Spain and England are two of the favorites to win the European Championship title in the round of 16 on Sunday. However, only the Spaniards will face Georgia with a broad chest, while England have some doubts.
Three games, three wins - Spain are the only team at the European Championships without a blemish. The performance against Italy in particular made an impression and elevated the three-time European champions to the rank of top favorites. Nico Williams does not contradict this assessment. The 21-year-old winger said in an interview with the Spanish sports daily "Marca": "I haven't seen anyone who has played better. As a team, there is no one better than us."
Together with Lamine Yamal, Williams, who plays for Athletic Bilbao, forms an effective wing-back pairing that should be helpful in breaking down the Georgians' tight defense in Cologne on Sunday evening. There is nothing to discuss about the role of favorites. The European Championship newcomers from the East, with their currently outstanding goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who plays for Valencia in Spain, will need an even bigger sensation than a few days ago against Portugal to survive the first knockout round in their football history.
Potentially outstanding is also England, who will face Slovakia on Sunday. However, national coach Gareth Southgate's players have not yet been able to show their class. The offense in particular, which is stocked with so many exceptional talents, has been unimaginative and, with only two goals scored, has been harmless. England have not yet lived up to their status as the most expensive team at these finals.
Slovakia, whose 26 players have a transfer value of 156 million euros - less than the most expensive Englishman, Jude Bellingham - have performed above expectations. But Slovakia, coached by Italian Francesco Calzona, work as a collective. They are likely to face a defensively very compact team in Gelsenkirchen that wants to surprise with counter-attacks. A real test awaits England.
The possible line-ups:
England - Slovakia
Gelsenkirchen. - Sunday, 18.00 hrs. - SR Meler (TUR).
England: 1 Pickford; 2 Walker, 5 Stones, 6 Guéhi, 12 Trippier; 26 Mainoo, 4 Rice; 7 Saka, 10 Bellingham, 11 Foden; 9 Kane.
Slovakia: 1 Dubravka; 2 Pekarik, 3 Vavro, 14 Skriniar, 16 Hancko; 19 Kucka, 22 Lobotka, 8 Duda; 26 Schranz, 17 Haraslin; 9 Bozenik.
Spain - Georgia
Cologne. - Sunday, 21.00 hrs. - SR Letexier (FRA).
Spain: 23 Simon; 2 Carvajal, 3 Le Normand, 14 Laporte, 24 Cucurella; 16 Rodri; 20 Pedri, 8 Ruiz; 19 Yamal, 7 Morata, 17 Williams.
Georgia: 25 Mamardashvili; 2 Kakabadze, 15 Gwelesiani, 4 Kashia, 14 Loshoshvili, 3 Dvali; 10 Chakvetadze, 17 Kiteishvili, 6 Kochorashvili; 22 Mikautadze, 7 Kvaratskhelia.
Remarks: Georgia without Mekhabishvili (suspended)
SDA
