Paris (AFP)
A festival: the three posters of Saturday at the Euro look anything but group matches, with no less than four serious candidates for the title who will have the opportunity to advance to the eighth.
France, Portugal, Germany, Spain.
In the history of the Euro and the World Cup, we have to go back to 2006, and to the world title of Italy, to find a champion outside this quartet.
This is to say if the level promises to be breathtaking ... at least in theory.
- Germany threatened -
Because the highest poster, Portugal-Germany (6:00 p.m.), can already plunge a cador into doubt.
Beaten without demerit by France (1-0) for their debut in Group F, the Germans would be in serious danger of elimination in the event of another setback in Munich against Cristiano Ronaldo's teammates.
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With zero points after two days, the Mannschaft should end with a victory over Hungary, preferably wide, to heal their goal difference and try to pass among the four best third.
Simpler equation for the Portuguese, reigning European champions, who would be sure to go to eighth in case of victory, even before their clash against France on behalf of the third day.
- The Blues are playing around -
For France too, the accounting stake is simple: a victory against Hungary in Budapest (3:00 p.m.), and the Blues will see the eighth, whatever happens next against Portugal.
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The novelty for them will be to play, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, in a full stadium with a hot atmosphere ... But the Puskas Arena will probably be little won for their cause, since Hungary will play at home.
Against the most accessible opponent of this "group of death", the tactical choices of coach Didier Deschamps will be scrutinized: will he largely reshuffle his eleven, he who has so far given little playing time to his substitutes?
The choice is not trivial for a selection regularly cited among the favorites of the Euro, and which must therefore prepare for a long tournament.
On the one hand, it must avoid a misstep in Budapest against Hungarians handicapped by injuries and who cracked at the opening (3-0) against Portugal.
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On the other hand, the third day will be loaded with emotion, against the Portuguese who had deprived the Blues of a coronation at home at Euro-2016 by beating them in the final (1-0 ap).
For the Hungarians, a defeat would be almost eliminatory: they would then have to defeat Germany and hope to pass among the best third, despite their goal difference weighed down by the 3-0 conceded against Portugal.
- Spain finally launched?
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Spain, finally, will have to launch their tournament against Poland (9:00 p.m.) in Seville.
La Roja was one of the big disappointments of the first day, delivering 90 minutes of sterile domination against Sweden (0-0).
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New luck against Robert Lewandowski's teammates, knocked out by Slovakia (2-1) at the opening, and that a defeat would put in a very bad position.
The program:
Group E
1st day:
Poland - Slovakia 1 - 2
Spain - Sweden 0 - 0
2nd day:
Friday in Saint Petersburg (3:00 p.m.): Sweden - Slovakia
Saturday in Seville (9:00 p.m.): Spain - Poland
3rd day:
June 23 in Saint Petersburg (6 p.m.): Sweden - Poland
June 23 in Seville (6 p.m.): Slovakia - Spain
Group F
1st day:
Hungary - Portugal 0 - 3
France - Germany 1 - 0
2nd day:
Saturday in Budapest (3:00 p.m.): Hungary - France
Saturday in Munich (6 p.m.): Portugal - Germany
3rd day:
June 23 in Munich (9 p.m.): Germany - Hungary
June 23 in Budapest (9 p.m.): Portugal - France
© 2021 AFP