2024 UEFA Euros Quarterfinals Predictions

What a fun, late June and early July for Euros play. The round of 16 filtered out another eight teams with championship aspirations. While most of the eight teams eliminated put up a fight, the remaining eight were better and deserved to advance to the quarterfinals. As mentioned in the last Euros article, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round is elimination. That means overtime and shootouts/penalty kicks decide the winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group. Here are the predictions for which four advance to the semi-finals.

1B Spain v. 1A Germany

The quarterfinals begin with a bang on Friday. These are arguably the two best teams in the Euros.

Neither team has lost a match since the tournament began. While Germany has home-pitch advantage, Spain is undoubtedly the better team. When Georgia got an early lead last round against La Roja, Spain continued the offensive pressure and never let up. Die Mannschaft plays a great team game, but they struggle if midfielder Jamal Musiala doesn’t make the scoresheet.

Prediction: Spain wins 3-1

1F Portugal v. 2D France

On paper, these two teams have the most potential of the remaining eight. Their performances say otherwise from offensive struggles to conservative substitutions. Portugal’s offense disappeared after a 3-0 shutout win versus Turkiye. The Selecao das Quinas didn’t score again until penalty kicks last round, while France struggled against Belgium despite Red Devils manager Domenico Tedesco’s poor tactics.

Portugal does have the best offensive depth of the two teams and plays stellar defense. If Selecao das Quinas can’t get past France, this will be a wasted Euros career finale for star forward and captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Upset prediction of the quarter finals: Portugal wins in extra time 2-1

1C England v. 2A Switzerland

If there were doubts about England’s chances of repeating their Euros championship appearance after group play, they intensified in an extra time win against Slovakia. The Falcons led most of the match in regular time and the Three Lions looked helpless outside of manager Gareth Southgate’s three substitutions leading up to the 1-1 tie.

Switzerland is a quality opponent England has to match energies against for at least 90 minutes. Italy’s defense struggled against midfielder Granit Xhaka and the Swiss transition offense led by Ruben Vargas and Remo Freuler. Southgate has to figure out the best positions for England’s star players unless he wants goalkeeper Jordan Pickford leaping around half the match.

Prediction: Switzerland wins 3-1

3D Netherlands v. 2F Turkiye

Almost everyone was shocked Austria was eliminated in the round of 16. Das Team proved they could play against the best even before the Euros. In the end, they never considered the Turks scoring early in either half. Defender Merih Demiral had the match of his life while forward Arda Guler became the third teenager in Euros history (after the aforementioned Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney) to score a goal and an assist.

The Netherlands improved against their round of 16 opponent Romania. Donyell Malen scoring multiple goals in any round boosts confidence for an inconsistent offense. The veteran Oranje have to strike early and keep offensive pressure if they want to make the semi-finals.

Prediction: Netherlands wins 3-2

Round of 16 predictions record: 6-2