After a thrilling round of 16 in Euro 2024, which saw upsets with defending champions Italy and Belgium exiting the tournament, the competition intensifies as we move into the quarterfinals. Football fans around the globe are eagerly anticipating the upcoming matches. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals schedule, teams, and what to expect.
Qualified Teams for the Quarterfinals
The following eight teams have successfully navigated the group stage and round of 16 to secure their places in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals:
- Germany
- Spain
- England
- France
- Portugal
- Turkey
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
Quarterfinal Match Schedule and Key Details
The Euro 2024 quarterfinal matches are set to be played over two action-packed days, Friday and Saturday. Here’s the schedule:
Friday Matches
- Spain vs Germany: 6pm (16:00 GMT) at Stuttgart Arena, Stuttgart
- Portugal vs France: 9pm (19:00 GMT) at Volksparkstadion, Hamburg
Saturday Matches
- England vs Switzerland: 6pm (16:00 GMT) at Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf
- Netherlands vs Turkey: 9pm (19:00 GMT) at Olympiastadion, Berlin
Teams to Watch in the Quarterfinals
Several teams have emerged as strong contenders as we progress further into the Euro 2024 tournament.
- Spain: Standing out as the only team with a perfect win record in the tournament so far, Spain has showcased formidable form, scoring nine goals in four matches.
- Germany: As the host nation, Germany has lived up to expectations, demonstrating powerful attacking prowess with a tournament-leading 10 goals. They remain unbeaten, with three wins and one draw.
- Turkey: Considered the dark horses of the quarterfinals, Turkey gained significant momentum after defeating Austria in the round of 16, proving they are a team to be reckoned with.
Knockout Stage Dates Beyond Quarterfinals
Looking beyond the quarterfinals, here are the key dates for the remaining Euro 2024 knockout stage matches:
- Semifinal 1: July 9 in Munich
- Semifinal 2: July 10 in Dortmund
- Final: July 14 in Berlin
Tie-breaker Rules
In the knockout stages of Euro 2024, if any match is drawn after regular time, the game will proceed to extra time. This consists of two 15-minute periods. If the score remains level after extra time, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.
Euro 2024 Prize Money
UEFA has allocated a total of 331 million euros ($360m) in prize money for the 24 participating teams in Euro 2024. The maximum prize money a champion team can achieve, if they have won all their group stage matches, is 28.25 million euros ($30.31m).
Top Scorers
Currently, four players are tied at the top of the Euro 2024 scoring charts, each with three goals:
- Georges Mikautadze (Georgia)
- Jamal Musiala (Germany)
- Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
- Ivan Schranz (Slovakia)
Following closely, eight players have scored two goals each, including notable names such as: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham (England), Niclas Fullkrug and Kai Havertz (Germany), and Merih Demiral (Turkey).
Suspended Players for Quarterfinals
A few players will miss the crucial quarterfinal matches due to suspension:
- Marc Guehi (England)
- Adrien Rabiot (France)
- Orkun Kokcu (Turkey)
- Ismail Yuksek (Turkey)
Head-to-Head Records of Quarterfinalists
Here’s a look at the historical head-to-head records between the teams facing each other in the quarterfinals across all international matches:
Spain vs Germany
- Spanish Wins: 8
- German Wins: 9
- Draws: 9
Portugal vs France
- Portuguese Wins: 6
- French Wins: 19
- Draws: 3
England vs Switzerland
- English Wins: 18
- Swiss Wins: 3
- Draws: 6
Netherlands vs Turkey
- Dutch Wins: 6
- Turkish Wins: 4
- Draws: 4
Roads to the Quarterfinals
Briefly recapping how each team reached this stage of the Euro 2024 tournament:
Spain
- Round of 16: 4-1 win vs Georgia
- Group Stage: 1-0 win vs Albania, 1-0 win vs Italy, 3-0 win vs Croatia
Germany
- Round of 16: 2-0 win vs Denmark
- Group Stage: 1-1 draw vs Switzerland, 2-0 win vs Hungary, 5-1 win vs Scotland
Portugal
- Round of 16: 3-0 win on penalties vs Slovenia
- Group Stage: 2-0 defeat vs Georgia, 3-0 win vs Turkey, 2-1 win vs Czechia
France
- Round of 16: 1-0 win vs Belgium
- Group Stage: 1-1 draw vs Poland, 0-0 draw vs Netherlands, 1-0 win vs Austria
Switzerland
- Round of 16: 2-0 win vs Italy
- Group Stage: 1-1 draw vs Germany, 1-1 draw vs Scotland, 3-1 win vs Hungary
Netherlands
- Round of 16: 3-0 win vs Romania
- Group Stage: 3-2 defeat vs Austria, 0-0 draw vs France, 2-1 win vs Poland
Turkey
- Round of 16: 2-1 win vs Austria
- Group Stage: 2-1 win vs Czechia, 3-0 defeat vs Portugal, 3-1 win vs Georgia
The Euro 2024 quarterfinals are shaping up to deliver high-stakes and captivating football. As teams battle for a spot in the semifinals, fans can look forward to thrilling encounters and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses.
Source: Al Jazeera
