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DPA
Berlin
After one of the most memorable knockout rounds a Euros has ever seen, the quarter-finals promise another heavyweight clash in Belgium against Italy on Friday while the fairytale run of at least one of the less fancied teams will continue.
Either Denmark or Czech Republic will make the semi-finals with their last eight clash in Baku on Saturday pitting the neutrals’ favourite following the Christian Eriksen drama against the conquerors of the Netherlands.
The Swiss performed the biggest miracle of the last 16, coming back from 3-1 down late on to draw with world champions France and then dispatch them on penalties.
“It’s always ‘anything is possible’. We believe,”
said hero goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Their reward is Friday’s clash with Spain in coronavirus crisis city St Petersburg, with the Spanish coming off the back of scoring five in a second straight game after beating Croatia 5-3 in another magical last 16 encounter.
The last quarter-final in Rome on Saturday sees England and Ukraine do battle fresh from their hard-fought victories over Germany and Sweden respectively.
The winner plays the victor of the Czech Republic against Denmark game and with the semis and final being held at Wembley, Gareth Southgate’s England can suddenly see a winnable path to glory.
Not that the cautious Southgate, whose defensive tactics stifled Germany before a late attacking burst prompted two goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, is getting ahead of himself.
“It’s a dangerous moment with the feeling around the country that we’ve only got to turn up to win the thing,”
he said.
“We know it’s going to be an immense challenge from here on in.”
Ukraine, the weakest side to get through the group phase, have one of the greatest strikers of his generation as coach and Andriy Shevchenko will make sure England have that immense challenge in Rome on Saturday.
England fans wishing to be at the game have to quarantine for five days beforehand in Italy because of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the noise generated at Wembley against the Germans won’t be there to roar the Three Lions on.
Belgium and Italy fans have an easier task of getting into Germany for their game in Munich but the Belgians have slight injury doubts over creative fulcrums Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard.
The two sides are the only ones left in the competition with 100 per cent records, if extra-time is included given Italy needed the 30 minutes more to dispatch Austria 2-1 in the last 16.
Belgium knocked out holders Portugal 1-0, meaning all three teams who got through from the tough Group F are out. The stress of a group involving France, Germany, Portugal and a combative Hungary took its toll in the last 16.
The quarter-final line-up is very different to how many would have predicted. A roller-coaster Euros is ready for more twists and turns.
Berlin
After one of the most memorable knockout rounds a Euros has ever seen, the quarter-finals promise another heavyweight clash in Belgium against Italy on Friday while the fairytale run of at least one of the less fancied teams will continue.
Either Denmark or Czech Republic will make the semi-finals with their last eight clash in Baku on Saturday pitting the neutrals’ favourite following the Christian Eriksen drama against the conquerors of the Netherlands.
The Swiss performed the biggest miracle of the last 16, coming back from 3-1 down late on to draw with world champions France and then dispatch them on penalties.
“It’s always ‘anything is possible’. We believe,”
said hero goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Their reward is Friday’s clash with Spain in coronavirus crisis city St Petersburg, with the Spanish coming off the back of scoring five in a second straight game after beating Croatia 5-3 in another magical last 16 encounter.
The last quarter-final in Rome on Saturday sees England and Ukraine do battle fresh from their hard-fought victories over Germany and Sweden respectively.
The winner plays the victor of the Czech Republic against Denmark game and with the semis and final being held at Wembley, Gareth Southgate’s England can suddenly see a winnable path to glory.
Not that the cautious Southgate, whose defensive tactics stifled Germany before a late attacking burst prompted two goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, is getting ahead of himself.
“It’s a dangerous moment with the feeling around the country that we’ve only got to turn up to win the thing,”
he said.
“We know it’s going to be an immense challenge from here on in.”
Ukraine, the weakest side to get through the group phase, have one of the greatest strikers of his generation as coach and Andriy Shevchenko will make sure England have that immense challenge in Rome on Saturday.
England fans wishing to be at the game have to quarantine for five days beforehand in Italy because of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the noise generated at Wembley against the Germans won’t be there to roar the Three Lions on.
Belgium and Italy fans have an easier task of getting into Germany for their game in Munich but the Belgians have slight injury doubts over creative fulcrums Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard.
The two sides are the only ones left in the competition with 100 per cent records, if extra-time is included given Italy needed the 30 minutes more to dispatch Austria 2-1 in the last 16.
Belgium knocked out holders Portugal 1-0, meaning all three teams who got through from the tough Group F are out. The stress of a group involving France, Germany, Portugal and a combative Hungary took its toll in the last 16.
The quarter-final line-up is very different to how many would have predicted. A roller-coaster Euros is ready for more twists and turns.
