BERLIN (AP) — The round of 16 at Euro 2024 saw joy and despair as a spectacular overhead kick kept England in the competition, defending champion Italy was eliminated and fans danced in the rain. AP photographers captured the drama on and off the field of play.
Italy was hoping to become only the second team to successfully defend the men’s European Championship title, but was eliminated 2-0 by Switzerland, leaving players and fans dejected. Belgium and Austria too saw their campaigns end earlier than they’d hoped.
Host nation Germany had more to celebrate after reaching the quarterfinals with a win over Denmark, but only after a thunderstorm had delayed the game. Some Danish fans partied in a torrent of water pouring off the stadium roof.
Dutch forward Donyell Malen and Turkish defender Merih Demiral both celebrated scoring two goals each to send their teams into the quarterfinals, but the most spectacular goal yet was England’s.
Jude Bellingham hit an acrobatic overhead kick to send his team’s contest with Slovakia to extra time with seconds remaining. Bellingham then joined the celebrations when Harry Kane scored the winning goal in extra time to send England through to the next round.
The quarterfinals are played Friday and Saturday, with host nation Germany taking on Spain in Stuttgart on Friday.
Italy’s Gianluca Scamacca, centre, reacts at the end of a round of sixteen match between Switzerland and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. Switzerland won the game 2-0. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Switzerland’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer celebrates after a round of sixteen match between Switzerland and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Germany’s Jamal Musiala challenges for the ball with Denmark’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg during a round of sixteen match between Germany and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann waves to the fans after a round of sixteen match between Germany and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. Germany won 2-0. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Fans dance in the rain while a round of sixteen match between Germany and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament is suspended in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
England’s Jude Bellingham, right, scores his side’s first goal with an overhead kick during a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
England’s Harry Kane, left, celebrates with Jude Bellingham after scoring his side’s second goal during a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Slovakia players lie on the pitch after a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Spain’s Fabian Ruiz celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during a round of sixteen match between Spain and Georgia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Georgia’s Otar Kakabadze, right, challenges Spain’s Nico Williams during a round of sixteen match between Spain and Georgia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates in the Belgium goal after Randal Kolo Muani of France, shot at goal to cause Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen to score an own goal during a round of sixteen match between France and Belgium at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne gestures after missing a chance during a round of sixteen match between France and Belgium at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dusseldorf, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
A France fan on the stands checks a cellphone while waiting for the start of a round of sixteen match between France and Belgium at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa saves the ball during penalties of a round of sixteen match between Portugal and Slovenia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Slovenia’s players react at the end of the penalties shootouts during a round of sixteen match against Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to kick a penalty during a round of sixteen match between Portugal and Slovenia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Romania’s Radu Dragusin, front, and Xavi Simons of the Netherlands fight for the ball during a round of sixteen match between Romania and the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Netherlands’ Donyell Malen celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during a round of sixteen match between Romania and the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Memphis Depay of the Netherlands, top left, greets a fan after a round of sixteen match between Romania and the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Turkey’s Merih Demiral celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal against Austria during a round of sixteen match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Austria’s goalkeeper Patrick Pentz, left, fails to save a shot on goal by Turkey’s Merih Demiral during a round of sixteen match between Austria and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Austria’s Michael Gregoritsch comforts Austria’s Alexander Prass after a round of sixteen match between Austria and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
