The 2024 Euro Cup Round of 16 continues, with England and Spain both facing their respective challenges. Can England showcase their solid defense against Slovakia? Can Georgia, who has reached the knockout stage in their first-ever Euro Cup appearance, pressure Spain?
England vs. Slovakia: A Test of Solid Defense
No team that finished top of their group is under as much pressure as England. The entire England squad advanced to the round of 16 amidst a wave of criticism and will face Slovakia on Sunday in the Round of 16.
The reaction from the English media has been noticeably split. Mainstream media and accompanying journalists have chosen to wait and see the team's knockout performance before making any judgments on Southgate, while social media and some tabloids have already begun ridiculing Southgate, insisting he should leave after the Euro Cup even if the team performs better.
Southgate remained calm in the press conference, emphasizing that the entire team is "extremely eager to put in a great performance for the nation" and is confident in reaching the quarter-finals. However, he did not directly address external criticism of his tactics and personnel decisions.
England's defensive stats in the group stage are impressive: they conceded only one goal, faced 26 shots, and allowed only 38 touches in their penalty area over 270 minutes. These stats reflect England's solid defensive foundation, suggesting they are likely to continue their conservative style in the knockout stage.
Despite external suggestions to try a three-center-back formation, Southgate did not respond to this in the pre-match press conference, and player Saka showed little interest in changing positions. Southgate usually discloses lineup adjustments earlier on match day, so the English media did not press him on this issue.
Spain vs. Georgia: A Warning Against Complacency
No Spanish journalists visited Georgia's training camp, indicating that Spain might not take this opponent seriously enough. However, Georgia, who defeated Portugal in the group stage to secure a historic advancement, has standout star Kvaratskhelia.
Spain cannot underestimate Georgia. Kvaratskhelia's market value surpasses the combined value of several Spanish key players, and he can elevate his teammates' performance. De la Fuente emphasized in the press conference that the match will be tough and that Georgia must be respected, with maximum effort to secure victory.
The two teams met in the Euro Cup qualifiers, with Spain winning both encounters. However, Georgia is now eager for revenge. De la Fuente made it clear that he would not rotate players in anticipation of a quarter-final clash against Germany, stressing the importance of the current match.
The spotlight is on the young prodigy Yamal, whose performance in the match is highly anticipated. Despite the risk of accumulating injuries, De la Fuente is unwilling to ease up.
When asked about Georgia's playing style, De la Fuente humorously responded that he does not find Georgia rough, but rather a team that values match quality.
The match is likely to turn into an attacking battle, where any overlooked detail could lead to a memorable night.
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