Lesser lights look to topple traditional giants
Print Edition
WITH the continent’s perennial powers shoehorned into the same half of the draw for the Euro 2016 knockout stages, Europe’s lesser lights will never have a better opportunity to topple the traditional giants.
Title-holder Spain faces Italy in the last 16 and then a potential quarterfinal against world champion Germany before the prospect of bumping into France or England should it reach the last four.
The teams in the bottom half of the draw have combined to win 11 World Cups and nine European championships, whilst no side in the top half has won a major tournament.
But for the likes of Belgium, Croatia, Switzerland, Poland and Wales their respective paths to the July 10 final have given them plenty of reason to dream about a first international title.
“There is a crazy imbalance in the draw for the second round, but those are the rules and we have to respect them,” said Italy coach Antonio Conte.
While Belgium may be wary of last-16 opponent Hungary, which won Group F after a 30-year major tournament absence, now is the time for the country’s gifted generation of players to fulfil their potential.
The Red Devils, with a formidable core based around Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, boast more than enough talent to go one step further in France. Should it beat Hungary, a quarterfinal against Wales or Northern Ireland would be up next with Croatia, Portugal, Poland and Switzerland all potential last-four opponents.
Ivan Perisic’s late winner against Spain sent Croatia through as winner of Group D, although Iceland’s victory over Austria means the Croats will take on Portugal rather than Iceland in the next round.
Croatia will be counting on Real Madrid star Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic to lead it deep into the tournament, having come third at the 1998 World Cup in France.
Poland and Switzerland both advanced from the group stage for the first time and square off in the first of the last-16 ties today.
Switzerland last reached the quarterfinals of a major finals when it hosted the 1954 World Cup.
Wales waited 58 years to return to the big stage having last competed at the 1958 World Cup, but with Gareth Bale spearheading its challenge it too has high hopes.
“Obviously you come to the tournament for one reason: to win,” said the Real Madrid superstar.
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