Euro 2024: Quarterfinals Preview and Prediction

Spain vs Germany Prediction: Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Match Preview

It has already been an enthralling tournament, but there’s something about the prospect of Spain vs Germany that gets the juices flowing as the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 begin.

It’ll be a big task for the hosts against the only team to have won all four of their games.

No host nation has ever been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the UEFA European Championship, with all four previous host quarter-finalists progressing: England won a penalty shootout against Spain in 1996, the Netherlands beat Yugoslavia 6-1 in 2000, Portugal beat England on penalties in 2004, and France defeated Iceland 5-2 in 2016.

Germany has an excellent record at this stage, too. This will be their 19th quarter-final tie across the World Cup (14) and European Championship (5), the most of any European nation at the two major tournaments. They have progressed from 15 of their previous 18 (83%), including all four at the Euros (1996, 2008, 2012, 2016).

Julian Nagelsmann’s men won their group after beating Scotland (5-1) and Hungary (2-0) before drawing with Switzerland (1-1). They had to overcome a thunderstorm in Dortmund before beating Denmark 2-0 in the round of 16.

It has been slightly smoother for Spain, with Luis de la Fuente’s side also topping their group, beating Croatia (3-0), Italy (1-0) and Albania (1-0), before coming from behind to ease past Georgia 4-1 in the last 16.

This will be a meeting of Euro 2024’s two top-scoring teams. Spain has scored nine goals, while Germany has 10, which is already their joint-most in a single edition of the competition. Their shot conversion rate of 13.9% is currently their highest in an edition since Euro 2008 (14.5%), though they went on to lose to Spain in the final that year.

The future of the Nationalelf should be in good hands though, especially with Jamal Musiala around. Musiala has scored in three of Germany’s four games (three goals) and is joint-top scorer at the tournament. The only player to score more goals in a single edition of a Euros while aged 21 or younger was Wayne Rooney for England in 2004 (four).

Spain has their star players, but perhaps few will have anticipated the impact made by Fabián Ruiz so far. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has been involved in five goals in his last four games in all competitions for Spain (three goals, two assists). He’s both scored and assisted in two of his three games at Euro 2024 – no player has ever done so in three different games at a single edition of the European Championship.

However, the headlines have been grabbed by star wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, who shone once more in the 4-1 win over Georgia.

Sixteen-year-old Yamal has provided two assists for Spain at Euro 2024, becoming just the third teenager on record (since 1980) to provide multiple assists at the competition after Enzo Scifo (1984) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2004). He’s rising to the challenge on the big stage, with 94% of his passes made while under pressure (106/113), the highest rate of any Spain player to play at least 180 minutes at Euro 2024.

Spain vs Germany Head-to-Head

This will be the fourth meeting between Spain and Germany at a European Championship, with Spain winning two (1984 and 2008) to Germany’s one (1988). Their last such meeting was in the 2008 final, with Spain winning 1-0 thanks to a Fernando Torres goal.

These two also faced off at the 2022 World Cup, playing out a 1-1 draw in the group stage. Álvaro Morata’s opener was cancelled out late on by Niclas Füllkrug.

Spain are unbeaten in their last four major tournament matches against Germany (W2 D2), with these games producing a total of just six goals (Spain 4, Germany 2).

Having said that, although Germany lost their first meeting with Spain on German soil (2-1 in a 1935 friendly), they are unbeaten in their last eight games against La Roja on their turf (W5 D3).

PREDICTION: OVER 1.5 @1.33

Portugal vs France Prediction: Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Match Preview

Portugal and France confirmed their places in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, but neither side – who were among the pre-tournament favourites – were convincing in doing so.

Roberto Martínez had Diogo Costa to thank for his penalty heroics against Slovenia as the Porto goalkeeper spared Cristiano Ronaldo’s blushes in Frankfurt.

Ronaldo saw an extra-time spot-kick saved by Jan Oblak, reducing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to tears at the interval before stepping up to score in the shootout.

Earlier that day, France was aided by the knee of Jan Vertonghen as they squeezed past Belgium in Düsseldorf, with their struggles in front of goal continuing.

Many will be optimistic of another enthralling encounter between two European powerhouses, who met in the final of Euro 2016. But based on the current form, expectations ought to be tempered.

While both sides boast an array of attacking talent, they have misfired in Germany, and every little advantage will likely be crucial in a tight contest.

Portugal hasn’t scored in their last two matches; they’ve never failed to net in three consecutive games at a single major tournament before.

Les Bleus have had a similar problem. Their three goals at Euro 2024 have come from two own goals and a Kylian Mbappé penalty.

Not since a run of five internationals between March and September 2013 have France seen their players fail to score from open play in as many matches.

However, their defence remained resolute in their time of need. France has an expected goals against (xGA) total of just 2.63 at Euro 2024, the lowest of any side in the quarter-finals and second lowest at the tournament overall after already-eliminated Serbia (2.57).

France has kept a clean sheet in three of their four games, the most of any side at the tournament, yet the players are not helping them in front of them.

Deschamps tried to reignite Les Bleus‘ attacking spark with a three-man strike force against Belgium, but the pickings were slim.

A trio of Mbappé, Marcus Thuram and Antoine Griezmann were preferred, with Randal Kolo Muani introduced late on, but it proved to be another largely blunt display.

France had 19 shots against the Red Devils, but just two were on target, and ultimately it was a touch of fortune that saw them through. Deschamps, however, has the opportunity to freshen up his forward line.

Portugal boss Martínez, on the other hand, will face his toughest decision yet on Ronaldo.

The 39-year-old endured an evening to forget against Slovenia but assumed responsibility for the Seleção‘s first spot-kick in the penalty shootout, and was sure not to make the same mistake twice.

During that game in Frankfurt, Ronaldo had the most shots (eight), shots on target (four) and touches in the opposition’s box (seven) of any player. A clinical edge is lacking, though.

Indeed, Portugal’s captain has mustered 20 shots at Euro 2024, the most of any player, but he’s yet to find the back of the net.

While it may be difficult to drop a player who is the all-time leading goalscorer in international football, Martínez could see this as an opportunity to tweak his frontline.

Portugal vs France Head-to-Head

This will be the fifth meeting between Portugal and France at the European Championship, with the Seleção unbeaten in the last two.

France won the first two meetings, going on to lift the trophy both times (3-2 in 1984, 2-1 in 2000), and Les Bleus know a win could send them on their way to silverware once again.

But Martínez’s side will similarly fancy their chances of claiming a second European Championship crown should they triumph here.

The previous four teams to eliminate France at the quarter-final stage of a major tournament have won the trophy (Italy in the 1938 World Cup, Greece at Euro 2004, Spain at Euro 2012 and Germany at the 2014 World Cup).

PREDICTION: UNDER 2.5 @1.58

England vs Switzerland: UNDER 2.5 @1.49
Netherlands vs Turkiye: HOME WIN @1.60