No team left alive from Euro 2020's Group of Death

Usually, when the draw for a big competition is made, one group gets a Group of Death moniker because of the high quality of teams in it. It's the group with two or more candidates for the highest ranking. Much has been said about Euro 2020's Group F containing France, Portugal and Germany. It was an excellent group to watch as all three teams made it to the knockout stage. And that's where they hit a brick wall.

Les Bleus took their foot off the gas pedal when they went 3-1 ahead of Switzerland and were punished for it. Two late goals took the match to extra time before Kylian Mbappe's miss from the spot in the penalty shoot-out spelt the end for the reigning world champions.

France down and out (©Gallo Images)

Portugal might argue that they needed a bit more luck and that they'd done everything right, but the reality is that they scored no goals and allowed Belgium to edge past them with a sole goal coming off the right foot of the inspired Thorgan Hazard.

And the Germans? Perhaps they offered the least in their knockout tie against England. The Three Lions didn't put in a world-class performance, but it was more than enough to give them the precious bragging rights over the old enemy. Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane were on target while Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz went through the motions and out of the competition.

The curse has been lifted - England send Germany home and proceed to the EURO 2020 quarter-finals

Watching the star-studded teams struggle and get beaten may be fun for us neutrals, but at the same time, it means fewer big names in the latter stages of the competition. With all three of the Group of Death survivors out of the reckoning, it leaves us only with Belgium v Italy as a high-profile matchup in the quarter-finals. It doesn't mean that we won't get to see some exciting matches, of course.

It turns out that the point of the competition isn't to just survive the Group of Death - but to survive the final!

Keep following Mozzart Sport Kenya as we continue to bring you the best stories from the long-anticipated tournament.

EURO 2020

Round of 16

Saturday, 26 June

Wales - Denmark 0-4 (0-1)

/Dolberg 27, 48, Maehle 88, Braithwaite 90/

Italy - Austria 2-1 after extra time (0-0)

/Chiesa 95, Pessina 105 - Kalajdzic 114/

Sunday, 27 June

Netherlands - Czech Republic 0-2 (0-0)

/Holes 68, Schick 80/

Belgium - Portugal 1-0 (1-0)

/Thorgan Hazard 42/

Monday, 28 June

Croatia - Spain 3-5 after extra time (3-3, 1-1)

/Pedri 20 og, Orsic 85, Pasalic 90 - Sarabia 38, Azpilicueta 57, Torres 77, Morata 100, Oyarzabal 103/

France - Switzerland 3-4 after penalties (3-3, 0-1)

/Benzema 57, 59, Pogba 75 - Seferovic 15, 81, Gavranovic 90/

Tuesday, 29 June

England - Germany 2-0 (0-0)

/Sterling 75, Kane 86/

Sweden - Ukraine 1-2 after extra time (1-1, 1-1)

/Forsberg 43 - Zinchenko 27, Dovbyk 120+1/