As the Euro 2024 tournament continues to deliver a goalscoring extravaganza in Germany, day three provided its fair share of drama, intrigue, and talking points. From clinical finishes to midfield masterclasses and individual heroics, Sunday’s action left an indelible mark on the competition.
Weghorst Shows the Way
In the Netherlands’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over Poland, the Dutch created numerous chances to secure a comfortable win. However, it took a clinical 83rd-minute strike from substitute Wout Weghorst, just two minutes after coming on, to seal the three points. Remarkably, it was the striker’s first touch of the game, exemplifying the definition of a clinical finisher. Before Weghorst’s intervention, the preferred attacking trio of Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay, and Xavi Simons had squandered guilt-edged opportunities, raising concerns for manager Ronald Koeman about their profligacy in front of goal.
As the Dutch progress to their remaining Group D fixtures, the pressure will mount on Koeman’s preferred attacking lineup to find their scoring touch, potentially leading to some selection headaches.
Eriksen’s Vintage Performance
While Denmark may have squandered their lead late on against Slovenia, it was Christian Eriksen’s magnificent all-round display in midfield that will be etched in the memories of Danish supporters. Three years and precisely 1,100 days after suffering a cardiac arrest against Finland at Euro 2020, Eriksen marked his triumphant return to the competition with a sublime opening goal; his 42nd strike for his country, capping a dazzling first-half performance for the Manchester United man.
Unfortunately for Eriksen and his teammates, Slovenia managed to limit his influence in the second period, ultimately proving crucial as Erik Janza’s deflected effort salvaged a hard-earned draw.
Bellingham’s Heroics
While England secured an opening 1-0 victory over Serbia in Group C, Gareth Southgate’s side looked far from their best in a nervy performance. They had Jude Bellingham, playing in an advanced role, to thank for the three points, as the Real Madrid star netted with a close-range header in the 13th minute to settle the tie.
His fluid interchanges with Phil Foden provided a glimpse of England’s potential attacking fluidity, while he also demonstrated his tenacity in the tackle, bumping shoulders with Andrija Zivkovic to showcase his willingness to battle.
While Southgate will be concerned by his side’s cagey second-half display, he will take solace in Bellingham’s performance, which underscored his potential to be a driving force in England’s quest to live up to their tag as tournament favorites.
As the Euro 2024 campaign unfolds, these individual performances and storylines have set the stage for an enthralling continuation, with teams and players striving to etch their names in the annals of the prestigious tournament.
