Euro 2024 power rankings: How the last 16 now rate

Spain have reason to believe, Germany look strong, Austria and Georgia making waves. But as for England...?

POWER RANKINGS: Spain have reason to believe, Germany look strong, Austria and Georgia making waves. But as for England...? Pic: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

1) SPAIN: Three games, three wins, five goals scored and none conceded. Spain were not among the favourites before the tournament started, but they are now. The mood back home has changed too, AS writing after the 1-0 win against Italy: “47 million Spaniards are starting to climb on board this ship that was half-empty two weeks ago.” The coach, Luis de la Fuente, even had the luxury of making 10 changes for the final group game against Albania, qualification already secured. The wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal have impressed and in midfield Rodri has been Rodri. Can Spain go all the way? “Hope,” De La Fuente said, “is free, and we’re the first to feel that hope, that optimism. But we do so with our feet on the ground: it doesn’t guarantee anything.” 

2) GERMANY: The hosts got off to a perfect start against Scotland in Munich on the opening night of the tournament, winning 5-1 with the youngsters Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala grabbing the headlines. A more pedestrian 2-0 victory over Hungary followed before Switzerland provided a real scare in the final group game, Julian Nagelsmann’s side needing a last-minute equaliser from Niclas Füllkrug to get the draw and top the group. “Of course we would have liked to win the game and to play great football,” the captain, Ilkay Gündogan, said. “But I think you also need games like that during a tournament.” There are defensive worries before the last-16 game against Denmark on Saturday, with Jonathan Tah suspended and Antonio Rüdiger carrying a knock.