Can only beat who you play and as you say, reward for winning the group is playing a team who didn't win their's, and when 3rd place teams get through too that often won't be a "bigger" name. It's a kind looking draw looking at some of the names, although still the QF looks likely to be the defending champion who beat us in the final last time and who always beat us in these tournaments, then potentially Netherlands another team who are always there or thereabouts and have history of winning this thing. They are the other team who always lose on penalties so thought that's where the 2nd round match was heading before this morning's results changed the draw. Had fun sending a Dutch friend highlights of the Euro 96 game yesterday (my first football memory) thinking we were playing each other.
I guess there's more to it than paper rankings and history though. Austria won a group with France and Netherlands in it so maybe they aren't "easy" even though they've never been a top team. Belgium had an "easy" looking group with two teams outside the top 40 and still didn't win it. Think I read France are the first team ever to get through without one of their own players scoring a goal in open play (they've only scored an own goal and a penalty in 3 games).
Think it's pretty wide open from here with only really Spain not having any struggles so far. Could be a blockbuster QF against the host.
I guess there's more to it than paper rankings and history though. Austria won a group with France and Netherlands in it so maybe they aren't "easy" even though they've never been a top team. Belgium had an "easy" looking group with two teams outside the top 40 and still didn't win it. Think I read France are the first team ever to get through without one of their own players scoring a goal in open play (they've only scored an own goal and a penalty in 3 games).
Think it's pretty wide open from here with only really Spain not having any struggles so far. Could be a blockbuster QF against the host.