Breaking down the final 16 at Euro 2016
• With the group stage now complete, Postmedia’s Kurtis Larson takes a look at the Round of 16 matches at Euro 2016.
JUNE 25 — SAINT- ETIENNE
Switzerland (Group A runners-up) vs. Poland (Group C runners-up) While punters will undoubtedly see this match as a pick ’em, the scales could tip in Poland’s favour.
Both of these sides have shown they can be stingy. The Poles limited Germany to three shots on target, while the Swiss drew with host France in a cagey affair.
Up front, however, the Poles probably have more punch. Robert Lewandowski has yet to find his form at this tournament, but should get more chances against a fairly run-of-the-miill Swiss side.
Looking ahead, the winner of this one will have an even chance of making a semifinal given they won’t run into a giant until then.
EARLY PICK: Poland
JUNE 25 — LENS
Croatia (Group D winners) vs. Portugal (Group F
third place) Croatia arguably put together the most complete three- game group stage of anyone at Euro 2016, capping it with an impressive 2-1 win over Spain.
It also sports the best wide attacker in this competition: Ivan Perisic. Expect him to torment a Portuguese defence that has already conceded five times at this tournament.
Portugal, meanwhile, will be somewhat happy to have avoided Belgium and Italy. It will do what it always does: Continue to ride their luck with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ignore anyone who says Ronaldo has had one solid half at this tournament. The Real Madrid star has been fantastic since the beginning.
EARLY PICK: Portugal
JUNE 25 — PARIS
Wales (Group B winners) vs. Northern Ireland (Group C third place) That one of these teams is going to progress to the quarter-finals at this Euro is quite astounding.
That they’ll do it by beating a fellow member of the United Kingdom adds even more bite.
This is actually a good draw for the neutral viewer. Northern Ireland was certain to sit back if it drew a stronger side than Wales.
The difference, though, might just be that one side has a world class player. This could be the match where Welsh attacker Gareth Bale wins the Golden Boot.
EARLY PICK: Wales
JUNE 26 — TOULOUSE
Hungary (Group F winners) vs. Belgium (Group E
runners-up) A tough draw f or Hungary, which shocked most people by topping a group containing Portugal.
And after conceding three goals to their aforementioned Group F opposition, there’s no reason to believe the Belgians won’t walk all over the Hungarians.
If we take an honest look at Hungary, it’s a side that benefited from an Iceland own- goal and a few deflected goals against Portugal.
Hungary isn’t for real. Belgium has too many world class players. This is an easy one to pick.
EARLY PICK: Belgium
JUNE 26 — LILLE
Germany (Group C winners) vs. Slovakia (Group B runners-up) We don’t really know how dangerous Slovakia can be. It completely packed it in against England, knowing a draw would see it progress to this stage.
Looking back, the Slovakians, led by Marek Hamsik, probably should have gone for the win. Because they didn’t, they drew Germany.
It seems German bench boss Joachim Low has finally found a winning combination after inserting Mario Gomez up front and dropping Mario Gotze, who’s having a horrible tournament, into midfield.
The Germans obliterated Northern Ireland on Tuesday. Based on what we’ve seen, they’ll likely do the same to Slovakia.
EARLY PICK: Germany
JUNE 26 — LYON
France (Group A winners) vs. Rep. of Ireland (Group E
third place) Of all the third- place teams, French bench boss Didier Deschamps likely didn’t want to face the Republic of Ireland.
The hosts have struggled to break down hard- working defensive sides at this tournament. Truth be told, an open game suits them much better.
Well, they aren’t going to get that. Instead, Martin O’Neill’s side is going to give the French a fight. And with Shane Long seemingly in top form, don’t for a second think the Irish can’t win this tie.
The Irish learned their lesson in a 3- 0 battering by Belgium. This one will be close.
EARLY PICK: France
JUNE 27 — SAINT- DENIS
Italy (Group E winners) vs. Spain (Group D runners-up) The Italians thought they’d avoid such a difficult test in the first portion of this knockout phase. Not so after Croatia shocked the Spanish to finish on top of Group D.
Italian bench boss Antonio Conte would be wise to go back and listen to Vicente Del Bosque. The Spanish bench boss said last week his side prefers when teams sit back.
Italy must deploy some pace in wide positions to make Spain’s attack- minded midfielders do more than pick out passes in the final third.
Italy’s Juventus-heavy back four has shown it has the quality to keep the Azzurri in games. That loss to Ireland, though, was concerning.
EARLY PICK: Italy
JUNE 27 — NICE
England (Group B runners-up) vs. Iceland (Group F runners-up) Having watched Iceland stymie and frustrate both Portugal and Austria at this tournament, most of the evidence points to England having a difficult time in this Round of 16 fixture.
You have to wonder if England bench boss Roy Hodgson might have preferred Portugal given the difficulty England has had breaking down opponents that prefer to sit back and get forward on the counter.
Nonetheless, England will undoubtedly hold the majority of the ball in a fixture that will come down to whether it finishes its chances — something it failed to do against Slovakia and Russia.
EARLY PICK: England