Euro 2024 quarterfinals played - here are the results
The quarterfinals of this year's Euro 2024 have now been played, leaving us with four teams remaining in the tournament and only three matches left, since there is no bronze match in the Euros. Here, we go through all the quarterfinal matches and look at the standings in the top scorer list, as well as which players have a realistic chance of becoming the top scorer.This is how the quarterfinals in Euro 2024 went
Below is a brief summary of each match we saw in the quarterfinals, games that all offered great excitement and drama even if the quality of football we saw varied.
Dani Olmo had a great match in the quarterfinal against Germany
Spain vs. Germany - 2-1 after extra time
Most football fans were really looking forward to this match, and overall, few were disappointed as it offered both (at least for the most part) good football and enormous excitement and drama.The first half was partly a bit cautious as both teams show great respect each other, but despite both sides pushing forward, it was 0-0 at halftime. The most significant event this half was when Toni Kroos took down Pedri roughly just five minutes in, forcing Pedri to leave the match injured and to be replaced by Dani Olmo.
The second half was only six minutes old when Lamine Yamal played the ball into the penalty area, and Dani Olmo calmly placed it in the net, making it 1-0 for Spain. Germany then naturally pushed hard for an equalizer, while Spain remained dangerous on counterattacks.
Time was running out for Germany, but in the 89th minute, Joshua Kimmich headed a cross back into the box. There was Florian Wirtz who scored with a shot that hit the post and went in, leaving Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon with no chance, sending the match into extra time.
The match remained equal for a long time, but when Jamal Musiala took a shot on goal in the second half of extra time that hit Marc Cucurella's hand, everyone thought it would be a penalty for Germany. However, the referee was clear that he would not award a penalty, and the VAR officials did not intervene either. In many cases, the referee would have awarded a penalty in that situation, but instead of a German winning penalty goal, Mikel Merino headed in a cross from Dani Olmo in the 119th minute, making it 2-1 for Spain. Despite four minutes of added time, which became almost seven due to various disruptions, and a couple of dangerous chances for Germany to equalize, the score remained unchanged and Spain advanced to the semifinals.
This was Toni Kroos' last football match as he is now retiring, marking the end of a fantastic midfielder's career.
Portugal vs. France - France advances after penalties
This match was less anticipated as both France and Portugal had struggled with their offensive play and have been playing rather dull football. And unfortunately, it did not turn into a great match, despite the high-profile players both teams fielded.France had shown a very strong defence up to the quarterfinals but uninspired offensive play, and as they continued in this vein and Portugal was also cautious. The first half was pretty uneventful, and it was 0-0 at halftime.
In the second half, France continued with disciplined defence and some hope that Kylian Mbappé would produce some brilliance and score a goal, while Portugal played better and sought a winning goal. However, they could not break through the French defence, and the match ended 0-0, leading to extra time.
In extra time, Portugal was somewhat better offensively but failed to create any real chance to decide the game, and neither did France. Mbappé was troubled by his broken nose and mask and was actually substituted a quarter of an hour into extra time, despite the likely upcoming penalty shootout. The match was indeed decided by penalties as neither team could score in extra time either.
In the penalty shootout, France showed impressive efficiency, converting all their penalties, while Portugal's João Félix became the scapegoat, as someone always does when a match is decided by penalties, hitting the post with Portugal's third penalty.
Thus, despite once again lacklustre play, France advanced to the semifinals, showing their strength in grinding out results. Next, France will face Spain in the semis, a match where the Spaniards are likely slight favourites given their much better performance so far.
Swiss defender Manuel Akanji was the scapegoat in the penalty shootout
England vs. Switzerland - England advances on penalties
There are many similarities between France and England in this tournament as both teams have had incredible difficulty creating goal-scoring opportunities despite all their star players. However, England's defence does not feel as complete as the French, so it seemed like Switzerland had a good chance to advance from this match.As with the two previous quarterfinals, it was 0-0 at halftime, with neither team creating any significant chances.
