
The final round of group games is all that is left for a few teams to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Some teams got their work done early and are already through to the next round, or are in excellent position to advance.
Other teams procrastinated and put on lackluster performances in their first two games, and now face daunting odds in order to keep their campaign alive.
Here are the teams that will need miraculous results in order to move past the group stage.
The Netherlands
If the Dutch fail to advance out of Group B, the team will be the biggest disappointment of the tournament.
The Netherlands heralded attack failed to produce a goal in the opening match against Denmark, and they lost 1-0. In the next game against Germany, the Dutch defense was downright awful at times and the team went a second-straight game without earning a point after a 2-1 defeat.
Now, they sit at the bottom of the Group of Death with zero points, but they are still not officially eliminated. In fact, the scenario that puts the Dutch through is not all that unlikely.
Holland must first defeat Portugal by two goals or more, which they are perfectly capable of doing. Next, Germany has to defeat Denmark. The Germans only need a tie to go through as the first-place finisher, but the team’s reserves could field a team that would be competitive in the tournament.
It will be difficult for the Dutch to advance, but it is certainly not impossible.
Ukraine
Which of these teams will beat the odds and advance?
The logistics of Ukraine’s path to the knockout stages is simple enough—beat England and the team is through.
However, England’s best player, Wayne Rooney, is coming back from a suspension and the team’s attack will be brimming with confidence after putting away three goals against Sweden.
The last score was especially spectacular, as Danny Welbeck cleverly heeled in a cross from Theo Walcott.
England has to win to ensure its place in the next round and is a far more talented side than the Ukraine. The hosts will need a miracle to take down Rooney and the English side.
Greece
In order to advance, Greece must defeat Russia, and given the form of the two teams, that will be extremely difficult.
Russia has proven to have a potent attack and Greece’s starting center back, Avraam Papadopoulos, was injured in the first match of the tournament. The Greek attack, in contrast, is not talented or dangerous, and it will be surprising if they can pull out a victory here.
If the Greeks do win, they will be through to the next round regardless of the result between Poland and Czech Republic.
After a shaky start, the Greeks are fortunate to control their own destiny. They are unlucky however, to have the best team in the group standing in their way.
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