Bellingham, Who Else? 🏟️⚽📈🇬🇧🔝 Round of 16 Update & ¼ Final Preview

Spain 🇪🇸, England 🇬🇧, Portugal 🇵🇹 and France 🇫🇷 join Germany 🇩🇪 and Switzerland 🇨🇭 in the quarter-finals…

Hey there MVP,

The Euros is kicking into gear now and last week saw some big teams sent home, including the current holders Italy. On Sunday evening, England went 1-nil down and then struggled against a Slovakia side that are currently ranked 45th in the world. Finally in the 95th minute, with less than a minute to play, Jude Bellingham hit a wunderbar overhead kick to take the game to extra-time. Madness. Kane then bagged the winner in the opening minutes of extra time.

Spain also made it through to the quarters but with a convincing 4-1 win over Georgia. And yesterday, France just about overcame Belgium thanks to an unlucky OG from Jan Vertonghen. Portugal also drew 0-0 with Slovenia, but went through on penalties. Ronaldo has had 20 attempts but still hasn’t scored a goal in open play at this tournament, although he has missed a penalty. 

This week, we’re looking ahead to the biggest of the quarter-finals, including England/Switzerland and France/Portugal.

In other news, we’ve got fresh transfer updates from around the world of football and there’s some scorchers in the goal(s) of the week section. Also, if this week’s shocker doesn’t make you laugh, it will make you cry..

Today's game plan:

• Don’t Miss This Game 🎯

• This Week’s Shocker 🤬

• Around The World 🌍

• Games to Keep an Eye On 👀

• Goat Trivia 🐐 

• Bonus: Euro 2024 top goalscorers 🏆

Portugal vs France | Friday | 20:00 BST

Finally a GOAT-approved matchup, as Ronaldo’s Portugal take on European heavyweights France. This game offers much; two attacking teams, experienced internationals all over the pitch, and of course the fading legend Cristiano Ronaldo versus the rising star Kilian Mbappe.

Form & Team News

🇵🇹Having started the tournament so well with convincing opening performances in Group F, Portugal lost their final group game to Georgia. They then squeezed through to the quarter-finals via a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Slovenia. It wasn’t Ronaldo but the Portuguese goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, who emerged as the hero by saving all three of Slovenia's penalties.

In fact, Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in extra time and was in tears as the game went into penalties. He got the job done from the spot in the shootout but this is a pretty barren run for Ronaldo. He’s had 20 attempts but no goals so far in Euro 2024 and he has now on a career-worst run of eight games in international tournaments without a goal in normal play.

Still Portugal do create chances and you’d imagine Ronny will get a goal at some point, he’s averaging around 5 shots a game after all. 

The team news for Portugal is mostly good as they came through the game against Slovenia unscathed. However, the physical and emotional toll of the extra time and penalties will no doubt take a toll. The main concern will be whether the veteran players like Pepe and Ronaldo can recover in time for another high-intensity match on Friday.   

GR Portugal predicted lineup | Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, João Palhinha, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão, Cristiano Ronaldo

🇫🇷What can you say about France at this tournament. Probably rightly so considering their young and experienced squad, but France were majorly hyped before this tournament. But, as with England they've been underwhelming. We certainly haven’t seen free-flowing and high scoring football. Mbappe is off the mark with 1 goal but believe it or not, he is the only scorer in the French team. 

After qualifying second in Group D behind Austria, Didier Deschamps' team earned their place in the quarter-finals courtesy of a late own goal by Belgium's Jan Vertonghen. The match against Belgium was cagey and tight, as you’d expect from a France/Belgium game but the French did dominate possession and create multiple chances. But they’re not scoring, yet. There were also a number of big saves from France’s new number 1 Mike Maignan and a huge block from left back Theo hernandez that kept France in the game. 

France will be without midfielder Adrien Rabiot due to suspension, which could see a reshuffle in the middle for the Portugal game. Kylian Mbappé will continue to wear his mask and he’ll be the main man upfront, with Antoine Griezmann playing deeper in a more creative role.

