Spain vs. Germany (Friday, 5.00pm)
© Reuters
Two European juggernauts seeking to win an unprecedented fourth European Championship title do battle at the MHPArena in Stuttgart on Friday evening, as Spain lock horns with Euro 2024 hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.
The victors of this eagerly-anticipated contest will face the winners of the last-eight tie between Portugal and France in the semi-finals.
We say: Spain 2-1 Germany (after extra time)
A tight affair cannot be ruled out on Friday considering that each of their last four meetings between these two nations in major tournaments have produced only six goals (Spain four, Germany two), while no more than two goals have been scored in six of the last seven encounters in all competitions.
This 50-50 contest could go either way and few would be surprised to see it go beyond the 90 minutes, but we feel that Spain may just have the edge to sneak through to the semi-finals and bring the curtain down on Germany's home Euros.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
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Portugal vs. France (Friday, 8.00pm)
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Portugal vs. France. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Kylian Mbappe. A repeat of the 2016 showpiece. Friday's Euro 2024 quarter-final at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg promises to be an absorbing affair.
Roberto Martinez's men dramatically bested a plucky Slovenia side on penalties to prolong their quest for glory, while Les Bleus were also far from convincing in their 1-0 beating of Belgium.
We say: Portugal 0-1 France
A Portugal side scoreless in two matches facing a France side to have shipped just one goal in their last six matches points to more offensive misery for the Selecao, whose own defence can still expect to hold out for large periods against an equally timid Bleus attack.
Whether Friday is the day that one of Deschamps's men scores from open play remains to be seen, but the 2018 World Cup winners are not short of methods to force the ball over the line, and for that reason, another one-goal triumph could come the way of Les Bleus and bring the curtain down on Ronaldo's Euros career.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
> Who will replace Rabiot? France predicted lineup vs. Portugal
> Ronaldo to keep place? Portugal predicted lineup vs. France
Oliver Thomas
