Euro 2024 Round of 16 predictions, fixtures, results: Monday 1 July
The next two quarter-finalists are set to be decided in Germany on Monday, as the Round of 16 continues.
And what a contest to kick off the day, as France go up against Belgium in Dusseldorf, with both needing improvement to go deep into the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo follows at the top of the bill, as Portugal play Slovenia in Frankfurt.
*All kick off times in local time.
Round of 16: France vs Belgium – 18.00
The first knockout round at Euro 2024 has thrown up a tasty rival clash on Monday, as France tackle Belgium for a place in the quarter-finals.
Dusseldorf is the venue for the highly-rated pair, who have nevertheless not had it at all their own way in Germany so far.
France were tipped by many as pre-tournament favourites but were twice held to draws in Group D.
A broken nose suffered by star man Kylian Mbappe in the closing stages of their narrow opening win over eventual pool winners Austria didn’t help.
But a goalless draw with the Netherlands kept the show on the road for Didier Deschamps, before Mbappe’s penalty-scoring comeback against Poland secured a crucial further point, despite Robert Lewandowski hitting back from 12 yards at the other end.
Belgium have had to do it the long way round as they squeezed out of a remarkable Group E, in which all four nations finished on four points.
A shock opening loss to Slovakia left Kevin de Bruyne and Co with serious work to do to catch up.
But the Manchester City star joined Youri Tielemans on the scoresheet against Romania five days later to seal a 2-0 victory.
A goalless draw with Ukraine, then, was enough to see them come through as runners-up.
It means the winner will head to Hamburg to take on whoever comes out on top in Monday’s later kick off between Portugal and Slovenia.
Round of 16: Portugal vs Slovenia – 21.00
The Euro 2024 journey continues for Portugal and Slovenia on Monday, as the pair meet in the Round of 16 in Frankfurt.
It’s a contest between a side that secured knockout qualification at the first opportunity and one that squeaked in on goal difference as the lowest-ranked eligible third-placed pool finisher.
Cristiano Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure last Wednesday.
The global icon was substituted as the 2016 champions went down to a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of tournament darlings Georgia in Gelsenkirchen.
But with back-to-back Group F victories already banked, there was no jeopardy as the Iberians paced themselves towards the crux phase of the competition.
Roberto Martinez’s side had earlier dominated Turkiye 3-0 with goals from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, either side of a Samet Akaydin own goal.
It was an improvement on the opening 2-1 success over Czechia, which was only secured when Francisco Conceicao netted an injury time winner.
Slovenia came through the trudge that was Group D with three draws from three.
Erik Janza equalized late on in their opening match to share the spoils with Denmark, before suffering the reverse fate when Luka Jovic pulled level with the last kick for Serbia.
And by clinging on to a goalless stalemate with pre-tournament favourites England in Cologne, their passage was confirmed amid jubilant scenes among the travelling contingent and their blue-shirted underdogs.