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The best games and biggest mismatches of Euros' Round of 16
The European Championships resume play on Saturday with three days of knockout round play that will cut the field down to eight. The Round of 16, however, offers a couple of monster matchups, along with a handful of intriguing fixtures.
[ EURO 2016 | Predictions | Scores/Schedule | Standings | Teams ]
BEST MATCHUP
Both Italy and Spain turned heads through the first two rounds of group play, as Italy’s tactical astuteness and Spain’s silky skill led to maximum points and guaranteed advancement out of the group stage. Then, both teams suffered rather surprising defeats.
An 85th-minute Robbie Brady goal provided Ireland passage to the final 16 and ruined Italy’s perfect record. However, Antonio Conte’s men still managed to finish top of Group E despite being level on points and goal differential with Belgium.
Spain had controlled and carved up both Turkey and Czech Republic to guarantee advancement to the knockout rounds when manager Vicente Del Bosque opted to put out a surprisingly strong side against Croatia. Up 1-0 within 10 minutes, Spain appeared destined to finish as the only perfect team in the group stage. However, Nikola Kalinic and Ivan Perisic would shock the Spaniards to set up a heavyweight matchup between Italy and Spain.
Andres Iniesta has been Spain’s player of the tournament so far, as the 32-year-old FC Barcelona midfielder continues to control the speed of the game and split defenses with subtle movements and pinpoint passing. While keeping Alvaro Morata off the scoresheet may be a key to Italy overcoming Spain, limiting Iniesta’s influence should be Italy’s primary objective on Monday.
BEST MATCHED FIXTURE
Portugal finished third in Group F after collecting three draws. Cristiano Ronaldo finally came to life in the group finale, as the 31-year-old Real Madrid attacker scored twice to rescue his country from embarrassment. However, Croatia offers an altogether different level of challenge.
Even without injured duo Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic, Croatia came from behind to beat mighty Spain. That result speaks to the depth in Croatia’s squad. However, both Modric and Mandzukic could return for Saturday’s game, and Croatia will look to continue its 10-match unbeaten streak, which includes eight wins.
CINDERELLA STORIES
England vs. Iceland
Hungary vs. Belgium
Iceland is in its first-ever major tournament, as the tiny nation of fewer than 330,000 inhabitants won even more hearts when it frustrated Ronaldo with a 1-1 draw in its opening match. Roy Hodgson and England started strong, but the constant questions over which players should start has the squad seeming a bit out of sorts.
England should be able to beat Iceland, but losing to Iceland on Monday would be just about the most English thing to do. Exiting the Round of 16 would only be England’s second-most infamous European exit of the week.
Hungary did not suffer a single defeat and advanced to the knockout stage despite appearing in its first European Championships since 1972. The Hungarians have been bolstered by tremendous fan support, and the oldest player in the history of the European Championships. Forty-year-old goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly wears sweatpants, throws no-look passes between his legs and even does amusing fake kicks. What will he do against Belgium, which is the second-ranked team in the world, on Sunday?
MOST MISMATCHED FIXTURES
France vs. Republic of Ireland
Germany vs. Slovakia
Ireland showed fight and heart to advance past the group stages, but beating host nation France on Sunday would be the most stunning result of Euro 2016. Dimitri Payet is the player to watch for France, as the West Ham United attacker is quickly becoming a national hero.
Slovakia has displayed quality during the tournament, but a third-place finish in Group B meant a date with Group C winner Germany. The defending World Cup winners may not quite have their No. 9 position figured out, but one would have a tough time picking Slovakia to knock out the Germans on Sunday.
THE OTHERS
Wales vs. Northern Ireland
Switzerland vs. Poland
Gareth Bale has arguably put out the best individual performance at Euro 2016, thus far. The Real Madrid man scored in every group stage game to lead his country to the knockout rounds, and an unlikely date with Northern Ireland on Saturday should see Wales back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1976. Wales has never advanced past the quarterfinals.
Northern Ireland is in its first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup, which adds up to 30-year drought, and the nation benefited from the new format of the tournament. Northern Ireland lost two of its three group games and still qualified.
Switzerland and Poland both finished unbeaten in the group stages and both claimed second-place finishes behind European giants France and Germany, respectively. Robert Lewandowski may be the headlining act in this game, but the Bayern Munich star striker has yet to break his duck at Euro 2016. Switzerland held France scoreless and has only allowed one goal during the tournament, so Saturday’s game doesn’t expect to be a goalfest.
Shahan Ahmed is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow Shahan on Twitter: @ShahanLA and @perfectpass
