On June 30, 2024, England clashed with Scotland in a thrilling Round of 16 match at UEFA EURO 2024. The game was held at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen and provided fans with an unforgettable display of football drama.
The first half saw Scotland take a surprising lead in the 25th minute. Ivan Schranz capitalized on a well-timed assist from David Strelec, slotting the ball past the English goalkeeper to make it 1-0. This early goal rattled the English side, and despite their efforts to respond, they struggled to break down Scotland’s resilient defense.
In the second half, England thought they had equalized when Phil Foden found the net in the 50th minute. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review confirmed Foden was offside. The tension continued to build as England desperately sought an equalizer. Their persistence was finally rewarded in the dying moments of stoppage time. Jude Bellingham scored a spectacular bicycle kick in the 95th minute, sending the English fans into a frenzy and pushing the match into extra time.
Extra time began with England carrying their momentum forward. Just two minutes into the first half of extra time, Harry Kane scored, giving England a crucial 2-1 lead. Scotland fought hard to level the score, but England’s defense held firm. The match concluded with England securing their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory. Jude Bellingham’s extraordinary performance earned him the Player of the Match award, highlighting his crucial role in England’s comeback.
On June 30, 2024, Spain faced Georgia in a Round of 16 match at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. The game started with a shock for Spain as Georgia took an unexpected lead in the 18th minute. An own goal by Spain’s Robin Le Normand, resulting from a cross by Otar Kakabadze, gave Georgia a 1-0 advantage.
Spain, however, gradually regained their composure and began to dominate possession. In the 39th minute, Nico Williams set up Rodri, who struck a precise shot to equalize for Spain, making it 1-1. This goal boosted Spain’s confidence, and they continued to press forward in search of the lead.
The second half saw Spain quickly take control of the match. In the 51st minute, Fabián Ruiz scored following an assist from Lamine Yamal, putting Spain ahead 2-1. Georgia managed to score again through Giorgi Gvelesiani, but the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside, maintaining Spain’s lead. Spain continued to assert their dominance, and in the 75th minute, Nico Williams scored to extend the lead to 3-1 with an assist from Fabián Ruiz. To cap off their commanding performance, Dani Olmo scored in the 83rd minute, assisted by Mikel Oyarzabal, securing a 4-1 victory for Spain.
Rodri’s outstanding performance, including a crucial goal, earned him the Player of the Match award. Spain’s victory ensured their progression to the quarter-finals, showcasing their ability to recover from early setbacks and dominate their opponents.
These matches highlighted the intensity and unpredictability of the knockout stages at EURO 2024, setting the stage for exciting quarter-final encounters.
