da realbet： GOAL ranks the eight teams left in Germany ahead of a weekend of heavyweight quarter-final clashes
da bet sport： And then there were eight. After a round of 16 featuring games of wildly contrasting quality, we're now looking forward to – or perhaps more accurately, hoping for – a weekend of cracking quarter-finals.
Certainly, on paper, some of match-ups are mouth-watering. Germany and Spain's showdown in Stuttgart has the potential to be a classic, but France against Portugal in Hamburg could be just as compelling, even if both sides have yet to find their best form.
On the other (weaker) side of the draw, surprise package Switzerland will be quietly confident of upsetting an England team that is lucky to still be in contention, while the only thing we know we're definitely going to get when Netherlands meet Turkey in Berlin is a brilliant atmosphere.
So, as it stands, which teams are looking like potential champions – and who could be heading home this weekend? GOAL ranks the eight teams left at Euro 2024 below..
Getty8Portugal ⬇️
The Cristiano Ronaldo Show rolls on – but only just. After missing a penalty – and umpteen other chances – during Monday's 0-0 draw with Slovenia, the Seleccao skipper was indebted to goalkeeper Diogo Costa for extending his international career with his history-making heroics in the penalty shootout.
Obviously, a misfiring and overly emotional Ronaldo should be dropped for the quarter-final against France. He's taken more shots than any other player in Germany (20) and yet hasn't a single goal to his famous name. A far more effective forward like Diogo Jota or Goncalo Ramos deserves a chance to lead the line. They won't get it, of course.
Manager Roberto Martinez isn't brave enough to make such a call, meaning Portugal will be once again relying on Ronaldo to roll back the years – or someone like Costa to once again to make up for the captain's now blatant shortcomings. Portugal really do run the risk of allowing Ronaldo to drag them down with him.
Advertisement(C)Getty Images7France ⬆️
France are giving off some serious Greece 2004 vibes in Germany: painfully limited in attack but very strong defensively. The thing is, though, Greece did what they had to do. They weren't blessed with a wonderful array of superstars; so they embraced a horribly negative but extremely effective brand of football to win games.
France have no such excuse. The performances have been pitiful given the quality Didier Deschamps has available to him. Granted, they were the better side against an abysmal Belgium, but they only won the game because of a Jan Vertonghen deflection.
The fact of the matter is that not a single French player has yet scored from open play in Germany. If they don't improve, if they don't figure out how to get Kylian Mbappe and the entire forward line firing, their luck will eventually run out, if not against Portugal, then against either a vastly superior Spain or Germany in the semis.
(C)Getty Images6Turkey ⬆️
To be brutally honest, Turkey didn't remotely deserve to beat Austria and it's a serious shame for the tournament that Ralf Rangnick's tremendously exciting side are out. Credit where it's due, though, Vincenzo Montella's men took advantage of the set-piece chances that came their way and defended for their lives for the remainder of the game.
They'll need to be just as clinical and resilient against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, but victory is certainly not beyond them. In Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, they've a couple of potential match-winners, while Hakan Calhanoglou will be back from suspension in Berlin, where Turkey will once again benefit from an incredible amount of 'home' support.
Getty Images5Germany ⬇️
There's an undeniable sense of inevitability around Germany right now. Not only have they played very well in patches, with Jamal Musiala particularly effective, fortune is really starting to favour the hosts.
Julian Nagelsmann's men nicked a draw in their final group game thanks to super-sub Niclas Fullkrug before eliminating Denmark in the last 16 thanks to the most marginal offside call you're ever likely to see, and a horribly harsh handball decision.
Obviously, Germany are going to have to take their game to a whole other level against Spain – but in Antonio Rudiger, Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos, they have experienced, world-class players who know exactly what is required to win matches of this enormity. Home advantage should also help their cause, and if Lady Luck smiles on them again, Germany have every chance of going all the way.