Euro 2024 is shifting gears to the knockout phase after another dramatic day in the opening round closed the curtain on the group stage.
The round of 16 was finalized Wednesday as the remaining places were snatched up by Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, and Georgia.
The bracket is noticeably unbalanced due to how the opening round unfolded. There are five former European champions on one side, with Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, and Denmark winning the tournament a combined 10 times since 1960.
The quarterfinals could feature Germany taking on Spain, while Portugal could play France in a rematch of the 2016 Euro final. That’s assuming they can successfully dispatch their respective opponents in the round of 16, which, as this tournament is showing, is anything but a certainty.
On the other side, perennial contenders like England, Italy, and the Netherlands have a smoother path. However, there could be a rematch of the Euro 2020 final, as England and Italy could meet in the quarterfinals.