Stuart's Euro 2024 Series 26: Round of Sixteen Wrap

How did I do in predicting the Round of Sixteen winners?

So, five out of eight correct. Not as good as ChatGPT, better than Meta AI, according to the great test that @relf87 is running, also in this community.

Of the three I got wrong I'm most frustrated with the Italy/Switzerland result as there was sufficient information from the matches played to suggest Italy really weren't up for it. I gave more weighting to them being the current holders than their play deserved.

Belgium v France I felt could have gone either way and the match pretty much confirmed that.

As for Austria, they had a couple of lapses and Türkiye took full advantage. I said in my preview their is always a surprise and for me this fulfilled that.

The eight games produced 19 goals for an average of 2.375 goals per game. Two games went to extra time - England v Slovakia & Portugal v Slovenia - with the second of those going to penalties.

The penalty shoot-out produced the first occasion of a keeper saving three penalties in such circumstances at the EURO's. Congratulations to Diego Costa.

France have scored the fewest goals of any team to reach this round so far, three. They are level with Spain in having only conceded one goal in the four games played.

so, on to the Quarter-Finals

Predictions. Ooof. For me the matches on Friday are the toughest ones to pick. I really can't decide between Spain and Germany, but will stick with my pre-tournament finalist pick of Germany. Based on what I've seen of Portugal and France I think France should have the depth of squad to edge past a Portugal who seem to be struggling with Cristiano Ronaldo not being as spry as in previous tournaments.

If England play like they did for most of the game against Slovakia, then Switzerland win. If they play like they did for the couple of minutes it took them to score the goals Switzerland will take a beating. I reckon England will edge it. For me Netherlands are growing into the tournament and Türkiye will provide a challenge, but not an insurmountable one.

So, SpainGermany, France, England, Netherlands.

Follow for match recaps on Friday and Saturday.

text by stuartcturnbull art by UEFA & altered by stuartcturnbull