After the first full day of EURO 2024 action there is already enough for us to analyse and digest after Spain’s dominance and Switzerland’s impressive opener.
Day one gave us the hosts utterly shaming Scotland in their first game, running out 5-1 winners on the scoreline, as well as 20-1 on the shot counter.
Looking back on an entertaining second day at EURO 2024 - here is what we learnt.
Granit Xhaka has carried his form into the tournament
The midfield hot-head of several years ago is a distant memory to what we see now, Xhaka has been moulded into a composed midfield general who looks to have carried his form from last season into this tournament.
The Swiss more than enjoyed last season, he and Bayer Leverkusen became the first Bundesliga team in the competition’s history to go unbeaten - winning the league in doing so.
They also did not disappoint in cup competitions as they triumphed in the DFB-Pokal and also reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, where they were beaten 3-0 by Italian side Atalanta which meant a perfect season was dismantled.
As for Xhaka, he started 47 games and appeared in 50 out of a possible 52 games; he scored four times and assisted twice, as well as completing the most passes and progressive passes across the Bundesliga season.
Now at EURO 2024, the midfielder put on an excellent display in his country’s 2-1 victory against Hungary which already puts them close to qualifying for the knockout rounds.
No player made more passes, key passes, tackles or had more touches than Xhaka in the game, everything going forward for Switzerland involved the midfielder who really dominated a poor Hungary side.
If the former Arsenal man can continue his good form, there is no reason to think that this Switzerland side will fail to provide strong competition going further in the tournament.
Spain Look Strong
A Spain team who seem to constantly be in transition since their three-peat of consecutive international tournaments from 2008-2012, may finally be ready to challenge for the title again.
It seems Spanish fans may have to settle with the brutal truth that the Spain team riddled with Barcelona and Real Madrid legends of the early 2010s will not be repeated any time soon, so rather than transition, they should expect complete reform.
Reform they have been given, Luis de la Fuente arrived in 2022 and brought success instantly as they won the Nations League in 2023.
Since his appointment, he has managed 15 games, winning 11, drawing twice and losing twice - he boasts a 78.47% win rate.
Now at Euro 2024, they impressed in their first game against Croatia in a 3-0 victory; Alvaro Morata, Lamine Yamal and Fabian Ruiz all stood out with excellent performances.
Only two players (Rodri and Pedri) started both Spain’s opening game at the 2022 World Cup and this EURO 2024 opener against Croatia which shows the reform la Fuente has implemented since his appointment just two days after Spain’s exit in Qatar.
Spain are expected to get out of their group, however they will hope to go further than that - as they look strong enough to do so.
Italy have a new central defensive partnership
Over the years, the Italians have had colossal figures at the heart of their defence, Armando Picchi and Tarcisio Brurgnich, Gaetano Scirea and Claudio Gentile, Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, a list rich in history and undeniable quality.
However, the present and future is Inter Milan central defender Alessandro Bastoni and Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori who both enjoyed excellent seasons at their respective clubs.
Bastoni at 25-years-old helped Inter win their 20th league title in the 2023/24 season as they comfortably won Serie A; the Italian played 28 times in the league campaign and only lost twice - both times to Sassuolo.
22-year-old Calafiori of Bologna qualified for UEFA Champions League football after they finished fifth In Serie A, the central defender played 30 times in the league - providing seven goal contributions.
It was the first time the two defenders have started a game together and it looked to be under scrutiny just 23 seconds in after Albania’s Nedim Bajrami opened the scoring; Bastoni however redeemed himself as he equalised with a headed goal just 10 minutes later.
The two defenders have the chance to create yet another iconic Italian centre-back partnership and perhaps help Italy go all the way and retain their title.
EURO 2024 is shaping up to be a memorable tournament
After just one full day and a night of action, we have seen four games and 16 goals - an average of four goals per game already.
The most goals per match for a European Championships (since its expansion to eight teams) currently stands at 2.78 at EURO 2020 - the most goals at a tournament was also at EURO 2020 with 142.
Despite relatively straightforward victories for the higher-ranked nations so far, glimpses from Italy vs Albania gave us hope that we can see upsets at the tournament, as well as Switzerland showing us how strong they look.
Croatia will be disappointed with the 3-0 loss, however, they will not be too down as they will feel confident going up against Italy and Albania.
Hungary were poor for the first 45 minutes against Switzerland before a stronger second-half performance was not enough to overcome the two-goal deficit.
