Euro 2016: Germany to Face Italy, Poland vs Portugal in Quarters
The Quint takes a look at the quarter-final draw of Euro 2016.
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Italy ended Spain’s dominant run in European football after beating them in the round of 16 match on Monday. Spain, who won the last two Euros and the World Cup in 2010 went down 2-0 to the blue brigade.
But debutants Iceland pulled off the biggest upset in the tournament after beating England 2-1 in the final round of 16 match on Monday.
Wayne Rooney had put England ahead after scoring a penalty in the fourth minute, but Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scored in the sixth and eighteenth minute respectively, which helped Iceland take the lead and eventually win the match.
The Quint takes a look at the quarter-final draw of Euro 2016.
Poland vs Portugal
Poland made it to their first ever European Championship quarter-final after beating Switzerland 5-4 on penalties.
Jakub Blaszczykowski scored the opening goal for Poland in the 45th minute. When the Polish players seemed to be on their way to a 1-0 victory, Xherdan Shaqiri scored a fantastic goal to make the score 1-1.
During the penalty shootout, Poland converted all spot kicks, whereas Granit Xhaka missed for Switzerland.
Portugal and Croatia were also heading to a penalty shootout when they were tied at 0-0 until the 117th minute. Thereafter Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma managed to find the back of the net and propelled his team to the quarters.
The winner of the match between Poland and Portugal on Thursday will either face Belgium or Wales in the semi-final.
2. Wales vs Belgium
Wales got past fellow debutants Northern Ireland in the round of 16 match on Saturday.
Northern Ireland, who played better football between the two sides lost the game due to an own goal scored by Gareth McAuley in the 75th minute. Gareth Bale crossed the ball that McAuley inadvertently tipped into the net.
Belgium romped to the quarter-final after thrashing Hungary 4-0 in the round of 16 match.
Center back Toby Alderweireld opened the scoring with a header in the 10th minute. And subsequently goals were scored by Michy Batshuayi, Eden Hazard and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco in the 78th, 79th and 91st minute respectively.
Wales take on Belgium on Friday.
3. Germany vs Italy
The Germany-Italy fixture is the one to watch out for in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. The Germans eased into the quarter-final of Euros with a 3-0 victory over Slovakia on Sunday. Jerome Boateng with the world champions in the lead in eighth minute.
Mario Gomez and Julian Draxler found the back of the net in the 43rd and 63 minute respectively.
Italy, finally managed to beat Spain in a competitive match after 22 years. Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle scored in the 33rd and the 91st minute respectively, in a match where Italy dominated for most of the time.
Germany face off against Italy on Saturday.
4. France vs Iceland
Antoine Griezmann took France to the quarter-final after scoring twice against Ireland in the round of 16 match on Sunday. Robbie Brady had put Ireland ahead after converting a penalty in the second minute of the match.
But, France came back into the match after Griezmann scored in the 57th and 61st minute.
Iceland continued their fairy tale time at Euro 2016 after shockingly beating England in the round of 16 match.
The winner of the match between France and Iceland on Sunday will either face Germany or Italy in the semi-final.
Germany, Italy, France and Iceland, who are part of the bottom half of the quarter-final draw have nine World Cups and six European Championships among them and the top half of the draw have no big trophies among them.
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