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If Euro 2020 has taught us anything about football, it's that you cannot take anything for granted and on any given day anyone can beat anyone.

Prior to the Round of 16 commencing, we knew the tournament would lose two big guns. Portugal or Belgium and England or Germany would exit before the quarter-finals.

The reality has proved somewhat harsher for the favourites with soon-to-be-dethroned European champions, Portugal; reigning world champions, France; big-hitters Germany and Netherlands all eliminated.

The infamous Group F has no survivors, and you would have needed some crystal ball to foresee that.

Of the big movers, Belgium, Denmark, Spain and England were impressive.

Denmark are undoubtedly the story of the tournament so far. Having overcome the worst of days in their opening clash with Finland, they have grown and have built up some serious momentum in this tournament.

Their game against Wales was one of the tougher ones to call, but they completely dismantled Rob Pages side, as Kasper Dolberg, another player 'unproven at this level, took the game by the scruff of its neck after he got the nod to start in place of the injured Yussuf Poulsen.

The former Ajax striker became Denmarks second ever player to score twice in a knockout game at the Euros, since Henrik Larsen netted two against Netherlands in 1992. That year! And youd have to wonder

First though, before any such talk of another unlikely title win should start to snowball, they must advance past the Czech Republic, the side that eliminated Netherlands, in what was probably the first genuine shock of the tournament.

Despite having dominated the game, the Netherlands looked lost after going down to 10.

The meeting of Belgium and Portugal was destined to be decided by a moment of magic or a seismic error and in the end, it was a little bit of both as Thorgen Hazard sent the holders packing.

The Italians were perhaps the team that didnt quite live up to their fanfare billing in their 2-1 victory over Austria, and will undoubtedly face their toughest opponent of the tournament so far in Belgium, even though Roberto Martinez may well be without Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne.

If The Bangles had written Manic Monday about any day, it might have been the one jut gone as Spain and Switzerland advanced in drama-filled encounters that went to extra-time, the Swiss prevailing on penalties.

This Swiss team have a history with penalties.

I was working with Northern Ireland on that fateful November World Cup play-off night in 2017, when they were inexplicably awarded a penalty after the ball hit Corry Evans back. Ricardo Rodriguez scored in Belfast that night, but missed his spotter this night, when he could have put his side 2-0 up.

Instead, within two minutes, France were level as Benzema got on the end of Mbappes ball. When Les Bleus went 3-1 up, that appeared to be that, but the Swiss never gave up and fully deserved the victory.

England v Germany wasnt the open carnage of the Monday, but more tactical shadow-boxing, great to watch in its own right.

As it turned out, Gareth Southgates charges played a tense, cleverly-balanced game, matching up the German three-at-the-back system, nullifying the effectiveness of Kimmich and Gosens in the wide areas.

It was a win they deserved and earned, and they too now have a bit of momentum heading into their last-eight clash with Ukraine, another clash no-one foresaw. Least of all Sweden.

After what weve seen so far, youd be hard-pressed to predict what will come next.

The rest is here:
Knockout drama will have quarter-finalists on edge - RTE.ie