharp enough, and despite the star players of Mbappe's ability, the French team still looked a little inefficient in attack, and most of their goals came from individual breakthroughs rather than team cooperation.
The situation is more complicated for Belgium, who have always had a high level of player development but always seem to have underperformed in key moments, and despite having a top striker like Romelu Lukaku, Belgium have always struggled to break the deadlock in key battles of the tournament, and this game against France is not just a game for Belgium, but also an opportunity to wash away past poor performances.
In terms of the technical statistics of the game, France had a high total number of shots on goal in the group stage, but less than a third of the actual shots on target, while Belgium was in a similar situation, with slightly more shots on goal but also a low shot on target, which shows that both teams have problems with efficiency in the attacking end.
From a tactical point of view, France are likely to adopt a more conservative strategy and use quick counter-attacks to break through the Belgian defence, and Belgium may need to rely on the creativity of the midfield to open up the situation, especially against a strong team like France, where control in the midfield is particularly important.
Both Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku are in desperate need of proving their worth in tournaments like these, with Mbappe's pace and ability to break through, as well as Lukaku's physicality and shooting skills, will be key to the game.
Neither team had a good run in the group stage, but this game offers an opportunity to make amends, not just as a game for promotion, but also as a battle of honour and self-proof, with both France and Belgium hoping to find their best form in this crucial matchup.
At 3am, Portugal will face Slovenia in tonight's game, which is also not destined to be an easy matchup, and despite Portugal's strong performance in this tournament to secure the top spot in the group early, the defeat in the final group stage reminded us that there is no absolute winner on the football field, and Slovenia, a group that many see as underdogs, showed their tenacity in the group stage, with three consecutive draws, including against the favourites England, proving their quality to be reckoned with.
Portugal's performance was undoubtedly a highlight of the tournament, showing excellent attacking and defensive balance and rich tactical diversity, Portugal showed their domineering side in the first two games, two consecutive wins to establish their group leader, and in the final game of the group stage against Georgia, Portugal opted for a massive rotation of the line-up, which ended in defeat but also gave the main players valuable rest time to prepare for the knockout rounds.
Ronaldo's appearance in this game is undoubtedly a major highlight. The football superstar's performances can often make the difference in the outcome of the game, and his leadership and experience in the tournament are invaluable assets for Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo expected to continue to start in this game to lead Portugal to the quarter-finals.
Slovenia may not be as strong as Portugal, but their teamwork and tenacious defence have allowed them to remain unbeaten against tough opponents, especially with their counter-attacking display against England, which has impressed many, and this strategy is likely to continue against Portugal as well, trying to break down Portugal's defence with tight defence and quick counter-attacks.
Statistically, Portugal's performance in the group stage is ahead of Slovenia in many dimensions, and they have a clear advantage in possession, shots on goal and shots on target, but the uncertainty of football matches is great, and statistics can only reflect the strength from one side, and cannot completely determine the outcome of the game.
If Portugal can play at their normal level, use their skill and speed advantages and control the tempo of the game, then their chances of winning the game will be greatly increased, but if Slovenia's counter-attacking strategy is executed properly, it is entirely possible to cause problems for Portugal.