2024-07-05 19:23:29
After a Euro 2024 round of 16 in which reigning champion Italy bowed out of the tournament, the quarter-finals are full of history and rivalry, with Turkey and Switzerland as surprises.
The eight teams that qualified for the quarter-finals have won 10 titles, a figure that speaks for itself of the weight of some of these teams in continental football.
Germany-Spain
The two teams with the most Euro titles (3 each) and who are leaving the best impressions in the tournament, face each other in Stuttgart on Friday 5 July (16:00 GMT), in a match that for many is an “early final”.
With nine goals scored and only one conceded, ‘La Roja’ have emerged throughout the tournament as serious title contenders, thanks to an attractive game in which youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams shine on the wings.
But Julian Nagelsmann’s ‘Mannschaft’ pose a bigger challenge than the opponents Spain have faced so far. The sleeping giant Germany seems to have woken up in their Euros, guided by Toni Kroos’ last dance before his retirement.
France-Portugal
Kylian Mbappé’s ‘Les Bleus’ and his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Seleçao’ will face each other on 5 July in Hamburg (19:00 GMT), in a repeat of the 2016 final won by the Portuguese.
France, the favourites before the start of the tournament, have not shown the overwhelming form that was expected, but despite this they have reached the quarter-finals without suffering too much along the way. Their star and captain Mbappé will be able to face his childhood idol Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 39 years old is still trying to add records and titles.
Portugal suffered more, having to resort to penalties to beat Slovenia and who could feel the fatigue of the 120 minutes of play.
England-Switzerland
Some English fans had already left the stadium when Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick sent the tight round of 16 match against Slovakia into extra time, which the ‘Three Lions’ won.
In the quarterfinals, Switzerland awaits them. They justly eliminated the reigning champion Italy (2-0) and are one of the sensations of the tournament.
Gareth Southgate’s England failed to convince either the press, who were critical of the coach, or the fans, who were unhappy with the unattractive play of one of the big favourites to win the final.
On Saturday 6 July in Düsseldorf (16:00 GMT) Bellingham and company will have to be extremely vigilant against the ‘Nati’, who in addition to having eliminated the ‘Azzurri’, came close to beating Germany in the group stage (1-1).
Netherlands-Türkiye
Berlin’s Olympiastadion, the venue for the tournament final, will be rocking on Saturday 6th (19h00 GMT) with the clash between the ‘Oranje’ tide and the Turkish passion.
Striker Cody Gakpo, who has already scored three goals in the tournament, has emerged as one of the most decisive players in this Euro, and has led the Dutch to their first quarter-final since 2008.
In that edition, Turkey reached the semi-finals, a goal it hopes to repeat after having surprised Ralf Rangnick’s Austria (2-1).
Beyond the duel on the pitch between the promising Arda Güller and the proven Virgil van Dijk or on the bench between the styles of Ronald Koeman and Vincenzo Montella, the other face-to-face will be in the stands, between two of the most passionate fan bases of this Euro 2024.
dam/mcd
© Agence France-Presse
