The group stages have flown by in a flash and, as the last 16 approaches, we've taken a stab at power ranking the teams who remain at EURO 2024.
It was all to play for going into the final round of group games but, in truth, the football on show was of a significantly lower standard than during the opening days of the tournament.
Nonetheless, we've had some major casualties already and a few of the major contenders to go all the way have flattered to deceive thus far.
We've based our power rankings largely on each team's performances at EURO 2024 thus far, meaning a few sides might be lower than we may have expected ahead of kick-off in Germany.
With so many of the big names lumped into one side of the draw, it's hard to call who will take home the Henri Delaunay trophy on July 14 - but we've given it our best shot.
READ HERE: There Were Some Mad Scenes In Georgia's Capital After Euro 2024 Win Over Portugal
READ HERE: Watch: Fan Almost Leaps On Furious Cristiano Ronaldo From Stands After Portugal Defeat
EURO 2024: Power ranking the 16 teams left in the competition
1. Spain
Alvaro Morata scores for Spain in their tournament opener against Croatia in Berlin (Photo: Shutterstock)
Spain's group alongside Italy, Croatia and Albania was earmarked as the 'Group of Death' long before EURO 2024 got underway. Even if the other two giants in the group may have underperformed, the Spanish displays thus far have undoubtedly been the most consistent of any team still standing.
They won all three group games, playing a different, more-controlled style of football than what we may expect from a typical Spanish side. Yet to concede a goal, they will be extremely difficult to topple.
2. Germany
🇩🇪 4-0 🏴
Musiala again at the heart of the German attack, this time a stunning strike from substitute Fullkrug. The home crowd are jubilant #euro2024 📺@rte2 and @RTEplayerhttps://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📱 Live updates https://t.co/45qGbZmYrD pic.twitter.com/0lcqxwg3CC— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 14, 2024
The hosts got off to a firecracker of a start against Scotland, breaking the record for biggest ever win in an opening game at the EUROs.
Since then, they have not been quite as ominous, and they will be mildly concerned by the difficulty they had breaking down the Swiss in their final group game.
Nonetheless, with the talent in their squad coupled with home advantage, Germany look to be a formidable force entering the knockout stages.
3. Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo and Francisco Conceicao celebrate Conceicao's late winner against Czechia (Photo: Shutterstock)
Yes, Portugal did lose their final group game - but they had already secured top spot and played what was essentially a fully second-string team against Georgia.
Their 3-0 victory over Turkey was one of the best performances any team has put in at the tournament thus far and, if the dreaded 'Ronaldo conundrum' does not cause disarray in the camp, they look set to live up to their pre-tournament hype.
France finishing runners-up in their group has thrown a spanner in the works, with Portugal's predicted easy route to the last-four now obstructed by a potential French barricade in the quarter-finals.
4. Austria
🇳🇱 2-3 🇦🇹
What a second half here. Marcel Sabitzer blasts home the lead goal for Austria#Euro2024
📺@rte2 & @RTEplayer https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ
📱 Live updates https://t.co/QbbSRljeA0 pic.twitter.com/DOvuB276mK— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 25, 2024
The biggest surprise of the group stage, they fully deserve to be this high in the list.
Though the average quality of their players may not be a scratch on some of the teams below them on paper, Austria are yet to put in a below-average or even average performance, in a group where they were expected to struggle.
A thrilling win over the Netherlands is arguably the highlight of the tournament as a whole, and the Dutch are now the toughest obstacle that stand between Austria and a place in the semi-finals. Strong contenders to reach the last four. With momentum behind them, who knows from there?
5. France
🇦🇹 0-1 🇫🇷
The unfortunate Max Wober puts a
Kylian Mbappe cross into his own net and France are in front #EURO2024
📺 @RTE2 and @RTEplayer https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ pic.twitter.com/1cSEc124Xz— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 17, 2024
One of the pre-tournament favourites, France are yet to score a goal from open play in the competition, and threw away top spot in Group D with a late penalty concession in their final game against Poland.
They may be among the strongest squads on paper and we know what they can do in the latter stages of a tournament.
Nonetheless, the French have not shown anything approaching their best as of yet, and could come unstuck when they face one of the big guns from the quarter-finals on.
6. Switzerland
Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
A Scotland mistake allows Xherdan Shaqiri to equalise with a superb first-time finish #EURO2024📺Watch @rte2 and @RTEplayerhttps://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/xOGxkCGUR5
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 19, 2024
The Swiss, as they always are at tournaments, have been quietly efficient throughout the group stages, and booked their place in the last 16 with little fuss.
There are some seriously tidy players in the squad and they were impressive in almost toppling Germany to top the group on the final day.
You would fancy them to get a result against the Italians and at least match their EURO 2020 performance in reaching the quarter-finals.
7. Turkey
🇹🇷 2-1 🇬🇪
Turkey's first goal was outstanding and their second to re-take the lead is also sublime. Step forward Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler #TURGEO #EURO2024
📺 @RTE2 and @RTEplayer: https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/eRzEyyu9xb
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 18, 2024
One of the most stylish teams we have seen at EURO 2024, Turkey are living up to their EURO 2020 tag of "dark horses" three years late.
