5️⃣ questions ahead of EURO 2024's last 16 ❓ | OneFootball

The dust has now settled on the group stage action from EURO 2024 in Germany and it is time to look at the last 16 action in store.

Here are the five biggest questions which must be answered.

Are Spain the favourites?

Only one side emerged from the group stage with a perfect record and that was Luis de la Fuente’s Spain, who looked outstanding in a tough group.

Fabián Ruiz outshone Croatia’s much more heralded midfield in a ruthless opening win, which was followed up by a 1-0 victory over Italy that flattered the Azzurri, before rounding things off with a narrow but deserved success against Albania.

Tournament debutants Georgia are unlikely to cause them too many problems in the next round either, with La Roja having a 7-1 win in Tbilisi over their opponents to call upon from qualification as evidence of what they can do against Willy Sagnol’s side.

Germany will await them in a mouthwatering quarter-final if they see off Denmark but based on performances and upcoming opposition, it is hard to argue against Spain being the form side this summer who look best placed to take the trophy home.

Should Southgate make changes?

This seems like the question with the most obvious answer heading into the last 16.

England boss Gareth Southgate made just one starting line-up change across a group stage in which his side severely underwhelmed, to put it mildly.

Although they topped the group, their stuffy style has not been easy on the eye and having struggled for creativity, it is surely time for the man in charge to shake things up against Slovakia.

Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo impressed off the bench last time out and may have done enough to earn a bigger role, while the side also looks to be crying out for the kind of width and dynamism that Anthony Gordon could provide.

Luke Shaw’s return to full training also offers an avenue to moving Kieran Trippier out of the left-back role and utilise a more natural fit in that area. But will Southgate stay stubborn?

Is Mbappé a concern?

After breaking his nose at the end of an individually frustrating opening game against Austria, France’s captain then missed their second game against Netherlands.

He returned against Poland in their final fixture donning a mask and ended his European Championship drought by finally hitting the net in the competition with his 22nd shot – coolly netting from the penalty spot.

But from open play, the new Real Madrid man hasn’t been at his sharp best, although L’Equipe report that there may be a good reason for that, with Mbappé’s mask causing him issues.

They claim that the covering he has been using is much thicker than he wanted and has led to problems with his peripheral vision, meaning a new mask may need to be moulded for the next round.

It hasn’t been the competition that was expected from him yet, and he certainly cannot be blamed for all of that, but in the knockout phase against Belgium, it is time to come alive.

Can Austria keep it going?

The biggest surprise of the tournament so far has been Austria, who beat France, the Netherlands and Poland to top spot in their group and set up perhaps the tie of the round against Türkiye.

Vincenzo Montella’s men will have a huge backing behind them in Leipzig as they have in every game so far to set this one up perfectly.

Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria have been a fantastic unit, spreading their responsibilities throughout the side and not relying on any one individual – not that they don’t have players capable of making the difference.

On a favourable side of the draw, things are starting to open up for them after their impressive group stage performances, making them a tough team for anyone to beat.

The fact that they also won a friendly fixture between these sides in March by a staggering 6-1 scoreline doesn’t hurt either…

Is there any hope for the underdogs?

Upsets have been in decent supply so far at the European Championship but are they set to come to an end with the chips down in winner-takes-all fixtures?

Slovakia (who face England), Romania (Netherlands), Denmark (Germany), Georgia (Spain), Belgium (France) and Slovenia (Portugal) are all unfancied to various degrees of springing a surprise and reaching the quarter-final.

It is hard to make too strong a case for any of them advancing but the best hope for an upset may come from Romania, who have already shocked the continent by topping their tricky group, and face a Dutch outfit who are again flattering to deceive under Ronald Koeman, who has only watched his side impress in flashes this summer.

Another side who have massively flattered to deceive are Belgium, who saw themselves booed off by their own fans after their last group game, but they will be freed from their favourites tag against France, which could play into their hands.

Didier Deschamps’s side haven’t hit top gear yet, scoring just two goals (one an own goal, the other a penalty) and could be viewed as being there for the taking. But do the Red Devils have the ruthlessness and quality to take down the World Cup finalists?