Six Reds Reach Euros Knockouts

With the final matches of the Euro 2020 group stage now finished, we know which of the 24 teams who started the tournament will be playing in the knockout stage. Six of the seven Liverpool players who have suited up will be moving on to the Round of 16.

Diogo Jota’s Portugal just managed to qualify via a third-place finish in their “Group of Death” after a 1-1 draw with France this evening. Jota turned in perhaps the best single performance from a Red in the group stage with a goal and an assist in his side’s scintillating 4-2 loss to Germany in their second match. Portugal will face off with Belgium in the Round of 16.

Also qualifying tonight was Thiago Alcântara’s Spain, who finished second in Group E. Thiago will be disappointed he didn’t feature more in the group stage after making only a pair of substitute appearances despite Spain’s struggles to score in the first two matches. He’ll have a chance to try and crack the starting XI when Spain meets Croatia next.

Xherdan Shaqiri was instrumental in helping the Swiss team advance as the third-place team in Group A. The Swiss were on the ropes after a draw and a loss in their first two matches, but a brace from Shaqiri helped secure a 3-1 victory over Turkey in their final group match. Switzerland moves on to play France next Monday.

Shaqiri wasn’t the only Liverpool player to advance out of Group A. He is joined by Welshmen Neco Williams and Harry Wilson. Williams made one start and one substitute appearance for Wales as they managed a win and a draw to finish second, and Wilson came on in the second half of their final two matches. They’ll both be hoping to feature more prominently when Wales faces Denmark on Saturday.

Finally, Jordan Henderson’s England is moving on after topping Group D. The Liverpool skipper saw just 45 minutes for his country in their final match against the Czech Republic, scoring a goal that was ruled out for being offside. He has seemingly been held out as a precaution while he tries to regain match fitness following a long injury layoff, but he could get the starting nod against Germany in the knockouts after a far from convincing group stage performance from the Three Lions.

Sadly, Scotland captain Andy Robertson will not be joining his six aforementioned teammates in the Round of 16. Despite a strong personal showing from Robbo, Scotland managed just a single point, a draw with England, and he will be going home early. While the bit of extra rest for the left-back will certainly be welcome from a Liverpool perspective, it’s still disappointing to know Robbo won’t be moving on after seeing how much captaining Scotland throughout their Euros journey has meant to him.

The Round of 16 will begin on Saturday with Wales v Denmark.