Football

As the European Championship enters its knockout stages, two of the tournament's favorites, France and Belgium, find themselves in an unexpected predicament. Both teams failed to secure top spots in their respective groups, setting up a head-on collision in Duesseldorf on Monday.France's vaunted attack has been plagued by a crisis of confidence. Despite boasting world-class talent like Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, the French have scored just two goals in their opening three matches, one of which was a penalty. Coach Didier Deschamps is facing a dilemma over whether to restore Antoine Griezmann to the lineup and pair him with Mbappe up front.Belgium's situation is equally concerning. After limping into the next stage with a draw against Ukraine, they were subjected to a barrage of criticism from their own supporters. Captain Kevin De Bruyne has expressed his displeasure with the hostile reaction, and his attitude will set the tone for the rest of the Belgian side.Romelu Lukaku, Belgium's record goalscorer, has yet to find his scoring touch in the tournament. His poor form is a major concern for a team that relies heavily on his goals.Deschamps and Belgium coach Roberto Martinez have some tough decisions to make ahead of Monday's clash. Both teams will be desperate to avoid an early exit and prove that they are still contenders for the title.The winner of the France-Belgium match will face Portugal or Slovenia in the quarter-finals. The match is scheduled to kick off at 9.30 p.m. on July 1.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese forward, will embark on his sixth European Championship campaign at the age of 39. The veteran defender Pepe, now 41, has also been included in coach Roberto Martinez's 26-man squad for the tournament.Ronaldo, who has scored in every Euros since his debut in 2004, has netted an impressive 14 goals in the finals. He also contributed 10 goals in European qualifying matches last year. Despite his age, Ronaldo remains a potent force, as evidenced by his 42 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr."Cristiano? It's better to talk about the data," said Martinez. "He's a player who's scored 42 goals in 41 games for his club. That shows his continuity and physical ability to always be fit, as well as the quality he has in front of goal, which we really like and need."Pepe, who has been an integral part of Porto's team this year, will provide experience and leadership to the squad. Despite his age, he remains a formidable defender, as demonstrated by his clean sheets in two games in March."Pepe's role in the dressing room is important, the way he represents the national team shirt," added Martinez. "His communication, his positioning mean that, when he's fit, he's a very important player."The squad also includes nine players from the Premier League, including Ruben Dias, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Diogo Jota. Goncalo Inacio is the only Sporting player in the squad.