The second half continued in the same vein, with both teams trying to create chances and taking turns controlling the match by passing around near the goal area without breaking through the opposing defence. Everything changed in the 75th minute when Breel Embolo suddenly was alert on a cross in the penalty area and steered the ball into the net, and suddenly Switzerland led 1-0.
At that moment, it felt like Switzerland would advance given England's impotent attack. However, England continued to try, and suddenly Bukayo Saka created a chance outside the penalty area and equalized with a fine shot, unstoppable for Yann Sommer in the Swiss goal.
Extra time was not very eventful, but in the 119th minute, Switzerland almost replicated Spain's feat of a late winner when Xherdan Shaqiri surprisingly curled a corner directly towards goal, hitting the crossbar. No goal, and we went to a second consecutive penalty shootout.
Cole Palmer started by confidently converting England's first penalty, and when Manuel Akanji missed Switzerland's first, England was ahead. The English are generally known for their poor penalty shootouts, but this time they showed great composure and efficiency. Neither England nor Switzerland missed any more penalties, and when Trent Alexander-Arnold converted England's fifth and final penalty, it was decided - England advanced to the semis, despite not having played a single good match in this tournament so far.
Netherlands vs. Turkey - 2-1
This was the second quarterfinal, besides Spain vs. Germany, with high hopes for exciting football as Turkey charmed everyone in this Euro with their lively offense, and the Dutch have improved themselves each match. And that was indeed what we got, with great excitement until the final whistle.The Dutch started the match best, creating some decent situations early on without producing a really dangerous chance, while the Turks always felt threatening when they moved forward.
Turkey advanced from the round of 16 thanks to two corner goals and once again showed how dangerous they are on set pieces. In the 35th minute, Turkey won a corner, and although the corner was cleared, they quickly delivered a new cross, and defender Samet Akaydin headed in 1-0 for Turkey, a score that held until halftime.
Ronald Koeman made changes at halftime, bringing in the towering Wout Weghorst to create chaos in the penalty area in the hunt for an equalizer. The Dutch pressed for an equalizer, creating some pressure while the Turks, as usual in this tournament, were dangerous on counterattacks.
An equalizer came, and the unexpected hero was defender Stefan de Vrij, who headed in the equalizer from a Memphis Depay cross in the 70th minute. The match was uncertain and open at that time, but both teams pushed forward for a winner.
A leading goal came just six minutes after the equalizer, and it was once again the Netherlands that scored. Denzel Dumfries delivered a low cross, and Cody Gakpo lunged forward at the far post, and the ball was deflected into the net. Initially, the goal was credited to Gakpo, but it was later changed to an own goal by Mert Müldür.
Turkey frantically sought an equalizer, creating a couple of really dangerous chances but failing to convert the chances. The match ended 2-1, and the Netherlands advanced to the semifinals, where England now awaits.
Cody Gakpo is right now the favourite to win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot
The top scorer list after the quarterfinals
Initially, it looked like Cody Gakpo would be the new sole leader in the top scorer list after the Netherlands' second goal was credited to him. However, since it was changed to an own goal, the top of the scorer list remains unchanged from before the quarterfinals, with four players on three goals each: Germany's Jamal Musiala, Georgia's Georges Mikautadze, Slovakia's Ivan Schranz, and Cody Gakpo.The most notable movement in the top scorer list is that Spain's Dani Olmo scored his second goal, and with Pedri likely out for the rest of the tournament due to the injury caused by Toni Kroos, Olmo is expected to start in the semi-final against France. Switzerland's Breel Embolo also scored his second goal in the tournament, but since Switzerland is eliminated, it will be difficult for him to score more.
The only remaining player in the tournament among the quartet with three goals is Cody Gakpo, making him the favourite to become Euro 2024's top scorer. Among players whose teams have advanced with two goals each are Spain's Dani Olmo and Fabián Ruiz, the Netherlands' Donyell Malen, and England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. If no player scores a hat-trick, which seems unlikely, the top scorer of Euro 2024 is likely to be one of these six players. It is also possible that the four players currently tied with three goals could share the top scorer title if the remaining matches have few goals.
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