Euro 2020 Round-Up: Germany send reminder, Italy remain faultless, concern for France

23/06/21 2901

France kicked off proceedings at Euro 2020 this past weekend, as the world champions struggled once again, whilst Germany sent a frightening reminder to the rest of Europe with a win over the defending champions, Portugal.

Elsewhere, Italy remained faultless as Wales qualified, just as Spain's woes continued.

Didier Deschamps’ side looked at sixes and sevens at times against Hungary on Saturday afternoon, and besides an Antoine Griezmann goal in the second half, France found it tough to get Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and co. on the same wavelength.

Griezmann's goal, however, did snatch a 1-1 draw for the tournament favourites, putting him third in the all-time list at the European Championships.

On the other hand, with this being their only goal scored by one of their own this competition, their four points from two games is underwhelming right now.

Later that Saturday, Germany arrived. The four-time world champions demolished Portugal from start to finish, and despite a well-worked counter attack being tapped home by the Euros’ record goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo to give them a 1-0 lead, Germany eventually eased to a 4-2 win.

12 shots, 58% of the ball and a 90% pass accuracy all added up to a dominant display as Joachim Löw's men reminded us all why we can never sleep on the Germans.

To end Saturday's showings, Spain met with Poland in what was another telling game for the Spanish, who really are not threatening at all at Euro 2020.

Luis Enrique's men saw 77% of the ball, but in reality, did nothing with it, as Robert Lewandowski cancelled out Alvaro Morata's clever opener.

Now, without a win, Spain could be heading home as three draws from three games might not be enough to qualify, whilst a defeat to Slovakia means the 2008 and 2012 winners will be heading home, guaranteed.

Elsewhere at Euro 2020 this weekend, Xherdan Shaqiri sent packing a dreadful Turkey team,thanks to a 3-1 victory and two goals from him.

This now means the 29-year-old is Switzerland's all-time scorer in major competitions with four, surpassing Josef Hügi's two.

Shaqiri's double has given the Swiss hope of qualifying as the best third-placed team, as well, due to the new rules of this tournament that mean four of the six teams who finished third in their group can advance through.

Now, with Switzerland on four points, they've got to hope results go their way, but with four points for them, bar extraordinary results across the board, they should have done enough.

Also in Group A, Italy continued their march into the knockout rounds in style, as they remained faultless at this summer's finals.

It's now seven goals scored for the Italian's after beating Wales 1-0, with not a single goal conceded at Euro 2020.

This now brings Roberto Mancini's men onto 30 games unbeaten as a nation, matching Vittorio Pozzo's Italy side from the 1930s, who went on a 30-game run as they triumphed at the 1934 and 1938 World Cup.

The four-time world champions have now also extended their record to a phenomenal 11 games without letting in a single goal, and as a result, have been slashed to 6/1 and have now surpassed England in the list of favourites.