The knockout stages of Euro 2024 began in grand style last night, as Italy once again fell short against Switzerland, while the hosts Germany progressed through to the quarterfinal, where they will face either Spain or Georgia.
Remo Freuler's goal in the first half and then Ruben Vargas's stunner in the second saw Switzerland ease past Italy 2-0, in a completely deserved result, as the defending champions were outplayed in every facet of the game, by a Swiss side whose control stood out.
Meanwhile, in Dortmund, the hosts Germany beat Denmark 2-0 to progress to the quarterfinals as well, helped by a Kai Havertz penalty which was later added to by Jamal Musiala.
ESPN's By The Numbers brings you best stats from all the Euro 2024 action on June 29:
Switzerland 2-0 Italy
2
Switzerland have advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championships for the second straight time, having never made it to the quarterfinals prior to Euro 2020.
3
Italy became the third straight defending champions to be eliminated in the Round of 16 - after Spain at Euro 2016 and Portugal at Euro 2020.
5
Italy have conceded first in all four of their games at Euro 2024 - a run that stretches to 5 European Championship matches, having also conceded first in the final of Euro 2020.
31
Remo Freuler's goal for Switzerland came after a 31-pass sequence, the longest that ended in a goal at the European Championship since 1980.
94 @ 95.9%
The Swiss captain Granit Xhaka led by example with his passing in their Round of 16 win over Italy.
A superb showing from Granit Xhaka in Switzerland's 2-0 win over Italy. The Bayer Leverkusen man completed 94 of his 98 passes (95.9%), including 36 of 37 (97.3%) in the final third.#SUIITA #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/muLCShuRfD
- Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 29, 2024
Germany 2-0 Denmark
3
Jamal Musiala is now the tournament's top scorer with three goals.
No player has scored more goals at Euro 2024 than Jamal Musiala �� pic.twitter.com/dbFoW8wyI3
- ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 29, 2024
5
Musiala became the 5th German player to score three goals at a major tournament before turning 22 - after Thomas Muller at the 2010 World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer at the 1966 World Cup, Edmund Conen at the 1934 World Cup, and Lukas Podolski at the 2006 World Cup.
8
Germany ended an eight-year wait to enter the quarterfinals of a major tournament, having last done so in 2016. Since then, they exited both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the group stage, while losing to England in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020.
19, 38
Manuel Neuer made his 19th appearance at the European Championships, the most for any German.
This was also Neuer's 38th appearance for Germany at major tournaments, the joint-most alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger.
21y 124d
Musiala is the second youngest man to score three or more goals at a European Championship after Wayne Rooney, who scored four times in Euro 2004 at 18 years old.
Musiala is also the youngest German player to score a goal in the knockout stages of the European Championships.
(Stats courtesy: ESPN Stats and Information Group)