Poland v Portugal – Thursday 2000
Tournament form:
Poland: Group – 1-0
v Northern Ireland, 0-0 v Germany, 1-0 v Ukraine: Knockout – 1-1 v Switzerland
(5-4 on pens)
Portugal: Group –
1-1 v Iceland, 0-0 v Austria, 3-3 v Hungary; Knockout - 1-0 (aet) v Croatia
Leading scorers:
Poland: Jakub Blaszczykowski 2, Portugal: Luis Almeida da Cunha 2,
Cristiano Ronaldo 2
Typical tournament odds:
Poland 16-1, Portugal 7-1
·
Portugal
are in to the last eight without having recorded a win inside 90 minutes. That
said, Poland have also reached this stage with only three goals in four
matches. Expect a tight match, which unless Portugal’s stars can shine, may go
Poland’s way. You would expect Robert Lewandowski to score at some stage in the
tournament – is this the day?
Wales v Belgium – Friday 2000
Tournament form:
Wales: Group – 2-1 v
Slovakia, 1-2 v England, 3-0 v Russia; Knockout – 1-0 v Northern Ireland
Belgium: Group - 0-2
v Italy, 3-0 v Ireland, 1-0 v Sweden; Knockout – 4-0 v Hungary
·
Wales
now carry the hopes of the home nations on their own shoulders. However,
Belgium look to be improving all the time after a disappointing home match, and
they played some superb football against Hungary last time out. If they can
reproduce anything like that form, then not only are they favourites for this
match, but also favourites to reach the final.
Leading scorers:
Wales: Gareth Bale
3, Belgium: Romelu Lukaku 2
Typical tournament odds:
Wales 25-1, Belgium 4-1
Germany v Italy – Saturday 2000
Tournament form:
Germany: Group – 2-0
v Ukraine, 0-0 v Poland, 1-0 v Northern Ireland; Knockout – 3-0 v Slovakia
Italy: Group – 2-0 v
Belgium, 1-0 v Sweden, 0-1 v Ireland; Knockout – 2-0 v Spain
·
A match
worthy of the final, but which is instead only a quarter final in the toughest
half of the knockout draw. Germany are yet to concede, and Italy are also yet
to concede in matches where they have played their first choice players. This
suggests that, for all the quality forward players on display, this may not be
a goal fest. But if Italy produce the performance they showed against Spain
once again, even Germany could struggle.
Leading scorers:
Germany: Mario Gomez
2, Italy: Graziano Pelle 2
Typical tournament odds:
Germany 3-1, Italy
6-1
France v Iceland – Sunday 2000
Tournament form:
France: Group – 2-1
v Romania, 2-0 v Albania, 0-0 v Switzerland; Knockout – 2-1 v Ireland
Iceland: Group – 1-1
v Portugal, 1-1 v Hungary, 2-1 v Austria; Knockout – 2-1 v England
·
Iceland’s
dream continues after surely their greatest ever international occasion when
they beat England. Their tactics are likely to remain unchanged against France,
with the hosts enjoying the lion’s share of possession as they seek to break
down a massed defence. However, Antoine Griezmann and co are a clinical strike
force, and this is likely to be the end of the adventure for Iceland.
Leading scorers:
France: Antoine Griezmann 3, Iceland: no
player with more than 1
Typical tournament odds:
France 3-1, Iceland 40-1
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