The European Cup is a shocking reversal! The fall of the giants, the rise of the dark horse, who will rise to the top of Europe?
In this hot summer, the heat of European football has not diminished in the slightest. Euro 2024 has entered a white-hot phase, and the jaw-dropping results have put the hearts of fans to the test like never before. According to statistics, there have been 15 reversal matches in the group stage of this European Cup, which is three more than the number of reversals in the entire tournament in the previous edition. This data speaks volumes about the intensity and unpredictability of the event.
Let's walk into this football feast together and feel the passion and shock brought by the European Cup!
The fall of the giants, who will compete?
One of the highlights of this European Championship is the unexpected exit of the traditional giants. In the round of 16, we witnessed the early departure of four favourites, which is undoubtedly a rare spectacle in the history of the European Championship.
The Dutch team performed well in the group stage, winning all three games, scoring 9 goals and conceding 0 goals, and were considered the favourites to win the title. However, in the round of 16, they were beaten 2-0 by the Czech Republic in extra time. After the game, Dutch coach De Boer faced the camera, his eyes full of reluctance and disappointment, saying: "We could have done better, but football is so cruel. ＂
Equally shocking was the fact that world champions France were eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16. In the game, the French team led 3-1 at one point and saw that the victory was in hand. However, Switzerland scored two goals in the 15th minute to level the scores. In the penalty shoot-out, France star Kylian Mbappe's crucial goal was saved, which ultimately led to the team's exit. After the game, Mbappe posted an apology on social media: "I'm sorry. I tried to help the team but failed. ＂
The dark horse rises, stirring up the storm
While the traditional strong teams have been out, some teams that are regarded as "fish belly" have sprung up and become the biggest dark horses of this European Cup.
The Danish team's performance was nothing short of a miracle. In the opening game of the group stage, their core player Eriksen suddenly suffered a heart problem and fell to the ground, and the whole team was devastated. However, the Danes rallied in the face of adversity and not only reached the round of 16, but also beat Wales 4-0 in the quarter-finals. Denmark coach Jormand said excitedly after the game: "We are fighting for Eriksen and for all Denmark. This spirit of solidarity is the key to our success. ＂
The performance of the other dark horse team, Switzerland, was equally impressive. They eliminated world champions France in the round of 16 and then went on to face Spain on penalties in the quarter-finals. Despite the defeat, the Swiss team's tenacious performance earned the respect of fans around the world. Switzerland captain Xhaka said after the game: "We have shown that we are not fish belly and we are capable of playing against any strong team. ＂
Controversy continues, but where is the fairness?
However, behind the fierce competition, some controversies followed. Some fans have questioned whether some teams are interested in choosing their opponents in the group stage in order to get a more favourable route to qualification.
Germany secured top spot in the group with a 3-2 win over Portugal in the first round of the group stage. This result puts Germany in the top half of the bracket and will have to face more strong teams. Some analysts believe that the German team could have deliberately lost to the Portuguese team and thus entered the weaker bottom half. In response, German coach Loew vehemently denied: "We never deliberately lose. Our goal is to win every game. ＂
In addition, the referee's decision has also become a point of controversy. In the England vs Denmark semi-final, England's penalty in extra-time was considered controversial by many. Former FIFA referee Colina said: "The decision is indeed controversial, but we also have to understand the difficulty of the referee making a judgment in a split second. ＂
Who is the master of the ups and downs of the data?
There are also a number of new records set at this European Championship, so let's take a look at some of the amazing stats:
Oldest goalscorer: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal against Germany to become the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history at 36 years and 120 days.
Youngest goalscorer: England's Jude Bellingham scored against Croatia to set a new record for the youngest goalscorer at the European Championship at 17 years and 349 days.
Most goals scored in a single game: Belgium scored five goals against Russia, setting a record for the most goals scored in a single game at this European Championship.
Most unbeaten streaks: Italy won all of their group stage games, extending their unbeaten run to 31 games, equalling the best in the history of the Italian national team.
The future is promising, who will be crowned?
As the competition progresses, the battle for the European Championship becomes more and more intense. After all the trials and tribulations, who will finally make it to the top of Europe? Is it the old powerhouse England? Or the dark horse Denmark? Or is it a well-balanced Italian team?
Regardless of the final result, this European Championship has already brought us too many surprises and touches. It's not just a football game, it's a celebration of dreams, courage and unity. As UEFA President Ceferin said: "The charm of football lies in its unpredictability. This European Championship has shown the best side of football. ＂
Dear fans, what do you think of the wonderful performance of this European Championship? Which team are you favourites to win the championship? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area and let's talk about this football feast together!