England vs Germany showdown tops last-16 billing at Euro 2020
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A SHOWDOWN between old rivals England and Germany at Wembley is the standout tie going into the last 16 of Euro 2020 after Joachim Loew鈥檚 side scraped through on a dramatic final night of group-stage action.
Germany needed a late goal from Leon Goretzka to draw 2-2 with Hungary in Munich on Wednesday and advance to the knockout phase in second place in Group F.
Had it lost Germany would have been condemned to an ignominious first-round exit just like at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but now it could be galvanized heading to Wembley next Tuesday for the latest installment in its long-running rivalry with England.
鈥淵es!!!!!!!! Wembley calling!鈥 wrote Bayern Munich midfielder Goretzka on Twitter after coming off the bench to score the equalizer against Hungary.
The match 鈥 overshadowed beforehand by UEFA鈥檚 refusal to allow the Allianz Arena to be lit up in rainbow colors 鈥 was watched by a television audience of close to 26 million Germans who might now be confident their team can once again get one over on England despite their recent struggles.
鈥淲e know that if we play to our potential we鈥檒l be strong,鈥 insisted Loew, who will step down after the tournament.
The tie brings back memories of the 1966 World Cup final at the same venue which England won 4-2 after extra time.
However, it also leads inevitably to mentions of Euro 96 when Germany beat England on penalties at Wembley in the semifinals before going on to lift the trophy in the final against the Czech Republic.
Indeed, since 1966, Germany has prevailed in all three meetings of the countries in the knockout stages, most recently with a 4-1 win in the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
鈥淥h No Not The Germans Again鈥 said the headline in the Daily Mail in England, summing up the feeling of fans there at the prospect of this latest meeting between the nations.
England has home advantage after topping Group D but there are concerns about the performances so far of Gareth Southgate鈥檚 team, which edged Croatia and the Czech Republic 1-0 either side of a laborious 0-0 draw against Scotland.
Portugal scraped through after a 2-2 draw with France in Budapest on Wednesday, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring two penalties to cancel out a brace from his old Real Madrid colleague Karim Benzema.
That allowed Ronaldo to equal the all-time international scoring record of 109 goals set by Iran鈥檚 Ali Daei.
Ronaldo can now break the record in the last 16 but defending champion Portugal could scarcely have asked for a tougher tie than a meeting with Belgium, the top-ranked team in the world.
Portugal, which only went through as one of the best third-placed sides, will have had two days fewer rest than Belgium before the game in Seville on Sunday.
鈥淔orty-eight hours difference, in temperatures of over 30 degrees, of course it makes a difference, but we are not going to go looking for a handicap,鈥 said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
鈥淚t is a good game on paper and I hope it will be a great game for Portugal.鈥
World Cup holder France topped its group and it will now take on Switzerland in Bucharest on Monday.
If it wins that, it will face either Croatia or Spain in Saint Petersburg, at the same venue where it defeated Belgium in the semifinals on the way to winning the World Cup three years ago.
鈥淭here is always a feeling of great satisfaction when you fulfill your objectives,鈥 said France coach Didier Deschamps.
Spain has a spring in its step, too, after thumping Slovakia 5-0 in Seville to make the knockout phase, ensuring that all of Europe鈥檚 biggest nations remain in the competition.
The last-16 ties begin tomorrow when Wales faces Denmark in Amsterdam and Italy takes on Austria at Wembley.
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