June 21 – Northern Irish fans have set the tournament alight with their humour but the Germans, in search of their own goal-scoring form, have a serious mission to complete.
Northern Ireland vs Germany
This is arguably the biggest game for the Irish since those heady days of the World Cup in the mid-80s – and they are not looking to depart quite yet.
Anything but defeat against the world champions would constitute a terrific night for Michael O’Neill’s team who the manager himself has described as humble and hard-working. Their 30,000 fans will turn the Parc des Princes into a home from home but they could well qualify as one of the best third-place teams even if they lose.
Germany will be keen to win and secure an easier route to the latter stages of the competition. Finishing top of Group C will ensure they avoid Spain in the quarter-finals but Joachim Low’s side need to find their goalscoring prowess after failing to impress so far.
Poland vs Ukraine
As Ukraine are already out, now joined by Russia, coach Mykhalo Fomenko may be tempted to make wholesale changes to his team but it is hard to see anything other than a Polish victory though Kamil Grosicki, Bartosz Kapustka, Krzysztof Maczynski, Lukasz Piszczek and Slawomir Peszko are all one booking away from a suspension.
The Poles will guarantee progression to the knock-out stage if they avoid defeat. Even if they lose, four points is likely to be enough to qualify to the last 16.
While Ukraine have suffered the ignominy of being the first side elimimated from the competition, their opponents are in pole position, so to speak, to make inroads into the tournament.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski has hardly pulled up any trees so far but his country are on the verge of reaching the knockout stages of the Euros for the first time in their history after failing in 2008 and 2012
Spain vs Croatia
If the Croats hadn’t blown it, on and off the field, against the Czech Republic they would already be guaranteed a top-two finish. Now they seem certain to be without their talisman Luka Modric with a groin injury while Vedran Corluka is doubtful after aggravating a head wound against the Czechs.
Ominously Croatia have only won one game a major tournament in which Modric did not feature since his debut in 2006 but they can still win the group with victory, otherwise that honour will go to the Spaniards who are smoothly and ominously gaining momentum, playing with a swagger without having conceded a goal so far.
No-one will want to meet them in the next round.
Czech Republic vs Turkey
The Czechs gave themselves a lifeline with that late, late recovery against Croatia but a second successive draw tonight will not be sufficient to keep them in the competition and they will without captain Tomas Rosicky after he suffered a tournament-ending thigh injury.
Turkey, after two defeats, are under even more pressure and head coach Fatih Terim is likely to make changes to the side beaten 3-0 by Spain knowing that they too need to win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16 as well as salvaging pride.
Even that may not be enough in what is a win-or-bust encounter for both countries. Teenage forward Emre Mor, the new young star of Turkish football, could make his first start. It’s too close to call but whoever loses will be on the plane home.
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