Real Madrid's Arda Guler has been in electric form, as was the entire attacking system in their thrilling opener against Georgia. A second win against Czechia on the final day assured their progression as runners-up.
However, their comprehensive defeat to Portugal in Dortmund is a major blot on their copybook, and casts doubt on whether they are truly cut out to go deep into the tournament - as entertaining as they have been to watch.
If they leave with nothing else, they are serious contenders to take home the goal of the tournament gong thanks to the outrageous average quality of their strikes in the group stage.
8. England
🇩🇰 0-1 🏴
18' Kane takes full advantage after Walker catches Danish defender Kristiansen napping. An early lead for England
📺 @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Updates https://t.co/URtaix4FK0#Euro2024 #DENENG pic.twitter.com/dFhzBPjJ0L— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 20, 2024
Ah, England.
Pre-tournament favourites, Gareth Southgate's side have done absolutely nothing to suggest they are ready to end the 58-year wait for major tournament glory.
They slugged through their opener against Serbia, and were lifeless in back-to-back draws with Denmark and Slovenia.
There are two saving graces. The final 20 minutes of the Slovenia game saw Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer injecting new life into the team - if Southgate is brave enough to play both going forward, it would go a long way to fixing the fundamental issues in this team.
Another major factor in England still holding some optimism is the fact that they now find themselves on the opposite side of the draw to Portugal, Germany, Spain and France. However, the way they are playing currently, there are plenty of other sides who would fancy their chances.
9. Italy
Mattia Zacagni celebrates scoring an injury-time equaliser against Croatia (Photo: Shutterstock)
Until the 97th minute of their final group game against Croatia, this ranking would have been a fair bit lower for the defending champions, but Mattia Zacagni's late, late equaliser has put a different spin on the tournament for the Italians.
They have shown great defensive stability thus far, and there is clearly a decent grit and spirit to the team. Whether that will be enough to supersede the problems caused by their misfiring attack is a major question, and it would not be surprising to see them fall to the Swiss at the last 16.
10. Netherlands
Dutch players celebrate after their opening goal of Euro 2024 against Poland (Photo: Shutterstock)
One of the biggest disappointments of the tournament thus far.
They will count themselves unlucky not to have won against France after the contention around Xavi Simons' disallowed goal but, in truth, they have been nowhere near good enough.
In the same way they were unfortunate against France, they were fortunate to get the better of Poland in their opener, and their defeat to Austria was a fair reflection of this team's level. The draw has been kind to them but it's hard to see them making a major impression deep into the tournament.
11. Belgium
🇧🇪 0-1 🇸🇰
Belgium miss a couple of early chances and Schranz gives Slovakia a surprise lead after a defensive mix-up
📺 Watch live @rte2 and @rteplayerhttps://t.co/iUQJmJIhT6 #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/pWChpurHSk— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 17, 2024
We're now firmly into "meh" territory and there has not been a more mediocre team at this tournament than Belgium.
The Red Devils have not been bad per se, and did see out Romania impressively in their second game. However, the two ties either side of that showed the weakness of the Belgian side at either end of the pitch.
Romelu Lukaku cannot seem to buy a goal, their defence is a shadow of what it once was, and the antics after their draw with Ukraine suggest morale is at an all-time low. Even an under-performing France should have it easy in the last 16.
12. Romania
It may seem harsh to put them below Belgium given they topped the group but the Belgians have gotten their only win of the tournament thus far against Romania.
A solid team who brought the feel-good factor in their opening win against Ukraine, it is sadly hard to see Romania causing too many issues for better teams down the line. Though the Netherlands are misfiring, they will still go into the last 16 clash as strong favourites.
13. Denmark
Denmark are yet to play poorly in these EUROs and will be rueing their missed chances against Slovenia, which cost them top spot in Group C and an easier route.
They will play the hosts in a raucous Dortmund on Saturday night. Though Denmark are likely to be hard for the Germans to break down, their finishing has been atrocious ever since Christian Eriksen's early goal against Slovenia.
A solid team but nothing more, their inability to take chances is likely to cost them in games where those opportunities will be few and far between.
14. Georgia
The biggest overachievers of these EUROs, it is remarkable that a team ranked 75th in the world at the beginning of this tournament find themselves in the last 16.
Their win against Portugal on Wednesday will go down in history and is arguably the biggest feel-good result of these championships thus far. Nonetheless, even the most ardent Georgia fan would admit that it would have been extremely unlikely had their opponents not fielded a severely weakened team.
We're chuffed they are in the last 16 - and we will be stunned if they go any further.
15. Slovenia
Another brilliant feel-good story, Slovenia have qualified for the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time ever.
They showed grit in fighting back to take a point against Denmark, and their draw in the final group game against England was a result of historic proportions for the minnows.
Could have been in the mix to top the group had they held on to their lead against Serbia but, ultimately, they will be happy to be in the knockout stages and undefeated. Like Georgia, however, it is hard to see this squad going any further.
16. Slovakia
It feels harsh to put a team that beat Belgium in their opener down this low, but Slovakia have not been thoroughly convincing since that famous result.
Their performance in that opening game suggested that they may be a team to keep an eye on down the line - but their showings against Ukraine and Romania have cast some doubt on that notion.
They will pose problems to England in the last 16 but, ultimately, go home disappointed.
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