Belgium victory over Finland on Monday makes France officially advance to the round of 16 without playing. It should be noted that England, Switzerland, Sweden and the Czech Republic also have their tickets as they all guaranteed to be at least best third in Monday night’s results. In total, already eleven places out of sixteen already reserved for the rest of the tournament, while three of the six groups have yet to deliver their verdict on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Belgium was too good with this victory over Finland (2-0), it was Denmark who qualified by throwing Russia 4-1, after two inaugural defeats. The Scandinavian team will face Wales in Amsterdam on Saturday. The football world is happy for the courageous and deserving Danes, who had been shaken as soon as they entered the field by the cardiac arrest in the middle of a game of their playmaker Christian Eriksen, who finally had surgery and was released from the hospital on Friday.
In Group C, Austria tamed Ukraine 1-0 to clinch their first qualification for the knockout phase of the Euro, winning thanks to Christoph Baumgartner who emerged from a corner (21st) … before having to give up his place after a shock to the head which raised fears of a new case of concussion.
In front of their home crowd, the Netherlands had an easy match against North Macedonia (3-0), already eliminated, with a goal from the neo-Barcelona Memphis Depay (24th) and a double from the neo-Parisian Georginio Wijnaldum (51st , 58e). Already qualified before kick-off, Frank de Boer’s men still played against their Macedonian opponents, who therefore completed their first participation in the Euro without the slightest hope. We saw the exit in tears of the Macedonian captain Goran Pandev, legend of the sport of his country, who lived his last selection at 37 years old.
Monday Matches results
Group C
Ukraine 0 – 1 Austria
Macedonia 0 – 3 Netherlands
Group B
Russia 1 – 4 Denmark
Finland 0 – 2 Belgium
