24 matches down, seven to go and this European Championship has been memorable with lots of spectacular action, great goals, surprising shocks and incredibly, not a single goalless draw in the group stages.
Wednesday is a day off for the football fraternity before the tense action of knockout football begins.
Co-hosts Poland and Ukraine have done themselves proud in hosting the greatest international show in Europe but both teams have failed to reach the last eight.
Holland had a tournament to forget whilst Russia got into their usual habit of choking and blew the tip of potential dark horses.
We also say fond farewells to Croatia, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.
The calibre of the final eight however is almost impeccable. Here, I judge their performances so far and rate their chances of progression into the final four.
Quarter-final 1: Czech Republic v Portugal
Venue: National Stadium, Warsaw
Date: Thursday 21 June
Channel: BBC One & BBC One HD, 7.30pm – kick-off at 7.45pm
The odds on this meeting weren’t high to begin with, especially after both sides lost their first match.
The Czech Republic suffered a 4-1 demolition at the hands of Russia on opening night but recovered well from this demoralising setback.
A magnificent start against Greece and a gritty performance to wear down Poland saw them finish top of Group A.
Having lacked attacking intent in defeat to Germany, the Portuguese have shown plenty in their last two games.
Silvestre Varela’s magnificent strike in the dying stages saw them overcome Denmark 3-2 in the game of the tournament so far.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned on the style at the weekend, as he finally put the nail in Holland’s shambolic finals. The 2-1 win saw Portugal through to their fifth consecutive European championship quarter-final.
These sides met at the same stage in Euro 96, when a delicious lob from Karel Poborsky settled the match at Villa Park in favour of the Czechs. Portugal won the most recent tournament meeting, 3-1 at Euro 2008.
Czech Republic have a hard-working team unit with some promising youngsters coming through their ranks, whilst Portugal have the best player in Europe in Ronaldo and some more dangerous attacking players.
For both teams, they have probably matched the country’s expectations before the tournament. Anything else now is a massive bonus.
VERDICT: A tight game, reckon this could go all the way to penalties and with Petr Cech in goal, plus Ronaldo’s dismal penalty shootout record, I think the Czechs will continue to surprise and advance into the semi-finals.
Quarter-final 2: Germany v Greece
Venue: PGE Arena, Gdansk
Date: Friday 22 June
Channel: ITV1 & ITV1 HD, 7.20pm – kick-off at 7.45pm
Politics and football shouldn’t mix but the comparisons are understandable with this game between joint favourites Germany and Euro 2004 winners Greece.
The economic crisis has made life difficult for Greek people, with the country recently voting to stay in the unpredictable Euro currency and they have been put under intense pressure throughout by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel.
On the football field, Germany look sharp and consistent, even if their 2010 World Cup flair has been missing so far.
Joachim Low’s side are the only team to have gone through with a 100 per cent record following a 1-0 success over Portugal, an impressive 2-1 triumph against bitter enemies Holland and a narrow 2-1 defeat of Denmark in Group B.
The side also has the joint top goalscorer at the moment in Euro 2012, with Mario Gomez tied on three goals with the already eliminated Alan Dzagoev of Russia and Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic.
Greece made a shaky start but recovered well when substitute Dimitris Salpingidis struck an equaliser in the tournament opener with Poland.
A nightmare first half meant a fightback wasn’t quite achieved against the Czech Republic before captain Giorgos Karagounis memorable strike on the stroke of half-time sent the nation into bedlam and Russia on a shameful early flight home.
This quarter-final is an absolute mismatch in terms of quality with the German team fully expectant to have a Friday evening stroll into the last four.
However we all saw what Greece did eight years ago and they have bags of team spirit. Don’t write them off at your peril.
VERDICT: I don’t think it will be as easy as many predict but Germany will have too much and will progress.
Quarter-final 3: Spain v France
Venue: Donbass Arena, Donetsk
Date: Saturday 23 June
Channel: ITV1 & ITV1 HD, 7.15pm – kick-off at 7.45pm
The third quarter-final pits together two inform sides, who need to improve on their most recent performances.
Spain’s narrow 1-0 win over Croatia in their Group C climax was a dreadful performance and the worst I’ve seen from this galaxy of superstars since their last competitive defeat, which was to Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup.
Before that, the Spanish drew 1-1 with Italy when they weren’t at their fluent best and thrashed the Republic of Ireland 4-0 with consummate ease and class.
The French arrive in Donetsk after a similar shocking performance which saw Laurent Blanc’s team comprehensively beaten 2-0 by already eliminated Sweden, their first loss in 24 internationals.
This followed a cagey 1-1 stalemate with England and a 2-0 win against co-hosts Ukraine, more remembered for a massive thunderstorm in Donetsk rather than the quality of the match.
There will be plenty of talent on the pitch and some club rivalries too, with David Silva playing against Manchester City colleague Samir Nasri whilst Iker Casillas of Real Madrid faces his team-mate Karim Benzema.
Plenty of previous history between these sides too and it favours Les Bleus. The teams met at the same stage in Euro 2000, when France won 2-1 and Raul missed a late penalty.
France also won the first ever international at the Stade de France against the Spanish in 1998 and a Zinedine Zidane inspired performance eliminated Spain 3-1 at the second round stage of the 2006 World Cup.
The Spanish start as favourites but the French have come up with top performances in the past when it has been unexpected. If they turn up with the right attitude, this could turn into an absolute classic.
VERDICT: I see goals in this match between two sides who love to play football as it should be played. Spain won’t play as bad as they did against Croatia and I think they will edge a five goal thriller.
Quarter-final 4: England v Italy
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Kiev
Date: Sunday 24 June
Channel: BBC One & BBC One HD, 7pm – kick-off at 7.45pm
Expectation is rising and perhaps dangerously so. Expectations of reaching the last eight of Euro 2012 have been matched by England and topping Group D was a real bonus.
There is a lot of team spirit and players who are playing for the shirt, something evidently missing at least since the World Cup of 2002 in Japan/Korea.
England head back to Kiev following their superb fightback against Sweden in the same stadium earlier in the tournament. They will be hoping to return a week later for the final.
Roy Hodgson’s side drew 1-1 with France, beat the Swedes 3-2 and overcame a stiff Ukraine challenge 1-0 in Group D, with a rusty Wayne Rooney scoring one of the easiest goals he will net in his career.
The Italians have had their own problems, particularly with another match-fixing scandal gripping the country.
They have won the 1982 and 2006 World Cups whilst similar incidents were occurring, so the opposition has to be taken seriously.
Italy played really well in drawing 1-1 with Spain, faded in the second half when up against Croatia which finished with the same scoreline and did enough to edge past the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in Poznan.
The Azzuri won the last competitive meeting, which was 2-1 in Italia 90 when battling for third place. They also won the most recent game, a 2-1 friendly success at Elland Road way back in 2002, thanks to a Vincenzo Montella brace.
This is a brilliant matchup with not much to separate the two teams. All that can be guaranteed is that it is bound to be another tense and dramatic night following the English.
VERDICT: There has been too much quarter-final pain for England in the past and it is time to put that right. Roy’s boys are looking confident and work together as a team and with Rooney around now, I think it will be a dramatic extra-time triumph for the Three Lions.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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