England made significant progress before the semi-finals, potentially causing a disturbance to Spain’s impressive momentum.
1) Spain (–)
Spain faced a tough battle against Germany, losing Pedri to injury early on, but ultimately secured a spot in the semifinals with Mikel Merino’s late goal. Despite feeling like a final, Spain must now prepare to face France without Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand due to suspension. Jesús Navas and Nacho Fernández are expected to step in. While this may disrupt their rhythm, Spain has the squad depth to handle the challenges. Olmo, who started on the bench against Germany, emerged as one of Spain’s standout performers.
2) Netherlands (up 1)
The Euros have been a tumultuous journey for Ronald Koeman and his team, starting from heavy criticism after the group stage defeat against Austria to now reaching the semi-finals. The quarter-final match against Turkey was a mix of highs and lows, with the Oranje making a comeback from being 1-0 down to eventually win 2-1. A crucial save by Bart Verbruggen in the 91st minute prevented extra time.
Wout Weghorst, who came on at half-time, caused chaos in the Turkish defense and played a key role in the victory. Memphis Depay’s performance is improving with each game, Cody Gakpo has been outstanding, and Tijjani Reijnders is evolving into the midfield leader that Koeman needed after Frenkie de Jong’s withdrawal before the tournament.
3) England (up 5)
After Jude Bellingham’s late heroics in the round of 16 against Slovakia, Bukayo Saka stepped up against Switzerland and managed to equalize with 10 minutes left in regular time. England went on to win in penalties. The team showed improvement, especially after their lackluster performances in the first four matches in Germany. Shifting to a back three formation made the team feel more balanced.
Ezri Konsa performed admirably in place of Marc Guéhi in defense, while Kobbie Mainoo continued to impress. Luke Shaw also made his tournament debut, and with no suspensions for the semi-final against the Netherlands, the team’s prospects are looking brighter. Gareth Southgate expressed determination, stating, “We are fighting and we are not going to stop fighting.” Confidence in England’s ability to win the tournament is growing.
4) France (–)
It would prove more convenient to enumerate the aspects that are functioning well for Les Bleus in this tournament rather than those that are not, however, Didier Deschamps will remain indifferent. His team has advanced to the semi-finals following a victory over Portugal in a penalty shootout following yet another somewhat disjointed performance. The midfield is underperforming, Antoine Griezmann is experiencing a dip in form, and Kylian Mbappé is grappling with a broken nose and other fitness concerns.
Deschamps remarked: “For various reasons, Antoine and Kylian are not performing at their peak, but we have progressed. We function as a unit, the collective strength remains intact.” Ousmane Dembélé made a positive contribution coming off the bench and could potentially be included in the starting lineup against Spain.
5) Germany (down 3)
The Sommermärchen 2.0 came to an abrupt end 118 minutes into the quarter-final match against Spain, as Mikel Merino scored a header to secure a 2-1 victory for the visitors. Julian Nagelsmann’s team displayed an intense performance, albeit at times unattractive, with Niclas Füllkrug and Florian Wirtz hitting the post and a penalty appeal denied after the ball struck Marc Cucurella’s hand.
Nagelsmann expressed his satisfaction with the team, stating: “I reassured the players that we did not deserve this outcome. There was a strong sense of unity. We are a nation that often experiences sadness and pessimism, and I believe this unity can lead to something positive. Together, we are stronger, and by working collectively with our neighbors, we can achieve more.”
6) Turkey (–)
Hakan Calhanoglu expressed his pride in the team’s performance, highlighting their strong display of the Turkish spirit. Despite falling short against the Dutch in a 2-1 loss in Berlin, the team was a delight to watch throughout the tournament. Arda Guler emerged as a standout player, complemented by the impressive performances of Baris Alper Yilmaz, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Mert Gunok. Coach Vincenzo Montella shared his optimism for the future, believing that Turkey will be viewed with greater respect following their performance in the European Championship.
7) Switzerland (down 2)
The pain will diminish. What will endure is a dreadful scar, of a miracle that never materialized, and that vanished just outside Düsseldorf. Those sentiments were expressed by the Swiss publication 24 heures following Murat Yakin’s team’s defeat on penalties against England. The prevailing opinion was that the team had given their all, with another publication, NZZ, stating: “Switzerland fell short of their objective [semi-finals] – but it was a pleasure.”
Despite entering the tournament with inconsistent form, the Swiss exceeded expectations, yet there will be a lingering sense of disappointment: they had the opportunity to reach the final here and it remains uncertain when they will have another chance like this. Yakin mentioned on Sunday that discussions about his future will take place, but his primary concern is “the best for the national team.” It is evident that he accomplished that this summer.
8) Portugal (down 1)
Portugal will be disappointed for losing a close quarter-final match against France, despite being the better team. Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leão played well, putting pressure on France’s defense. Mike Maignan made a crucial save to deny Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha. João Félix missed his spot-kick, hitting the post, which was unfortunate. Maybe not scoring in 240 minutes of play against Slovenia and France meant they didn’t deserve to advance. It’s uncertain if Gonçalo Ramos could have made a difference if he had played instead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
