Uefa Euro 2016 quarter-finals update
Wales, France, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Germany, Iceland to compete in Euro 2016 Quarter-finals
UEFA Euro 2016 Quarter-finals are about to begin featuring the biggest names in European football as soccer superstars battle in quarter-finals fixtures on Friday and Monday mornings on the road to glory and the Euro 2016 Final on Sunday July 10 at Stade de Paris in Paris, France. The Euro 2016 Round of 16 was full of surprises as Italy knocked out Spain and debutant Iceland defeated titan England to go on to play France on Monday, July 4th. Other national teams that secured spots in the quarter-final are Italy, Germany, Wales, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, France and Iceland. The Quarter-final knock-out stage of the European Championship tournament kicks off with Poland v Portugal on Thursday night, June 30th at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Poland v Portugal
Friday July 1, 2016 - Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Key Superstars: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal; Robert Lewandowski, Poland
Poland finished second in Group C without conceding a single goal, they needed penalties taking them past Switzerland in the Round of 16. Portugal barely went through into the knockout stage after failing to win a single match in Group F. Portugal defeated Croatia with a goal in extra-time. Poland and Portugal have clashed on 10 previous occasions: Portugal won four, and Poland three (3 draws). Two of those matches were in tournaments, at the group stages of the 1986 and 2002 World Cups. Poland won in 1986, Portugal in 2002. It is notable that the Portugese are the only team to have reached the quarter-finals of the European Championships in every tournament since 1996. Poland are the lowest scoring national team in the Quarter-finals, although the Polish side have only conceded one goal to date in four matches. Poland superstar Robert Lewandowski scored in the 17th minute of his first game at the Euros v Greece in 2012. Lewandowski has failed to score a single goal or deliver any assist in the competition in since his first Euro 2016.
Portugal no doubt will be confident going into their match with Poland after defeating the powerful Croatia side, who were among the best teams in the tournament during the group stage. Poland has major concerns that Robert Lewandowski may continue his serious international goal drought. In the past, Portugal have not won a single game in a European Championship match in regulation time. Superstar Real Madrid striker, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to give the Portugal side an advantage in the otherwise evenly-matched teams. Also Nani and William Carvalho may be expected to put in great performances for the Portuguese side. Reportedly Andre Gomes will be benched after his performance against Croatia, and replaced by Joao Moutinho. Poland will again rely on Jakub Błaszczykowski and Arkadiusz Milik. Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski has not found his rhythm and been up to the superb playing ability he normally demonstrates in the German Bundesliga. Portugal’s CR7 will need to optimize his performance going forward until the end of the Euro 2016 tournament, or Portugal will likely be knocked out. Ronaldo’s previous performance against Hungary was sublime; however he was less effective against Croatia.
Wales v Belgium
Saturday July 2, 2016 - Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
Key Superstars: Gareth Bale, Wales; Eden Hazard, Belgium
Wales v Belgium kicks off at 8pm on Friday 1st July 1 at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille. In fairy-tale fashion Wales battled to top Group B past a feisty Northern Ireland side in the last-16 to arrive in the Euro 2016 Quarter-finals. Belgium finished second after Italy in Group D, defeating Ireland and Hungary along the way with credit to their lethal star Eden Hazard. Belgium have won 5 of their last 12 games, Wales won 3 of their last 4 matches and 3 were drawn. Wales have lost only 2 of 9 games at major tournaments, both by a one-goal difference. Belgium have come into form at the right time and have not conceded a single goal in their last 3 games, their longest run of clean sheets at major tournaments. Belgium have made the quarter-finals for a second consecutive major tournament after World Cup 2014. Belgium hit 8 goals without reply in their last 3 games. Belgium are now flying high and are favored to win the Euros this time around – but first they must defeat Wales who are fortunate to be in France, let alone in the last eight of the Euros. Gareth Bale is Wales key player who has a record of doing the extraordinary to win. Wales lucked out and have an own goal to thank for getting past Northern Ireland in the round of 16, after the Belgians hammered Hungary 4-0.
Bale appears to be shouldering the pressures and dreams of glory of an entire nation in the manner of other superstars Ronaldo, Messi, Ibrahimovic, and Neymar. Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsay will be online to lighten the load on Bale. World-class Belgium’s superstar winger Eden Hazard helped them dominate in the second half of their match with Ireland, and produced the individual performance of the tournament against Hungary, both scoring and setting up goals.
Germany v Italy
Sunday July 3, 2016 - Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Key Superstars: Gianluigi Buggon, Italy; Mario Gomez, Germany
Germany and Italy fans will not want to miss this intense knockout match at the Stade de Bordeaux in France. Reigning world champions Germany are up against a side that is on a roll. Even though Antonio Conte’s Italy side are gaining cult status, Germany is seen as the powerhouse. Italy v Germany is predicted to be the toughest match in the tournament. Italy’s Antonio Candreva may be out with a thigh injury. Gigi Buffon is as tough to beat in 2016 as he was in 2006. Germany have never beaten Italy at a major tournament. The German side have lost all four of their games against Italy in the knockout stages: three times at the World Cup (semi-final in 1970, final in 1982, semi-final in 2006) and once at the European Championships (semi-final in 2012). Germany are the only team that has not yet conceded a single goal to date at EURO 2016. Germany topped their group without conceding a goal. The world champions have seemed to progress through the tournament with ease. Italy looked untouchable in Group E with a magnificent display to knock reigning champions Spain out.
France v Iceland
Monday July 4, 2016 - Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Key Superstars: Antoine Griezmann, France; Ragnar Sigurdsson
Host nation France are about to compete with the greatest underdog side in international football since Greece. Iceland advanced from their group stage to knockout England to become the fairytale of the 2016 European Championship. Iceland traveled to France with support from 323,002 of their nearest and dearest fans - about a tenth of whom are in France for the tournament. French manager Didier Deschamps is already under pressure to make sure he doesn’t go down in defeat the same way as Roy Hodgson. Atletico Madrid star striker Antoine Griezmann has provided strength to his French side along with Dimitri Payet. Griezmann shone in Lyon, with a stunning performance for his side. Iceland star Ragnar Sigurdsson was named Man of the Match against England, Sigurdsson is one of the best defenders in the Russian Premier League at FC Krasnodar. Sigurdsson scored the equalizing goal in the match in Nice. France topped Group A, relying on late goals in the first two matches and then earning a goalless draw with Switzerland. In the last 16, France were failing against Ireland until Antoine Griezmann inspired a win. Iceland have already gone past their original expectations, playing brilliant football to come in second in Group F. Iceland’s victory over England will go down in history.
Uefa Euro 2016 tickets
Cheap Euro 2016 tickets are for sale now online from the safe and secure 1st4FootballTickets.com online football tickets marketplace. Buy Euro 2016 Quarter-finals tickets
Poland v Portugal Tickets Thu, 30 Jun 2016 Velodrome Marseille, Marseille
Wales v Belgium Tickets Fri, 1 Jul 2016 Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
Germany v Italy Tickets Sat, 2 Jul 2016 Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
France v Iceland Tickets Sun, 3 Jul 2016 Stade de France, Paris
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