Scout Notes – Last 16 – Day 1

Portugal failed to win in 90 minutes for the fourth match running but still saw off the much-fancied Croatians, while Wales beat Northern Ireland in a match of few highs and a desperate low for Gareth McAuley.

And Poland kicked off the knock-out stages with a penalty shoot-out win over the unlucky Swiss on a day when drama and heartache were in rather more evidence than quality and excitement.

Switzerland 1 Poland 1 (Poland win 5-4 on penalties)

The first knock-out match of Euro 2016 became the first to go to extra time and then on to penalties, with Poland finally prevailing after new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka blasted well wide.

It was harsh on the Swiss, who battled back from a goal down to dominate the second half and extra time.

Jakub Blaszczykowski (7.0) grabbed his second goal in as many matches to open the scoring in the first half, the assist coming from Kamil Grosicki (6.9).

Switzerland improved hugely after the break and deservedly equalised – in spectacular fashion – with eight minutes to go when Xherdan Shaqiri acrobatically volleyed home from the edge of the area.

It was the first goal Poland had conceded in the tournament, and they were lucky not to ship more, Lukasz Fabianski (6.0) making superb saves from Ricardo Rodriguez and Eren Derdiyok.

Poland didn’t have an attempt on target after the 53rd minute as Switzerland dominated, but for a match involving two of the tournament’s tightest defences – and even factoring in an extra 30 minutes – the shot count was high: 29 to 20 in Switzerland’s favour.

Full-back Rodriguez was the match’s busiest man, with six attempts (two on target), 10 crosses and five chances created, while Shaqiri was the most influential, with three (two), 15 and three respectively.

As for the Poles, Robert Lewandowski’s (11.5) travails up front continued, although he managed a personal tournament-best four attempts, while his fellow striker Arkadiusz Milik (7.5) – with 8% Uefa game ownership a more popular pick than the Bayern Munich man – had five shots, but lacked both quality and conviction.

Blaszczykowski remains the side’s most consistent points provider.

So the Swiss go home, and unless Poland pick up the pace and intensity in the quarter finals against a battle-hardened Portugal, they won’t be long for this tournament either.

Wales 1 Northern Ireland 0

A Gareth McAuley own goal settled a tight, scrappy and nervous affair that was high on work rate but low on quality.

The result flattered the winners, who struggled to break down a Northern Ireland side that created more chances (5-3) and had more attempts on target (3-1).

Neither goalkeeper was unduly troubled, and it took one moment of class from an otherwise subdued Gareth Bale (10.5) to turn the match, his excellent driven cross forcing McAuley into a desperate attempted clearance.

Wales’s other leading light, Aaron Ramsey (7.6) was equally well marshalled, both stars managing just two attempts apiece, and the best performances from either side came from defenders.

James Chester (4.5) was outstanding, winning six of seven tackles and recording two interceptions for good DraftKings returns. At that price he would be a solid budget enabler if Wales can keep a third consecutive clean sheet against either Belgium or Hungary in the quarter finals.

Faced with a side that denied them both time on the ball and space behind their back line, Wales lacked fluency and potency.

They will need to up their game significantly to progress to the semis, although their next opponent will do well to match the intensity and doggedness displayed by a Northern Ireland side who leave Euro 2016 with their heads held high.

Croatia 0 Portugal 1 (aet)

It took 117 minutes for Portugal and Croatia to conjure up the first attempt on target and it turned out to be the decisive moment of a match that was otherwise a drab and cagey affair.

Ricardo Quaresma (6.0) headed home from a Cristiano Ronaldo (12.0) rebound, the culmination of a break after Ivan Perisic had hit the post at the other end.

It was an incident-packed minute in stark contrast to all that had come before. Portugal set up to negate Croatia’s midfield and succeeded, starving Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric of the time and space with which they do so much damage.

After firing in a tournament-high 70 shots over the first three matches, Portugal reverted to their qualification persona, staying compact and difficult to break down while looking to counter with pace.

Coach Fernando Santos rang the changes to implement that plan, bringing in Cedric Soares (4.5) for Vierinha (6.5) at full-back and also benching Joao Moutinho (7.5) and Ricardo Carvalho (5.5), with Adrien Silva (5.5) and Jose Fonte (4.5) coming in.

If they were more mobile and resolute as a result, they were also toothless. Out-shot 17-6 by Croatia, Santos’ tactics reduced Ronaldo to the peripheries and the Real Madrid star’s one and only attempt led to the winner.

A third of Uefa game managers were thankful that Ronaldo’s assist gave them some points for the huge outlay, while the even more popular Perisic (35% ownership) was one of many Croatians unlucky to be on the losing side after racking up seven shots.

Soares impressed on his tournament debut, recording a match-high six interceptions, winning one tackle and putting in six crosses for a good DraftKings showing. He looks excellent value in the official game if he keeps his place for the quarter final against Poland.

That match will surely prompt a more attacking display from Portugal, who did what it took to see off one of the tournament’s best sides – not, currently, a description that can be ascribed to Poland.