Quarterfinals Euro 2012 Winners, Predictions, Projections

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Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	21 June – Warsaw
	Czech Republic
					27 June – Donetsk
	Portugal
					Winner of quarter-final 1
	23 June – Donetsk
					Winner of quarter-final 3
	Spain
									1 July – Kiev
	France
									Winner of semi-final 1
	22 June – Gdańsk
									Winner of semi-final 2
	Germany
					28 June – Warsaw
	Greece
					Winner of quarter-final 2
	24 June – Kiev
					Winner of quarter-final 4
	England

Key to colours in group tables
Team progressed to the quarter-finals

Group A

Main article: UEFA Euro 2012 Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Czech Republic	3	2	0	1	4	5	−1	6
Greece	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
Russia	3	1	1	1	5	3	+2	4
Poland	3	0	2	1	2	3	−1	2

Greece was placed above Russia based on their head-to-head record (1–0).

8 June 2012
Poland	1–1	Greece
Russia	4–1	Czech Republic
12 June 2012
Greece	1–2	Czech Republic
Poland	1–1	Russia
16 June 2012
Czech Republic	1–0	Poland
Greece	1–0	Russia

Group B

Main article: UEFA Euro 2012 Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Germany	3	3	0	0	5	2	+3	9
Portugal	3	2	0	1	5	4	+1	6
Denmark	3	1	0	2	4	5	−1	3
Netherlands	3	0	0	3	2	5	−3	0

9 June 2012
Netherlands	0–1	Denmark
Germany	1–0	Portugal
13 June 2012
Denmark	2–3	Portugal
Netherlands	1–2	Germany
17 June 2012
Portugal	2–1	Netherlands
Denmark	1–2	Germany

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Group C

Main article: UEFA Euro 2012 Group C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Spain	3	2	1	0	6	1	+5	7
Italy	3	1	2	0	4	2	+2	5
Croatia	3	1	1	1	4	3	+1	4
Republic of Ireland	3	0	0	3	1	9	−8	0

10 June 2012
Spain	1–1	Italy
Republic of Ireland	1–3	Croatia
14 June 2012
Italy	1–1	Croatia
Spain	4–0	Republic of Ireland
18 June 2012
Croatia	0–1	Spain
Italy	2–0	Republic of Ireland

Group D

Main article: UEFA Euro 2012 Group D

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	3	2	1	0	5	3	+2	7
France	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
Ukraine	3	1	0	2	2	4	−2	3
Sweden	3	1	0	2	5	5	0	3

Ukraine was placed above Sweden based on their head-to-head record (2–1).

11 June 2012
France	1–1	England
Ukraine	2–1	Sweden
15 June 2012
Ukraine	0–2	France
Sweden	2–3	England
19 June 2012
England	1–0	Ukraine
Sweden	2–0	France

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Euro 2012 finally gets underway on Friday, and before you know it the knockout phase will be upon us.

The 16 teams will hurtle through the group stage, each of them playing a match every four days until the quarterfinal lineup is known.

We are just 13 days away from knockout tournament football with extra time, penalties and all.

Here is a look at how the last eight at Euro 2012 could pan out.


Greece vs. Netherlands: June 21, Warsaw



Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Winners in 2004, Greece qualified for this tournament as unbeaten winners of Group F, in which they conceded just five goals.

Their stingy defence should see them top their group above a poor Czech Republic and lacklustre Russia, but the Dutch will be a very different prospect.

World Cup runners-up two years ago, the Netherlands steamrolled their way through qualifying in which they scored tops in both the team charts (37 goals) and the individual stakes with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (12).

Germany vs. Poland: June 22, Gdansk



Michael Steele/Getty Images
Germany are many people's favourites for the tournament, and why not? Joachim Loew's young side have the least to fear from being placed in the "Group of Death" after they went through qualifying with 10 wins out of 10.

In the quarterfinals they could face neighbours Poland, easily the most likely of the two host nations to make it out of their respective group.

Germany will be all too familiar with Borussia Dortmund stars Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski, and they head a smattering of good players who could maintain local interest into the second half of the tournament.

