Spain Advances While England Stumbles
Spain Edges Past Italy
Spain secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Italy, thanks to an own goal by Riccardo Calafiori in the 55th minute. The win was hard-fought, with Spain dominating the match, boasting nearly 60% possession and 20 shots on goal. Italy, by contrast, managed only four attempts. Gianluigi Donnarumma made eight key saves, but it wasn't enough to stop Spain. Nico Williams's cross to Alvaro Morata pressured Calafiori into the costly mistake that decided the game.
With this triumph, Spain advances to the next round with a game to spare. They are now considered tournament favorites due to their impressive performance. However, they'll face the Group B finale against Albania without Rodri, who is suspended for the match.
England Held by Denmark
England remains on top of Group C after a 1-1 draw with Denmark. Harry Kane put England ahead early in the match, but Morten Hjulmand equalized for Denmark. The match saw England struggling with sloppy play and turnovers. After scoring the opening goal, England resorted to deep defensive play, which allowed Denmark back into the game.
Denmark's equalizer came after a throw-in turnover led to Hjulmand's low strike, which hit the post and went in. England never managed to recover from the setback, and their substitutes failed to improve the performance. Defensive errors plagued England, giving Denmark multiple chances to score.
There is significant work to do for England to convince their fans that they are on a path to win the tournament. This performance has left a skeptical public questioning their potential.
Jovic Saves Serbia
In a dramatic finish, Luka Jovic scored a last-minute header for Serbia, keeping their hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Slovenia. Zan Karnicnik had put Slovenia ahead in the 69th minute, and Aleksandar Mitrovic came close to equalizing, hitting the crossbar before Jovic's decisive goal. Jovic headed in a corner from Ivan Ilic, beating Jan Oblak to secure a vital point for Serbia.
Germany and Switzerland Make Progress
Germany reached the last 16 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Hungary, reinforcing their status as contenders. Switzerland, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Scotland, putting themselves in a strong position to advance. Scotland and Hungary may now be competing for third place, making their upcoming matches critical.
Croatia and Albania Share Points
Croatia and Albania played to a dramatic 1-1 draw, sharing their first points of the tournament. The match saw Gjasula score an own goal, only to equalize in the 96th minute, securing a valuable point for Albania.
Upcoming Matches
The tournament continues with several key matches on Friday. Slovakia will face Ukraine at 9 a.m. (Eastern), followed by Poland vs. Austria at noon (Eastern), and Netherlands vs. France at 3 p.m. (Eastern). These matches promise to deliver more excitement as teams vie for a place in the next round.
Quotes from the Field
Rodri will miss Spain's Group B finale against Albania on Monday. The Spaniards must prove their depth without him.
Reflecting on England's defensive issues, one observer noted, "This time the Three Lions' clean sheet was sullied." Another critic pointed out, "It's just not a particularly shrewd tactic when you are one shot away from a problem."
England's inability to rally after Denmark's equalizer was stark, as one analyst commented, "England never roused themselves from that setback." The consensus is clear: "There is work to do for England to convince a skeptical public back home that they are on a tournament-winning trajectory."
Meanwhile, Jovic's heroics have kept Serbian dreams alive. A commentator summed it up well, "Jovic's 96th-minute strike saved Serbia from potential elimination before their final group game."
As the tournament progresses, these narratives will evolve, and new heroes will emerge. Fans can only watch and hope their teams advance further into this exciting competition.