European Championship Quarter Final Preview And Tips

The Round of 16 at the Euros is now in the bag and there have been shocks aplenty with the 2014 and 2018 World Cup Winners, plus the Euro 2016 Champions all being eliminated at this stage of the tournament.

We have also seen some incredible games, some old scores settled, moments of brilliance and moments of craziness in what has been an enthralling and often emotional set of Round of 16 ties.

However, the eight teams to make it through to the quarterfinals are now known and in this post, we are going to preview the four quarterfinal ties and, of course, give you our tips on who we think will win, or at least progress from each tie to the semifinals.

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So let’s begin with a quick recap of how the Round of 16 ties panned out.

Euro 2020 Round of 16 Results

• Wales 0-4 Denmark

Two goals for Kasper Dolberg, plus late strikes from Joakim Mahle and Martin Braithwaite saw Denmark into the last eight comfortably as Wales crumbled and late on saw Harry Wilson given a red card.

• Italy 2-1 Austria (after extra time, 0-0 at 90 minutes)

After a goalless 90 minutes, Italy went into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina. Sasa Kalajdzic’s late consolation wasn’t enough to keep plucky Austria in the tournament.

• Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic

The sending off of the Netherlands centre back Matthijs de Ligt in the 55^th minute was the pivotal moment in this game. Until that point, the game was delicately poised but the Czech’s took full advantage of the extra man with Holes and Schick scoring the goals to cause the first big upset in the Round of 16.

• Belgium 1-0 Portugal

Thorgen Hazard’s thunderous shot just before hald time as the difference between the sides as Belgium survived plenty of Portuguese pressure to register a narrow victory, however injuries to de Bruyne and Eden Hazard did take some of the gloss off that win over the Euro 2016 champions.

• Croatia 3-5 Spain (after extra time, 3-3 at 90 minutes)

The first of two incredible Monday games saw Spain prevail 5-3 after extra time against Croatia. Croatia took the lead after a goalkeeping howler from Simon, but Spain bounced back to lead 3-1 with just 5 minutes left, howevert two goals in 7 minutes brought Croatia level to force extra time. Spain added two more goals in the first half of extra time to break Croatia’s dogged resistance.

• France 3-3 Switzerland (after extra time, 3-3 at 90 minutes, Switzerland win 5-4 on penalties)

Arguably the best game and also the biggest shock of the tournament so far as the Swiss and French played out a classic in Bucharest. After taking a surprise early lead, the Swiss were pegged back by France thanks to two goals from Benzema just two minutes apart and a spectacular shot from Pogba. However two goals in the last ten minutes brought the Swiss level and forced extra time. With no further goals, the game went to penalries and Sommer’s save from Mbappe’s final penalty kick for France was enough to send Switzerland through and the favourites home.

• England 2-0 Germany

England laid to rest a number of demons as they earned a fine 2-0 victory over the 2014 World Cup winners and their nemesis at so many tournaments previously. Raheem Sterling put England ahead in the 75^th minute with a well-worked goal and then Thomas Muller squandered a great opportunity to draw Germany level. Harry Kame made them pay adding a second minutes later to secure a massive win for the Three Lions.

• Sweden 1-2 Ukraine (after extra time, 1-1 at 90 minutes)

There was a sting in the tail of this game as Ukraine defeated Sweden right at the end of extra time. Zinchenko put the Ukraine ahead in the first half but Forsberg’s deflected shot brought Sweden level. With no further goals in regulation time and for the majority of extra time, which Sweden played most of with 10 men after having Danielson sent off, Dovbyk headed home in injury time in extra time to send the Ukraine through.

Euros Quarter Final Ties And Tips

Friday 2^nd July

Switzerland v Spain (5pm, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)

• Head To Head – Played 23, Spain Wins 16, Switzerland Wins 1, Draws 6
• Last Result – 14^th November 2020 – Switzerland 1-1 Spain (Nations League)
• Statline – Although Spain have the historic edge in this fixture, the last four games between the teams have seen one win apiece (both 1-0) and two matches finish in a 1-1 draw.

Our Tips

• Match Result – Draw – 11/4
• Correct Score – Switzerland 1-1 Spain – 13/2
• Anytime Goalscorer – Pablo Sarabia (Spain) – 12/5

After both these teams were involved in hugely dramatic Round of 16 ties, I think both will look to tighten things up here. This will be close, and I think extra time and maybe even penalties may be needed to decide the winner, but I think Spain will just about prevail to progress on in the tournament.

Belgium v Italy (8pm, Allianz Arena, Munich)

• Head To Head – Played 23, Italy Wins 14, Belgium Wins 4, Draws 5
• Last Result – 13^th June 2016 – Belgium 0-2 Italy (Euro 2016 Group Stage)
• Statline – The last five games have seen three wins for Italy and two for Belgium. Both Belgium wins by a 3-1 scoreline and Italy’s three wins were either 2-0 (twice) or 3-1.

Our Tips

• Match Result – Italy to win (13/10 with bet365)
• Correct Score – Belgium 0-1 Italy – 6/1
• Anytime Goalscorer – Ciro Immobile (Italy) – 15/8

If Belgium had De Bruyne and Eden Hazard fully fit, I’d have backed them to win t his one. However with both potentially absent from this game, or at best only partially fit, I think Italy have the experience and knowhow to get the job done and claim a narrow victory.

Saturday 3^rd July

Czech Republic v Denmark (5pm, Olympic Stadium, Baku)

• Head To Head – Played 12, Czech Rep Wins 3, Denmark Wins 2, Draws 7
• Last Result – 15^th November 2016 – Czech Rep 1-1 Denmark (Friendly)
• Statline – The Danes have not lost to the Czech’s since a 3-0 defeat at Euro 2004. However in the six games since, five have finished as a draw with one sole Denmark win in that time.

Our Tips

• Match Result – Denmark to win – 11/10
• Correct Score – Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark – 9/1
• Anytime Goalscorer – Mikkel Damsgaard (Denmark) – 3/1

There’s something very impressive about this Danish side and I think that togetherness and the fact their confidence will be sky high after great wins over Russia and Wales means that they should hav enough to come through this tricky game against a solid Czech team.

Ukraine v England (8pm, Stadio Olimpico, Rome)

• Head To Head – Played 8, Ukraine Wins 1, England Wins 4, Draws 3
• Last Result – 10^th September 2013 – Ukraine 0-0 England (World Cup Qualifier)
• Statline – England have won just one of the last four against the Ukraine, a 1-0 win at Euro 2012. The last two games between the teams in 2012 and 2013 were both drawn games.

Our Tips

• Match Result – England to win – 4/9
• Correct Score – Ukraine 0-2 England – 11/2
• Anytime Goalscorer – Raheem Sterling (England) – 13/8

Recent games between these two have been very close but after an exhausting game against the Swedes, I think Ukraine will be hard pushed to get something here against an England team yet to concede a goal in the tournament and who looked much stronger against Germany. If they can play that well again, England should win this one.

*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of 9.30am on Wednesday 30^th June 2021.