Far be it for England’s footballing public to get too ahead of themselves after being handed a favourable draw at Euro 2020, but it is hard not to start glimpsing ahead to 11 July. First, though, there are the small matters of four quarter-finals and two semi-finals.
With Germany, France and Netherlands all bowing out in the last 16, for the remaining nations this could well be their greatest chance to win a major tournament in a generation.
There have been grumblings about the fairness of a format in which some teams have rarely left their own shores and even if England go all the way, their tie against Ukraine will be their only excursion out of London.
Andriy Shevchenko’s men reached Rome in even more dramatic fashion than the Three Lions, though their last 16 tie with Sweden wasn’t exactly the highlight of the round. What it lacked in inspiration was made up for in the last minute of extra time, when Artem Dovbyk latched onto a whipping cross from Oleksandr Zinchenko and headed Ukraine into the next round.
Elsewhere, one of the favourites will be knocked out as Belgium face Italy, where both Robertos – Martinez and Mancini – will be sweating on the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, albeit for very different reasons.
Gli Azzurri have arguably been the most impressive outfit since they kicked off the tournament. Yet history tells us that the winners so often notch up the gears later on, just as Spain have been doing by scoring five goals in each of their last two games.
Luis Enrique’s team face Switzerland and should they be curious as to the perils of underestimating Xherdan Shaqiri and co, they can ask France on their ignominious retreat home after losing to their neighbours on penalties.
Here is the full quarter-final draw with details of how to watch each game. All matches will be shown on the terrestrial channels in the UK.
Full quarter-final schedule
Friday 2 July
- QF1: 5pm – Switzerland vs Spain (ITV)
- QF2: 8pm – Belgium vs Italy (BBC)
Saturday 3 July
- QF3: 5pm – Czech Republic vs Denmark (BBC)
- QF4: 8pm – England vs Ukraine (BBC)
Matches on the BBC can also be streamed on iPlayer, while ITV Hub will be showing that channel’s games live – as well as offering a highlights package at the end of each matchday.
Switzerland vs Spain
Speaking of slow Spanish starts, the only time in history La Roja have lost to Switzerland was in their opening match of the 2010 World Cup – and we know how that ended. This is a squad cut from a new era, which has waved goodbye to veteran Sergio Ramos and instead looks to the future, embodied by the likes of Ferran Torres.
They have critics from the early group stages to silence. In the opposite corner, Haris Seferovic will be looking to break through a Spain defence which conceded three to Croatia, but just one in their other three matches combined.
Belgium vs Italy
It is a pity we have to lose one of them so early. While on paper this should make for a scintillating encounter, so did the Red Devils’ last 16 tie against Portugal when the two nations more or less cancelled one another out.
Italy required extra time to get past Austria, conceding a goal for the first time in 11 matches at Wembley. Mancini’s men are suave – and not just in their impeccable suits – and if Belgium can halt their free-flowing passing, the world’s number one side will be ranked as the team to beat.
Czech Republic vs Denmark
The 1992 champions meet the 1996 finalists. Two of the surprise packages so far, Patrik Schick has spearheaded the Czechs’ charge with four goals and he is now the top scorer still left in the tournament (Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Emil Forsberg are all out).
Denmark’s story has been utterly remarkable, Christian Eriksen cheering his teammates on from home as they defied cruel circumstance to delight and dazzle past Russia and Wales.
England vs Ukraine
No, that wasn’t the final on Tuesday, though the scenes across England felt like a major triumph in themselves. If the 2018 World Cup path to the semi-finals was kind, this feels an even better opportunity for this latest ‘Golden Generation’ to make history.
Ukraine have beaten expectations just by being here, finishing third in their group and stunning Sweden late on after pressing home their extra man advantage.
More from i on Euro 2020
- England aren’t ‘rubbish’ and Southgate isn’t a ‘fraud’ – we just need a bit of patience
- What the Premier League could learn from Euro 2020’s controversy-free referees
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola stunt could change the face of football sponsorship
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3h4qK1a
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