Four days of knockout action at Euro 21 (née Euro 20) brought us eight games that were mainly mesmerizing, thriving on the tension even when goalmouth action was sparse. Portugal and Pepe reverted to type, accruing few new friends. The Danes continued to recover magnificently from the trauma of their opening game. The previously dynamic Netherlands and sporadically wonderful France both went out to unfancied but hard-working opponents, with the Czech Republic and Switzerland proving that, at this tournament, everyone’s in with a chance. Italy and Belgium squeaked through to set up a quarterfinal that every neutral hopes will thrill, not suffocate. Spain and Croatia delivered one of the greatest games the tournament’s ever seen, with France-Switzerland hot on its heels. England overcame its 55-year German block, while the Ukraine slipped into the last eight as the tournament’s least-tipped team. Cup soccer at its best.
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