Euro 2024 quarter-finals confirmed as England discover potential semi-final opponents
The Euro 2024 quarter-finals have been confirmed (Picture: Getty)
The Euro 2024 quarter-finals have been confirmed after the final round of last-16 fixtures were played on Tuesday night.
Eight teams remain in the hunt to become European champions, including hosts Germany and pre-tournament favourites England.
Defending champions Italy were knocked out by Switzerland, while 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia failed to get out of the group stage.
The four Euro 2024 quarter-final ties will be played on Friday and Saturday in various stadiums across Germany.
The hosts beat Denmark in the first knockout round and now turn their attentions to a mouth-watering clash with in-form Spain, who brushed aside minnows Georgia last time out.
In another game that promises so much, World Cup runners-up France then face Cristiano Ronaldo’s much-fancied Portugal, who needed penalties to beat Slovenia.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions are in action in the 5pm clash on Saturday, taking on a Swiss side full of confidence after ending Italy’s reign as European champions.
Euro 2024 quarter-finals
QUARTER-FINALS
Friday:
Spain v Germany (17:00 BST), Stuttgart
Portugal v France (20:00 BST), Hamburg
Saturday:
England v Switzerland (17:00 BST), Dusseldorf
Netherlands v Turkey (20:00 BST), Berlin
SEMI-FINALS
Spain/Germany v France/Portugal
England/Switzerland v Netherlands/Turkey
FINAL
Spain/Germany/France/Portugal v England/Switzerland/Netherlands/Turkey
The Netherlands, who are building momentum following a 3-0 win over Romania, then take on Turkey for a place in the semi-finals.
Spain have arguably been the standout team at the Euros and manager Luis de la Fuente believes his team are favourites to win the tournament.
‘The objective is to win another match and knowing that we are going to play against Germany,’ he said after watching his side dispatch Georgia.
‘With all due respect to the other players, we have the best team and players in the world. That doesn’t mean we are sure to win, but we are going to fight for it.
‘All teams have flaws. We have our own set of tools and also our weaknesses.
‘Germany is a great team, with great individual players and they work very well as a team. They are facing a very similar team, very organised, difficult to beat, very hungry.
‘It will be a very close match and it will be the details that will determine the match. We are very confident in ourselves.’
England were seconds away from a humiliating defeat to Slovakia and a premature Euros exit before completing an incredible turnaround to keep their hopes alive.
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