Switzerland and Germany reached the European Championship (Euro) 2024 quarter-finals after beating Italy and Denmark on Saturday. Both the Swiss and the Germans are the winners of GRoup A and carried their scintillating performances in the round of 16. And as such, last night they plodded ahead into the last eight of the continental tournament.

Sunday June 30, 2024

Switzerland’s blistering pace and incisive ball possession quashed Italy’s dreams to defend its 2020 European Champions throne in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday night.

The Swiss took the game to the Italians from kickoff at Olympiastadion Berlin. They dictated terms in aplomb and were rewarded with a 2-0 victory for all their dazzling efforts.

Remo Freuler’s 37th minute well-executed left boot and Ruben Vargas’ 46th minute right foot curler put Switzerland two steps ahead of their opponents. With a 2-goal deficit, the Italians had it all to do to keep their 2024 European Championship aspirations alive.

Despite rattling the goal posts occasionally, Italians did not trouble the Swiss defence as they would have wished. Hence the match finished 2-0 in favour of Switzerland.

As they were in the lead up to this round-of-16 encounter, the sparkling Swiss team carried their good run of form to the last eight of the Euro 2024. And with this delightful display, they may go all the way to the finals. For now though, as is usually the case with competition football, it will be a case of one game at a time. And so it should.

For the Italians, however, last night’s indifferent play marked the ultimate end of their contest to reclaim their 2020-all–conquering spirit. That enduring spirit was disoriented and misdirected last night. For them though, it will be a defeat well fought.

Switzerland will face either England or Slovakia on Saturday July 6, 2024 in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.

Germany vanquished Denmark to reach quarter-finals

Kai Harvetz and Jamal Musial’s goals dashed Denmark’s hopes to stay in the EURO 2024 on a damp Saturday night at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.

Came into this round of 16 clash brimming with confidence from their group-stage dominance. And for the Danes, it was always going to be tall in order to upset the apple cut of a team in its own backyard.

Germany’s first goal was scored by Harvetz in the 57th minute from a penalty spot culminating from a defensive handball by their night’s rivals. When Denmark was still regrouping, Musiala nailed the German colours in the must 15 minutes later.

With two goals behind, the Danes had a hillock to mount. And the final 2-0 scoreline would reveal their failure to rebound, drawing the curtain down to their participation in the 2024 rendition of the European Championship.

So the Germans romped through to the quarterfinals to keep entertaining hordes of fans in the competition staged on home soil.

Their next match is the winner between Spain and Georgia on Friday July 5, 2024.

Round of 16

Tonight – Sunday, June 30 EURO 2024:

England vs Slovakia at Veltins-Arena (Schalke) – 18h00

Spain vs Georgia at RheinEnergieStadion (Cologne)  – 21h00

Monday, July 1 EURO 2024:

France vs Belgium at Merkur Spiel Arena (Dusseldorf) – 18h00

Portugal vs Slovenia at Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt)  – 21h00

Tuesday, July 2 EURO 2024:

Romania vs Netherlands at Allianz Arena (Munich) – 18h00

Austria vs Türkiye Red Bull Arena Leipzig (Leipzig)  – 21h00