Nick Seddon is back to preview the Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals, with some of world football’s heavy hitters in action in the knockout stages over in Germany.
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals Preview: July 6th/7th 2024
We’re well and truly into the business end of the 2024 European Championships, with the quarter finals due to hit our screens this weekend. Plenty of the pre-tournament favourites have got here, though it certainly hasn’t been without drama, particularly if you have backed France or England ante-post.
With one half of the bracket now looking rather top heavy, there’s a genuine feeling that any of the eight sides remain could reach the final, meaning plenty is on the line! With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at each game and picked out our best bets for every tie.
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals Preview: Spain v Germany
The weekend’s quarter finals begin with the most intriguing match-up, between arguably the two most impressive teams in the tournament so far. Germany have home advantage of course but it is the Spanish who are the narrow 1.80 favourites with kwiff to progress, having negotiated a ‘group of death’ involving Croatia and the defending champions Italy with relative ease. They had to come from behind in their first knockout tie against Georgia, though they were ultimately far too strong going forward.
Meanwhile, the hosts saw off Denmark in the last round to be here, though the eventual 2-0 scoreline rather glossed over the fact that they were vulnerable in moments. They needed a stoppage time goal against Switzerland to win their group and they will almost certainly have to raise their game if they’re to reach the last four – against a side that is a cut above what they’ve faced so far.
Neither side have struggled for goals so far, hitting the net 19 times between them, and the hosts will be wary of being punished by the pace of the likes of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal if they try to soak up pressure. With plenty of goal threats in their own right, this seems likely to be a high scoring affair and the 2.05 on offer for over 2.5 goals looks the way to go.
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals Preview: Portugal v France
Our second game on Friday sees us move from the stunning to the stuttering, as one of the pre-tournament favourites France take on Portugal. Neither of the pair have found anything like their best form in Germany so far, with the French rather shooting themselves in the foot by throwing away top spot in their group when drawing with Poland. Their 1-0 victory over Belgium in the last round was a solid result, though much like England there’s a frustration from the French fans around the manager Didier Deschamps’ overly cautious approach in games.
It’s worth noting that aside from a Kylian Mbappe penalty, no member of the French side has found the net in open play, with their other two goals in the competition coming from own goals. As it has so often tended to do in recent years, Portugal’s crusade for a second European title has felt more like the Cristiano Ronaldo show than it has a national effort and they were fortunate to squeeze past Slovenia in the last round.
Aside from his penalty miss in extra time, Portugal have looked disjointed in attack with Ronaldo at the helm and they will need much more if they are to trouble a French side that has conceded just nine goals in their last 14 games. This feels like a game which will come down to tight margins, meaning the 2.65 on offer with kwiff for under 1.5 goals makes plenty of appeal.
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals Preview: England v Switzerland
It certainly didn’t look likely for the majority of the previous round, but thanks to a moment of magic from Jude Bellingham, England were somehow able to pull it out of the fire against Slovakia. Gareth Southgate’s men have looked listless throughout this tournament and there can be no doubting that Switzerland will be a cut above anything that has come before.
There have been rumours that Southgate may switch to a back five – and two number 10 roles – to try and accommodate Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in their natural roles, though even with this change there have to be serious doubts about England’s ability to find the back of the net.
Switzerland have been one of the surprises of the tournament so far and having been unlucky not to have pipped Germany to top spot in their group, they brushed defending champions Italy aside in the last round with a controlled performance from start to finish. They may not be able to boast the stand out names that England have, but they are a well drilled unit with plenty of quality and there can be no doubt that they will be viewing this side of the draw as a golden opportunity to get to the final.
Plenty of pundits have said that there is still time for England to step up a gear, perhaps more in hope than expectation, but the tone rather seems to have been set now. It isn’t terminal by any stretch, but this has the feeling of a game where neither side will want to take excessive risks. Taking 2.62 about the draw looks more than fair, while if you’re feeling brave you can get 5.70 about a 0-0 draw. Come on England!
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals Preview: Netherlands v Türkiye
Much like the English and the Swiss, both nations will be eyeing up this side of the draw as a huge opportunity to get to Berlin. In a tournament where quite a few of the big guns have failed to impress, the eye has to be drawn to the Dutch. They haven’t been perfect by any stretch, finishing third behind Austria and France in their group, but have shown plenty going forward – which is counting for plenty in this tournament.
The Dutch tally of eight goals has been bettered by only Germany and Spain so far this tournament and they had too much for Romania in the last round. Türkiye are often given the ‘dark horse’ tag heading into the tournament, though having disappointed three years ago, it was difficult to know what to expect from them. In short, they have been very impressive and their victory over Austria was one of the games of the tournament.
With an estimated three million people of Turkish heritage living in Germany, this is as close to a home tournament as the Turks can get without hosting one and the atmosphere ought to be raucous. Neither side are likely to sit back and this looks to have all the hallmarks of a frenetic affair. With 14 goals between them, the 2.05 on offer for both teams to score looks an excellent bet.
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals Preview: Selections
Back Over 2.5 Goals in Spain v Germany @ 2.05 with kwiff
Back Under 1.5 Goals in Portugal v France @ 2.65 with kwiff
Back 0-0 Correct Score in England v Switzerland @ 5.70 with kwiff
Back Both Teams To Score in Netherland v Türkiye @ 2.05 with kwiff
By Nick Seddon
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