Day two of the Euro 2024 knockout stages promises thrilling action as tournament favorites and underdogs clash for a place in the quarter-finals. All eyes are on today’s Euro games featuring Spain, who have been dominant so far, and England, who are yet to fully convince despite their favored status.
Euro 2024 Match Preview: England vs Slovakia
Kick-off: 12 noon ET/9am PT
Location: Gelsenkirchen
England entered Euro 2024 as the top contender according to bookmakers, but their performances on the pitch haven’t quite matched those expectations. While Gareth Southgate’s squad secured the top spot in Group C, their journey was far from smooth. A narrow 1-0 victory against Serbia was their only win in the group stage, followed by lackluster draws against Denmark and Slovenia. Fans are eager to see if England can finally ignite their tournament and justify their pre-tournament hype in today’s Euro games.
In contrast to England’s relatively straightforward group, Slovakia emerged from what was arguably the most tightly contested group at Euro 2024. Managed by Francesco Calzona, Slovakia qualified for the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. Remarkably, they finished level on points with every other team in Group E, highlighting the section’s competitiveness. Slovakia’s progression came at the expense of Ukraine, who unfortunately became the first team in Euros history to be eliminated in the group stage despite earning four points.
Slovakia now aims to make history by reaching the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time as an independent nation. Historically, England has dominated their head-to-head record with five wins out of six encounters. However, their only major tournament meeting at Euro 2016 ended in a goalless draw, proving that Slovakia can be a resilient opponent, especially in high-stakes today’s Euro games.
Euro 2024 Match Preview: Spain vs Georgia
Kick-off: 3pm ET/12 noon PT
Location: Cologne
Spain, initially not considered among the top favorites, have significantly boosted their credentials at Euro 2024. Their impressive displays in Germany have firmly placed them among the frontrunners for the coveted Henri Delaunay Trophy.
La Roja stands out as the only team to advance to the last 16 with a perfect record. Luis de la Fuente’s team showcased their attacking prowess with a dominant 3-0 victory over Croatia in their opening match, secured by three first-half goals. They followed this up by outplaying reigning champions Italy, though they narrowly won 1-0. Having already secured the top spot, Spain maintained their winning streak by defeating Albania 1-0 with a rotated lineup, demonstrating their squad depth and consistency throughout the group stage in today’s Euro games.
Spain’s Rodri Celebrates Victory Over Italy at Euro 2024
According to bookmakers, Spain’s strong performances have propelled them to joint-second favorites to win Euro 2024, alongside Germany. The three-time European champions are now priced at +400 to secure their fourth continental title. Interestingly, despite their less convincing group stage, England remains the favorite at +350.
Georgia, making their debut appearance at a major tournament since independence, is the surprise package of the knockout stage. Ranked 35th among UEFA nations in the FIFA world rankings, Georgia qualified for the last 16 as a third-placed team, largely thanks to a stunning victory over Portugal.
In a historic moment for Georgian football, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze scored the goals that secured a 2-0 win against the Euro 2016 champions, Portugal. Another upset win against Spain in today’s Euro games would see Georgia become only the second tournament debutant this century to reach the quarter-finals, following Wales in 2016. However, history is against them, as Spain has won all six previous competitive meetings, including a dominant 10-2 aggregate score in Euro 2024 qualifying.
How to Watch Today’s Euro 2024 Action in the USA
For fans in the USA eager to catch today’s Euro games, here’s how to watch:
England vs Slovakia:
- TV: Fox Network, TUDN USA, Univision
- Streaming: ViX, fuboTV
Spain vs Georgia:
- TV: Fox Network
- Streaming: ViX, fuboTV
fuboTV is a great option for streaming every Euro 2024 game and offers a free trial for new users.
Potential Quarter-final Matchups for Today’s Euro Games Winners
Looking ahead, the winners of today’s Euro games already know their potential quarter-final opponents:
- England/Slovakia winner will face Switzerland, who defeated Italy.
- Spain/Georgia winner will face hosts Germany, who overcame Denmark.
Today’s Euro games are set to be captivating encounters, with England looking to finally hit their stride and Spain aiming to continue their dominant form, while Slovakia and Georgia hope to continue their underdog stories and cause major upsets in the Euro 2024 knockout stage.