GR France predicted lineup | Mike Maignan, Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, theo Hernandez, N'Golo Kanté, Tchouamenie, Eduardo Camavinga, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Thuram

This Week’s Shocker…

There was nearly the ultimate shocker in the England / Slovakia game when John Stones fell asleep just as the ball was rolled to him from a free-kick just inside England's half.

Slovakia punched on the loose ball, and David Strelec’s attempted lob sailed over England's defence and Jordan Pickford’s head, but ended up going a few feet wide of the post.

If that goal had gone in, it would have been up there with the Gary Neville and Paul Robinson fiasco back in 2008.

Around the world…

🇸🇦 Nacho signs deal with Al Qadsia

Real Madrid legend José Ignacio Fernández Iglesias, aka Nacho has signed a deal with freshly promoted Al Qadsia. The centre-back has agreed a two-year deal. 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Dan Ahsworth finally begins work at Man United 

After Newcastle United placed the hotshot sporting director Dan Ashworth on gardening leave, they immediately slapped a £20m compensation fee on the former FA Technical Director. However, in the last few days, Newcastle and Jim Ratcliffe’s team have come to a deal and Ashwotth will begin his new role at United with immediate effect. 

🇩🇪 As interest in Matthijs de Ligt grows, Bayern ask for €50 million 

Multiple reports indicate growing activity around Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, with Manchester United reportedly leading the push to sign the Dutch defender. United and Ten Hag will have to pay upwards of £40 million to secure his transfer.

🇵🇹 Rui Patricio leaving Roma as free agent

Veteran Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio has confirmed he’s leaving AS Roma with immediate effect as his current contract is due to expire.  

🇮🇹 Douglas Luiz joins Juventus on a 5-year deal

Brazilian international and now ex-Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has agreed personal terms with Juventus and signed on a 5-year deal with the Bianconeri. Interestingly, Luiz’s current girlfriend Alish Lehmann is also due to sign a deal with Juventus…

Games to keep an eye on…

Romania vs Netherlands | Tuesday | 17:00 BST

The Dutch squeezed through Group D as one of the top 3rd-placed teams, but they showed potential. Cody Gakpo has bagged 2 goals and Memphis Depay is looking lively as always. Romania have been flying under the radar at this tournament, but they did record a big win over Ukraine in Group E.    

Austria vs Turkiye | Tuesday | 20:00 BST

Ex-Manchester United manager Ralf Ragnick has got his native Austria playing good football. The effectiveness of their high-press and the speed of their transitions make Austria a dangerous team. 

Spain vs Germany | Friday | 17:00 BST

The hosts play the standout team of the tournament in the first of the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Friday. Germany have been efficient and methodical in their opening four games, whilst Spain have been looking dangerous on every attack. Will Germany pull it out of the bag?  

England vs Switzerland | Saturday | 17:00 BST 

Switzerland are no mugs, with quality players spread around the pitch. England have to pick it up in this quarter-final match against the Swiss on Saturday. If Gareth Southgate’s team go 1-nil down again like they did against Slovakia, they’re likely to get punished badly on the counter-attack.   

GOAT Trivia…

Say congrats to…

Alejandro garnacho [@agarnacho7] the Argentinian winger and scorer of the Premier League goal of the season turned 20 on Monday.

On this day in football…

On July 2nd 1950, England were knocked out of the World Cup at the group stages after a 1-nil loss to Spain. With the fluidity of the current Spain team’s attacking play, England will be hoping not to meet Spain at this year’s Euros. 

Goal of the week…

There’s been some sensational goals in the Euros, with plenty of individual efforts and well-worked team goals. This week we’re struggling to pick just one so we’re giving you our Goals of the week in descending order. 

1. Jude Belloingham’s “Who else?” vs Slovakia from Sunday evening.

2. Pretty much all of the goals in the Spain / Georgia game. Georgia’s opener was a slick move that ended up with an OG, but special mention to Nico Williams —top class running and the magnanimous finish —and Dani Olmo for the way he took his goal. 

3. Ruben Vargas’s strike in Switzerland’s win over current Euro’s holders Italy.

Bonus: Euro 2024 top goalscorers 

(Accurate at the time of writing: 2nd July)

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