Kickoff chronicles

Switzerland vs Italy

The first tie in the Round of 16 saw Group A runners up Switzerland take on the runners up in Group B, Italy. It always looked like an exciting fixture at the Olympiastadion Berlin with both teams involved in late drama in their last group game. Switzerland were denied a win over Germany to take them into 1st place when Niclas Fulkrug scored late to tie the game. Italy had scored with the last kick of their final group stage game to level it at 1-1 against Croatia. This qualified Italy for the knockouts, jumping them over Croatia into 2nd spot.

Switzerland got off to a very strong start, dominating the ball and showing the Azzurri that they were well and truly up for this big knockout game. They came so close on multiple occasions with Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma parrying away everything the Swiss threw at him, by far their best player of the tournament. Finally the shot stopper was beaten after Switzerland formed a counter attack. Breel Embolo controlled a long ball from Manuel Akanji before laying it down for Dan Ndoye who spread it wide to Ruben Vargas. Vargas then cut inside before spotting the smart run from Remo Freuler. He played the perfect pass into the Italian penalty area which was met by a brilliant first touch on Freuler’s weak foot.. He then finished the move with a lovely strike on his left boot, Donnarumma unable to keep the powerful volley from finding the bottom corner. The half finished 1-0 with Switzerland looking likely winners. 

Switzerland, and Ruben Vargas in particular, sunk yet another dagger in the reigning champions hearts when they found a 2nd goal just 30 seconds into the second period. Michel Aebischer played a smart ball into Vargas who was inside the corner of the penalty area. He then turned from provider to scorer when he pulled a strike from the football gods out of his pocket, watching as his perfectly curled effort beat Donnarumma for the second time of the afternoon and found the far top corner. Switzerland then sat back on their 2-0 lead, showing how good they were at defending after already proving they could score. Italy looked very unconvincing in attack, creating no strong opportunities meaning they could have no complaints when the full time whistle was blown, ending the game 2-0 in Switzerland’s favour. If anyone had told the Swiss fans they would have dumped out Italy to get to the quarterfinals after their qualification draws to Kosovo, Belarus, Israel, and loss to Romania, they would have laughed at the thought. They are now looking a very strong side and will fancy themselves to beat either England or Slovakia and progress to the semis as a dark horse in this year’s competition. It is once again international disappointment for the Azzurri as they fail to come anywhere near to defending their title.

Germany vs Denmark

The second Round of 16 game saw hosts Germany take on potential dark horses Denmark at the BVB Stadion Dortmund. The hosts thought they had opened the scoring inside 4 minutes when Nico Schlotterbeck headed in Toni Kroos’ corner. It was unfortunately chalked off by VAR as Joshua Kimmich elbowed Andreas Olsen as Olsen attempted to stop Schlotterbeck from scoring. Germany clearly dominated the first half, drawing acrobatic save after save from ex Leicester City shot stopper Kasper Schmeichel. The half finished 0-0 but it was surely only a matter of time before the host nation put the ball past Schmeichel. 

After soaking up all of the German pressure, Denmark thought they had taken the lead just 3 minutes into the second period when Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen poked the ball past Manuel Neuer after a cross into the box was not cleared properly. VAR was once again the enemy, ruling the goal out as Thomas Delany, whose miskick fell to Andersen, was offside by quite literally a centimetre. It was then more VAR woes for Denmark when Germany were awarded a penalty after David Raum’s cross took the slightest of knicks of the finger of Andersen. You had to feel for the Danish fans as they once again had a huge decision given against them. Kai Havertz stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it well, drilling it into the bottom right corner. The hosts then finished the Danes off when Musiala scored to make it 2-0. Kimmich’s ball from inside his own half travelled over the Danish defence and into the channel of Musiala. The young German superstar was too hot to handle for the defence as he sprinted into the penalty area before slotting the ball into the far corner. Those two goals were enough to see Germany progress to the quarter finals and Denmark kicked out of the tournament. Kasper Hjulmand and his Danish team will feel hard done by, with just millimetres halting them from potentially turning the tie around. The hosts will face the winner of Spain or Georgia in the next stage of the competition after beating a very resilient Danish side.

Written by Ollie Wade