Which teams are left in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals?

Many may regard the group stages as the mere preliminary rounds for the proper stuff. The last 16 is when Euro 2024 really got underway.

Now, that’s not to say the round delivered from an entertainment perspective. The majority of the contests were pretty drab, although Jude Bellingham’s acrobatics and Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears will be remembered forever.

The conclusion of the first knockout round means just eight teams remain in the competition. The scent of the Henri Delaunay Cup grows stronger for those left, with the tournament’s showpiece event in Berlin on 14 July drawing ever closer.

Here’s a rundown of the eight teams left in Euro 2024.

Switzerland have been consistent performers at major tournaments in recent times, but expectations heading into Euro 2024 were fairly tame. Many suspected the Swiss would struggle in Group A and earn no more than a round of 16 berth should they progress.

Murat Yakin’s side have instead emerged as one of the most impressive and intriguing sides in Germany this summer. Yakin’s tactical wrinkles have made them incredibly hard to play against and they boast enough talent going forward to keep stern backlines on their toes.

Switzerland brushed Hungary aside on Matchday 1, came within moments of beating Germany and winning Group A and made light work of holders Italy in the round of 16. An unbalanced England await in the last eight.

Switzerland’s Euro 2024 results

It didn’t take long for the host nation to catch Euros fever after they battered Scotland 5-1 to kick off the tournament. Germany has buzzed ever since Florian Wirtz got the ball rolling on opening night and although they haven’t quite dazzled in the matches that have followed, Julian Nageslmann’s team is doubtlessly formidable.

The manager has tinkered with his team based on the opposition, with Germany’s options in reserve aiding their progression into the knockouts as group winners. Niclas Fullkrug has scored twice off the bench, crucially equalising against the Swiss, while Jamal Musiala has arguably been the star of the tournament thus far and currently sits joint-top of the scoring charts.

Musiala scored his third goal of Euro 2024 in Germany’s 2-0 round of 16 victory over Denmark.

Germany’s Euro 2024 results

England supporters have enjoyed about 10% of the action in Germany this summer, with the bulk of that 10% arriving during their opening victory against Serbia.

Their Matchday 1 triumph was fairly vintage, but the draws that ensued were utterly drab. Still, a five-point haul was enough to advance as victors of a dire Group C and their reward was a last-16 tie against Slovakia.

England flirted with a Euro 2016-esque humiliation for the majority of the tie, falling 1-0 behind before half-time. Gareth Southgate once again struggled to establish balance, even when he rang the changes in the second half, and he was eventually bailed out by Jude Bellingham’s sequence of acrobatic genius with barely a minute left on the clock to take the game to extra-time.

A Harry Kane header later and England are in the last eight, but an array of questions still cloud the Three Lions.

England’s Euro 2024 results

It really was night and day going from watching England struggle past Slovakia to Spain eventually easing past Georgia on Sunday night.

Spain’s slick fluidity and cohesion totally contrasts English turgidity in possession and they have been the standout team of the tournament through four games.

Croatia and Italy were put to the sword by Luis de la Fuente’s preferred starting XI before a resolute Albania succumbed to Spain’s reserve side to round off the group stage.

They did receive a scare against an excellent counter-attacking side in Georgia in the last 16, falling 1-0 behind, but Spain created chances at will against a stubborn defensive block and blew them out of the water in the second half. This team can still control matches and overwhelm sides through sheer technical mastery, but they’ve also got the speed out wide to threaten on the counter and relentlessly inject pace into their attacks.

Spain’s Euro 2024 results

France have been a bit similar to England, but they did progress through a tough Group D and have already knocked out Belgium in the round of 16.

Domenico Tedesco attempted to out-bore the French in Dusseldorf but Didier Deschamps’ side, as they so often do, delivered the much-needed moment to send them through. Randal Kolo Muani’s deflected effort summed up what was a disappointing affair between two teams laden with talent.

Some will say there’s much more to come from this France team, but this may just be who they are.

France’s Euro 2024 results

Portugal’s round of 16 affair was quite the show; the Cristiano Ronaldo show, to be precise.

Slovenia, as they proved against England, were stubborn opponents and after a bright enough first half in which Portugal had success getting in behind a compact defence, the chances dried up until Diogo Jota won his country – and Ronaldo – a spot-kick. Jan Oblak’s subsequent save brought the all-time great to tears and it appeared as if the 39-year-old was going to bow out in acrimonious fashion on the grand stage.

Ronaldo steadied himself for the shootout, however, and converted his penalty, but Portugal’s hero in the round of 16 was goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Before saving all three Slovenian penalties, Costa made a huge save in extra time to deny Benjamin Sesko one-on-one.

Like many of the major nations, Portugal have struggled to impress at Euro 2024. Roberto Martinez has not yet found an optimal balance and their quarter-final tie against France, despite the abundance of talent, could be a tough watch.

Portugal’s Euro 2024 results

Ronald Koeman has predictably delivered a fairly underwhelming campaign, but hey, the Netherlands are in the quarter-finals following their victory over Romania.

The Dutch struggled through a challenging group stage but offered promise on Matchday 2 in their stalemate with France. Defeat to Austria on Matchday 3 consigned them to third in Group D, but their last 16 triumph has seen optimism over the Oranje’s prospects.

A winnable quarter-final tie against Turkey awaits them in Berlin.

Netherlands’ Euro 2024 results

Congratulations to those of you that cashed in your dark horse chip on Turkey this summer. They’ve finally delivered.

Turkey have struggled at major tournaments since their dramatic Euro 2008 campaign, falling flat on their faces at Euro 2020, in particular. And while Vincenzo Montella’s side are certainly flawed, they’ve got a bunch of exciting young stars going forward that have proven key in their successful tournament to date.

Their downing of Austria was perhaps the most impressive performance of the last 16, with Montella’s side previously overcoming Georgia in an all-time classic and Czechia to progress from Group F as runners-up.

Turkey’s Euro 2024 results

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