Spain .vs. France

This game yet again caused controversy before kick-off with Spain choosing to play with no striker, taking out Fernando Torres and replacing him with Cesc Fabregas after a disappointing game for Torres against Croatia, and a French side looking to show their resilience after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to a Swedish side already knocked out of the tournament.

Spanish Line Up

01  Casillas

03  Pique

15  Ramos

17  Arbeloa

18  Alba

06  Iniesta

08  Xavi

10  Fabregas

14  Alonso

16  Busquets

21  Silva

French Line Up

01  Lloris

02  Debuchy

04  Rami

13  Reveillere

21  Koscielny

22  Clichy

06  Cabaye

15  Malouda

17  M'Vila

07  Ribery

10  Benzema

The game kicked off with both sides having good spells of early possession but no final product at both ends, the first big call of the game was a penalty shout for Spain when a ball was lofted in over Clichy's head and Fabregas was in behind and Clichy seemed to nudge Fabregas to the ground but the referee saw nothing in it and waved play on. Spain's passing became very sloppy after that but France couldn't break through the Spanish defence. After a surging run by Alba the French right back, Debuchy slipped and allowed Alba to get in a cross to Alonso who was unmarked and the far post and with the goalkeeper flat footed he drove his header into the far corner to put the reigning champions 1-0 up, after this France tried to get as many players behind the ball as possible to stop conceding more. France's best chance of the half was a free-kick from 35 yards out by Cabaye forcing Casillas into a comfortable save but showing that France can be a threat.

HT - Spain 1-0 France

Xabi Alonso heading Spain into the lead.

The first ten minutes of the second half started like the first ten minutes of the first half with both sides having their fait share of possession but not creating any chances but as time went on France began to keep the ball well and throw a good few passes together keeping it away from Spain which changed the balance of the game, then on 60 minutes Ribery managed to swing in a cross and find the head of Debuchy who's head just floated over the bar but the French attack were starting to ask questions of the Spanish defence. Spain then decided to make an important change by putting on a striker in the form of Fernando Torres in place of Cesc Fabregas. After the chage the game began to slow down apart from a cross by Ribery calmly hled by Casillas and a Torres shot seved by Lloris before realising he was offside. On 89 minutes Spain had a chance as Pedro got away from his defender and was taken down by Reveillere and a penalty was given and Xabi Alonso sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way to confirm a Spain vs Portugal semi final on wednesday.


FT - Spain 2-0 France


Man of The Match - Man of the match for me was Iker Casillas making some crucial saves to make sure Spain didn't throw away their lead and ensure they stay in the tournament while captaining his side well as he always does.

Czech Republic .vs. Portugal

The first quarter final was contested by two teams that after the group stages were in great form with The Czech Republic having the Champions League winning goalkeeper Petr Cech and Portugal having one of the worlds best players on the pitch in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, both players at the top of their game so this would be a fantastic match.

The opening moments were fairly contested by both teams with lots of end to end play but no real end product most of the pressure was made by Portugal but the Czechs were able to isolate Ronaldo and nothing came of any attack, a chance fell to Ronaldo on 25 minutes after being played through onside one on one with Petr Cech and Cech made an unbelievable save from a strong Ronaldo shot struck with his powerful right boot to keep The Czech Republic in the game, Ronaldo also tried an overhead kick from 8 yards out and hit it well wide but shown what he was capable of yet again, Ronaldo yet again showed his skill with fantastic control to pluck the ball out of the air flick it over his shoulder and without looking strike an amazing ball only to hit the near post and that's how the first half ended with Portugal in the driving seat.

HT - Czech Republic 0-0 Portugal

Cech in control of the first half.

The second half was very much like the first with a Portuguese attacking show and The Czech Republic trying to hold on and Petr Cech was the Czechs saviour saving several well struck shots from most of the Portuguese attacking players with a Ronaldo free kick from 35 yards hitting the post and the ball being in the net but being ruled offside,after that Portugal began to hold back as the ball was continuously being cut out from getting to Ronaldo, and the deadlock was broken on 78 minutes after a magnificent cross from Moutinho who picks out Ronaldo running from the far post to header the ball powerfully down which bounced out of the way of Petr Cech and into the back of the net to send Portugal into hysterics and that's how the match ended with Portugal going through to play either Germany or Greece in the Semi Finals.

FT - Czech Republic 0-1 Portugal

Ronaldo having scored his goal salutes his teammates.

Man of the Match - Man of the match for me and I suspect every neutral fan as well had to be Cristiano Ronaldo who ran the entire pitch tonight creating chances and scoring one himself and being the captain he should be tonight and sending Portugal through by himself.





Portugal .vs. Holland

This game was a must win for both teams, if Holland win by two clear goals and Germany beat Denmark they would go through and if Portugal get a point and Germany beat or draw with Denmark they would go through, so we all knew this group would end with a bang.

Holland posted a very attacking side with Sneijder, Van Der Vaart, Huntelaar, Robben and Van Persie to try and crack the Portuguese defence and on eleven minutes it paid off with Robben cutting inside from the right and laying off the ball to Van Der Vaart who curled a beautiful effort with his left foot past Rui Patricio in the Portuguese goal to give Holland a chance of qualifying for the last eight. Portugal kept the pressure on to ensure a last eight appearance and seventeen minutes later Ronaldo broke his Euro 2012 curse by equalising from a fantastic through ball into the right hand side of the box and in true Ronaldo style he made a very difficult situation look easy by slotting the ball past Stekelenburg at his near post to make it 1-1.

HT – Portugal 1-1 Holland

Van Der Vaart captaining his side in the absense of Van Bommel.

The second half brought a change in formation for Holland which saw Robben switch from the right side to the left in an attempt to get more balls into the box. The opening exchanges in the second half were mainly attacking from Holland which with more confidence from Van Persie could have resulted in a crucial goal. On fifty-nine minutes a cross field ball was played into the Holland penalty area, headed down to Ronaldo who hit it firmly with his left foot which fell to Postiga who poked the ball home before realising he was a yard offside. A Portugal break on sixty-five minutes which produced a fantastic save from Stekelenburg showed Holland that Portugal meant business. Portugal continued to press as a ball from Ronaldo across the six yard box came to Nani who was stopped by a brilliant save again by Stekelenburg who should have been picking it out of the net, a minute after that Nani started a run down the right hand side who picked out Ronaldo on the left who cut inside and stroked the ball home to give Portugal the lead for the first time in this match. Van Der Vaart chanced his arm again cutting inside from the left and curling the ball against the inside of the right post with his right foot on eighty-two minutes, and that’s how the game finished with Portugal on a high going into a last eight match against The Czech Republic and Holland going back home without a win.

FT – Portugal 2-1 Holland

Ronaldo fighting off Van Persie and Sneijder.

Man of The Match – Man of the match for me had to be Cristiano Ronaldo scoring both goals to confirm Portugal going through from the group stages and making surging runs all night to help create chances and his blinding skill just could not be matched in this game.