As the last match in the round of 16 of the European Football Championship program between Austria and Turkey was played in Leipzig, all the 1/4-finalists in the competition became clear.
Bulgaria's southern neighbors overcame the Austrians 2:1 in an intriguing encounter to set up a showdown with the Netherlands in contention for a place in the semi-finals. The match at the Olympiastadion in Berlin is the last of the quarter-final program and will be played on Saturday, July 6, at 22:00 Bulgarian time.
Earlier in the day, one of the favorites for the trophy, England, faces an impressive Switzerland team, who dethroned Italy in the round of 16. The Crusaders are poised to claim another major scalp and it will surprise no one if they knock out the Englishmen, who slipped through the cracks of the last eight in the tournament. Gareth Southgate's side needed a late Jude Bellingham back-scissors equalizer against Slovakia before Harry Kane sent the Three Lions through to the quarter-finals with a goal early in extra time.
On Friday, there are undoubtedly the two top clashes. In the first of them, the most impressive team of Spain faces the hosts from Germany. La Furia Roja swept Georgia 4:1, conceding just one goal so far, an own goal by Robin Le Normand. Julian Nagelsmann's men went through the tough team of Denmark in the round of 16 and will again rely on the unreserved support of the stands to cope with the tough challenge in front of them.
Portugal and France will face each other in a repeat of the Euro 2016 final, when the Sailors won by a narrow 1:0. Roberto Martinez's side needed penalties to see off a struggling Slovenia side in the last 16 and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remains without a goal after missing a penalty in extra time. The French were also unconvincing in their 1:0 round of 16 victory over Belgium when Jan Vertonghen's own goal in the 85th minute saw them through. The winner of the match between Portugal and France will play either Spain or Germany in the semi-finals.
Euro 2024 program for the quarter-finals:
Friday, July 5: (Bulgarian hours)
19:00, Spain - Germany
22:00, Portugal - France
Saturday, July 6:
19:00, England - Switzerland
22:00, Netherlands - Turkey. | BGNES
