Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

A closer look at the Euro 2020 quarter-finals

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 June 2021, 12:12
England and Ukraine booked their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 as the remaining last-16 fixtures were completed on Tuesday night.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how the four ties shape up.

Switzerland v Spain

(July 2, St Petersburg, 1700 BST)

The Swiss - who qualified for the last 16 as one of the best-ranked third-placed teams - delivered the biggest shock of Euro 2020 so far when they knocked out World Cup winners France following a penalty shoot-out in Bucharest, having rallied from 3-1 down with 10 minutes left.

Luis Enrique's Spain, runners-up in Group E, recovered from going behind to a calamitous own goal by goalkeeper Unai Simon to eventually beat Croatia 5-3 after extra-time in Copenhagen, where late goals from Mislav Orsic and Mario Pasalic had levelled things up in another highly dramatic encounter.

Belgium v Italy

(July 2, Munich, 2000 BST)

The world's best team have lived up to their billing as Roberto Martinez's Belgium coasted through Group B with a perfect record before then dispatching holders Portugal in Seville with a fine strike from Thorgan Hazard followed by determined defending during the closing stages. Victory came at a cost, though, with the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard to be closely monitored ahead of their trip to Munich.

Italy also impressed as they won Group A ahead of Wales without breaking sweat. However, Roberto Mancini's men were stretched by a determined Austria in their last-16 tie at Wembley - and could have been behind in the closing stages but for the intervention of VAR to rule out Marko Arnautovic's header. Eventually, though, Italy ground out another result with goals in extra-time from Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina, before a rare breach of their defence. The Azzurri are unbeaten through 31 games, a new national record - one which will be put to the test against Belgium.

Czech Republic v Denmark

(July 3, Baku, 1700 BST)

Before Switzerland stunned France, the Czech Republic had upset the formbook to dump out 10-man Holland 2-0 in Budapest. The Dutch - who topped Group C on the back of three wins at the Johan Cruyff Arena - crumbled after defender Matthijs De Ligt was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity with a handball after 55 minutes. Czech forward Patrik Schick took his tournament goal tally to four and has the Golden Boot now firmly in his sights.

Denmark qualified for the knockout stage on a wave of emotion following their response after Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in their opening group match and had to be resuscitated with a defibrillator. Kasper Hjulmand's squad, though, showed their place in the last eight is very much on merit after an impressive display ended Wales' hopes in Amsterdam.

Ukraine v England

(July 3, Rome, 2000 BST)

After losing to both Holland and Austria in Group C, Andriy Shevchenko's Ukraine were left sweating on results elsewhere to qualify as one of the third-placed teams, eventually edging out Finland on goal difference for the final slot. They then got past Sweden in a dramatic finale at Hampden Park, with a 2-1 win being secured by Artem Dovbyk's goal in stoppage time at the end of extra-time.

England reached the last 16 without conceding a goal, topping Group D after Raheem Sterling goals had sealed 1-0 wins over Croatia and the Czech Republic either side of a 0-0 draw against Scotland. Back at Wembley once again, as for the three pool games, Gareth Southgate's young squad then showed no weight of history against Germany as they won 2-0 thanks to goals from Sterling and skipper Harry Kane.

Top News

25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Closing out the first round of post-Christmas Premier League fixtures, Arsenal and Ipswich Town engage in an Emirates battle on Friday evening. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two iconic north-west clubs meet in the Premier League on Boxing Day, looking to move further up the standings from where they currently are, when Manchester City welcome Everton to the Etihad. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia may reportedly make the switch to Leeds United during the January transfer window. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Bromwich Albion have confirmed that Carlos Corberan has left the club to become the new manager of Valencia. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah could hit yet another new Premier League goalscoring milestone when the Reds host Leicester City in their Boxing Day battle at Anfield. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has lost captain Sam Morsy to suspension ahead of Friday's Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal temporarily begin life without Bukayo Saka when Ipswich Town arrive at the Emirates for Friday's Premier League showdown. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The curtain closes on the festive round of Premier League fixtures at the Emirates Stadium, where title outsiders Arsenal and relegation candidates Ipswich Town lock horns on Friday evening. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Is there a more satisfying sight in football than a sweetly-struck volley ripping into the back of the net? 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City must beat Everton on Boxing Day and end their dire form considering they face a relatively unthreatening opponent, Steven McInerney of Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City must beat Everton on Boxing Day and end their dire form considering they face a relatively unthreatening opponent, Steven McInerney of Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler is close to welcoming back many first-team players ahead of the visit of Brentford to the Amex on Friday. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Brentford to the Amex in one of two games being played after Boxing Day in the Premier League. 25 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham will attempt a 45-year winless run when they face West London neighbours Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland is preparing to leave Manchester City in the summer, with the Norwegian expressing dissatisfaction behind the scenes, according to reports. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final match on a jam-packed Boxing Day in the Scottish Premiership will come from the SMISA Stadium in Paisley, where St Mirren will be playing host to Rangers. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming for a fourth consecutive League One victory at the New York Stadium, Rotherham United welcome Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, keen to secure maximum points in gameweek 22. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid forward Rodrygo reportedly down a lucrative offer from Manchester City in the summer to stay in Spain. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Boxing Day brings us a bottom-half clash in the Scottish Premiership with Dundee set to take on a struggling Ross County at The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In a promotion 'six-pointer', Huddersfield Town are set to host Stockport County at John Smith's Stadium on Boxing Day in League One. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are supposedly likely to have the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani on loan in January after Bukayo Saka's injury. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two places separate Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership table heading into gameweek 19's Boxing Day derby at Tynecastle Park. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A stuttering Aberdeen will be hoping for some post-Christmas cheer when they travel to the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Thursday. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As families up and down the country tuck into their turkey leftovers, 20 Premier League teams will be putting on a festive spectacle across December 26 and 27, including eight intriguing Boxing Day battles. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly set an asking price of £40m for Marcus Rashford in the upcoming January transfer window. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embattled St Johnstone will be aiming to end a four-match winless run as they welcome Dundee United to McDiarmid Park for a Boxing Day clash in the Scottish Premiership. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace are prepared to welcome Eberechi Eze back to their matchday squad for the Premier League trip to Bournemouth on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Queens Park Rangers will head to South Wales for a Championship encounter against Swansea City on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The "resurrected" Gabriel Jesus should be Arsenal's first-choice centre-forward over the festive period after his pair of attacking masterclasses against Crystal Palace, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts.