Defending European champions Italy and host nation Germany kick off the round of 16 at Euro 2024, our panelists offer their predictions on which teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
Switzerland vs Italy (Saturday in Berlin)
Steen Kirby: A win against Hungary and two 1-1 draws against Scotland and Germany was all Switzerland needed to do to advance to the round of 16 at Euro 2024. Italy beat Albania 2-1, lost to Spain by a goal, and then scored in the final seconds of the game to draw with Croatia and ensure passage into the round of 16. The European defending champions have played far from convincing but on paper this team is defensively sound with Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) in goal, and Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan) is the main man in the midfield. The Italians have a weakness up front and they need to find a way to unlock their attack and score some goals.
Granit Xhaka (Leverkusen) and Switzerland are a well drilled team with some experienced leaders and an injection of newer talent that makes them formidable, in fact many have them as the favorites to win this match, Italy’s class of players, at least on paper, still offers more, I expect the Italians to figure things out, and shut down Switzerland’s counterattacks to secure victory. Prediction: Italy 1 Switzerland 0
Germany vs Denmark (Saturday in Dortmund)
Steen: Hosts Germany opened the tournament with two convincing wins, with a combined scoreline of 7-2 against the lower ranked Scotland and Hungary, then with “nothing” on the line, they drew with the Swiss. Denmark advanced from their group without winning a game and only scoring two goals in three draws against Slovenia, England and Serbia. Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham) are the two key players for Denmark, the retiring Toni Kroos has been brilliant for Germany along with Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan (FC Barcelona).
The host nation already showed they are a free flowing, attacking side, in the first two games, and super sub Nicolas Fullkrug (Dortmund) is hunting for a golden boot, Germany have been one of the better and more confident sides this tournament and Kroos should have them focused on this game and the challenges that are ahead. I don’t see Denmark getting off the mark here given their pedestrian group stage against some subpar competition. Prediction: Germany 2 Denmark 0
Main Photo Credit: IMAGO foto: Mateo Retegui