Spain vs. England: June 23, Donetsk



Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
The defending champions look more vulnerable this year than at any other time since their glorious era of domination began, what with Carles Puyol and David Villa both missing, but they should still have enough quality and experience to top their group.

With Croatia and Republic of Ireland also in Group C, La Roja will be confident that beating Italy in their opening match should see them put one foot in the knockout phase.

England also have their toughest task in Group D up first, but their prospects of beating France are decidedly slimmer. Lose to Les Bleus in Donetsk and a date with Spain will be in the cards.


France vs. Italy: June 24, Kiev



Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Even with both Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi long gone, who wouldn't want to see a rematch of the 2006 World Cup final?

If France beat England—as they have in three of the last four times they have played their cross-channel neighbours—then they will surely top Group D.
Italy are in an uncertain place in their evolution under Cesare Prandelli, but even if they lose their opener to Spain they should still be able to progress as runners-up.

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Ian Walton/Getty Images
The group stage already provided some thrills in Euro 2012, with some favorites getting knocked out early and some underdogs rising to the quarterfinals.
The Netherlands, despite being ranked fourth in the world, scored a grand total of zero points in the group stage, losing all three of its matches.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic rebounded tremendously after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Russia to start the tournament. The Czechs went on to beat Greece and Poland to advance.
Here's a look at who I see advancing to the semifinals after the next stage.

Lars Baron/Getty Images
Portugal
Portugal certainly hasn't been perfect in Euro 2012, edging the disappointing Netherlands on Sunday, but Cristiano Ronaldo's emergence against the Dutch may be a sign of things to come.
When you have one of the best players in the world, combined with fellow striker Nani and defender Pepe, you have a very talented team, which is why Portugal has at least advanced to the quarterfinals in the past five Euro championships.
The Czech Republic, on the other hand, has been a complete surprise after an uninspired effort against Russia to start off the tournament. Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar, the Czech Republic's top two players, have scored two goals apiece and appear to be in rhythm.
In the end, I see Portugal pulling off the victory. I think the side is just realizing its potential and will break through the Czechs defense.

Martin Rose/Getty Images
Germany
Before Saturday's match against Russia, Greece didn't look particularly spectacular. It's mainly been the Greeks defense that has allowed them to squeak through the group stage. The side gave up three goals in three total matches, including a shutout against Russia.
But Greece's offense is what worries me. There isn't a player on the side who will truly scare Germany's defense, in my opinion. No Greek player has more than one goal this tournament.
Germany, on the other hand, has looked like one of the better overall teams in the entire tournament. The defense has been outstanding, allowing two goals in three matches thus far, and the offense can back it up, led by the superb Mario Gomez (three goals in Euro 2012) and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (two assists).
Germany outclasses Greece in the end.

Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Spain
Spain has been up and down this tournament, but I believe in coach Vicente del Bosque. I also believe Del Bosque will adapt his strategy again and use Fernando Torres as a spark off the bench, as he should. The subpar victory over Croatia on Monday included Torres playing 61 minutes of uninspired football, and Spain only scored after Torres was sent to the bench.
Spain obviously has the talent to go far in the tournament, complete with Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.
France appeared to take a step back against Sweden on Tuesday, curiously losing, 2-0, after a tie against England and a 2-0 victory over Ukraine. France certainly has the talent to make this a competitive match, but I don't like what I saw from the French on Tuesday, and Spain is not a team you want to face when you are on the downslope.

Martin Rose/Getty Images
England
It wasn't exactly a shocker that England won Group D, and did so with seven points. This isn't the same team as in 2004, but Wayne Rooney's return and ensuing goal on Tuesday against Ukraine was a welcome sight.
You also have players such as Steven Gerrard (three assists), Theo Walcott (one assist, one goal), John Terry, Ashley Young, Ashley Cole and Danny Welbeck.
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Italy, on the other hand, hasn't been itself. The Italians emerged from Group C with a ho-hum five points, and three of those points came against the worst team in the tournament, Ireland. Italy tied both Spain and Croatia to advance. There's still talent here obviously, with Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi, but England is playing better as a team and has the momentum headed into their clash on Sunday.