The eight remaining teams at the European Championship will take centre stage in the quarter-finals to be played on Friday and Saturday. Here is a quick guide to the fixtures (times in GMT).

SPAIN v GERMANY

Friday – Stuttgart, 1600

A quarter-final meeting between the two most successful nations in Euros history with three titles each and aiming to become the outright leader on that list this year.

Germany will have home support at Stuttgart Arena, but that will not worry a Spanish side that plays on the front foot.

Germany (10) and Spain (9) are the top two scorers at Euro 2024 and the two leading sides when it comes to passing accuracy with Germany at 92.2% and Spain on 91%.

The Spanish are the only team with a 100% record at the finals so far and have also had more goal attempts (84) than any other side.

Spain beat Germany 6-0 in the Nations League in 2020, but their most recent meeting in the World Cup group stage in Qatar ended 1-1.

PORTUGAL v FRANCE

Friday – Hamburg, 1900

A repeat of the Euro 2016 final in Paris when Portugal stunned the hosts to win 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal from striker Eder.

Neither team have been convincing at the tournament to date despite the array of talent at their disposal, but they have potential match-winners who only need an instant to find a decisive moment.

France have conceded one goal in over six hours of football in Germany, from a penalty, and of their three goals scored one was a Kylian Mbappe spot kick and two were own goals.

Portugal continue to funnel much of their attacking play through 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who has had more attempts at goal in the tournament (20) than any other player, but is yet to find the back of the net.

The teams last met in the group phase at Euro 2020 and played out a 2-2 draw.

France will be without suspended midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who had started every game for them in the tournament so far.

ENGLAND v SWITZERLAND

Saturday – Duesseldorf, 1600

England were seconds away from elimination before a 95th minute Jude Bellingham overhead kick rescued them against Slovakia in the last-16 while, by contrast, Switzerland cruised past defending champions Italy with a comfortable 2-0 win.

The Swiss have won only three of their 27 past meetings with England, the last a 2-1 success in Basel in 1981.

Despite England’s below-par performances in Germany, they are unbeaten in their last 11 Euros matches, winning seven, and last tasted defeat against Iceland in 2016.

But they have a 50% win record from six previous quarter-finals, losing two of the last three on penalties. Switzerland’s only previous quarter-final was at Euro 2020 where they lost on penalties to Spain.

England are without suspended centre back Marc Guehi.

NETHERLANDS v TURKEY

Saturday – Berlin, 1900

Netherlands saved their best performance of the tournament so far for the comprehensive 3-0 win over Romania in the round of 16, while Turkey edged Austria 2-1 and have been among the most entertaining teams to watch in Germany.

These two sides are fifth and six on the list of most chances created at the finals, with Netherlands amassing 63 and Turkey 56, and both have netted seven times, the joint third most of all teams.

They most recently met in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with 13 goals scored in the two games. Netherlands won 6-1 at home and Turkey triumphed 4-2 in Istanbul.

Turkey will be without two players through suspension, midfielders Ismail Yuksek and Orkun Kokcu, who was born in the Netherlands.

-Reuters

Following is reaction from Portugal’s 3-0 penalty shootout win over Slovenia on Monday that sent them through to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 where they will meet France.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed a penalty in extra time and scored one in the shootout: “Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments.

“A direct shot to give the team the lead. I didn’t manage it. (Jan) Oblak made a good save … I have to see the penalty, I don’t know if I shot well or badly, but I haven’t missed once all year, and when I needed it most, Oblak saved it.”

“I think Portugal deserved it because we had more authority. Slovenia spent almost the entire game defending … it’s very difficult and the whole team is to be congratulated, especially our goalkeeper (Diogo Costa), who made three very good saves.”

Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who made three saves in the shootout to set a Euros record: “I’m very excited. It’s very difficult to stay focused. I’m happy to help the team get through to the quarter-finals.”

Costa on Ronaldo’s penalty miss in extra time: “We all make mistakes. What matters is what we do as a team.

“I think this is probably the best game of my life, the game where I was most useful … I just went with my gut – of course we analysed the penalty shooters but players change the way they shoot, but I had to go with my gut, so I’m very, very happy.”

“We believed until the very end and we’re all very happy, and now we want to play France.

“We all know that Cris (Ronaldo) is the hardest worker. I understand how frustrated he is because he devotes all his time to this. For me, it’s an honour to play on the same team. We’re a family, I believe in the work we put in.”

Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak: “Unfortunately, it did not work out for us. I’m lost for words, the atmosphere here is amazing and that’s what makes it that much more difficult.

“There’s nothing more to add, especially a few minutes after the thing transpired. You see what happened in extra time, we had the opportunity to score, but we were probably missing a bit of luck.

“In the end, Portugal has deservedly won. Congratulations to them.”

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek: “I’m sorry for the fans, I’m sorry for this huge energy, because people did not believe we could play such a tournament. Unfortunately we did not manage to win, but Portugal deserved to win.

“I am the smallest factor in this team, and let me repeat it – you have no idea what a privilege it is to be leading this national team, and that we can play the biggest teams in Europe and the world.”

-Reuters

England advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship after Jude Bellingham scored a stunning overhead kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to spark a comeback 2-1 win after extra time against Slovakia on Sunday.

Bellingham’s acrobatic overhead kick leveled the round-of-16 game at 1-1 with seconds remaining at the Veltins Arena.

Harry Kane headed in the winner in the first minute of extra time as England avoided one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Euros.

Ivan Schranz scored in the first half for Slovakia and his goal looked like being enough to eliminate England, which was one of the pre-tournament favorites and runner up at the last Euros.

But Bellingham’s wonder goal sent the game to extra time and Kane sealed the win and a place in the quarterfinals where England will play Switzerland in Duesseldorf.

-AP