5️⃣ big questions ahead of the EURO 2024 quarterfinals.

 

And then there were eight.

Following an exciting Round of 16, EURO 2024 resumes on Friday with a magnificent quartet of quarterfinals.

Here are the top five questions we're asking ahead of the game. 

Can Spain spoil the hosts' party?

It's undoubtedly the most memorable tie of these quarter-finals, and it should have been the final.

Spain, arguably the greatest team in EURO 2024 so far, faces a Germany squad that has wowed in every game so far.

La Roja was stunned early in their Round of 16 match against Georgia on Sunday, but after a poor start, they gradually warmed into the situation and eventually shown all of their abilities to advance to the final eight.

Luis de la Fuente's side has impressed throughout, but Nico Williams on the left wing has received special attention in recent weeks.

The Athletic Club winger has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Chelsea, and Barcelona this summer, and if you weren't a regular LaLiga watcher last season, you can see why.

The 21-year-old has been tearing full-backs apart for pleasure in this tournament and will undoubtedly fancy his chances against Joshua Kimmich on Friday afternoon.

If anyone can disrupt Germany's home party, it's Williams and his Spanish teammates.

Will Portugal stick with Cristiano Ronaldo?

It has been the main topic of discussion throughout the competition, and it came into full display in the final round.

Portugal's manager, Roberto Martínez, may consider dropping Cristiano Ronaldo after their penalty shoot-out victory over Slovenia in the last 16.

Ronaldo was unhappy during the goalless draw in Frankfurt, as the Al-Nassr player struggled to get on the end of crosses and fired multiple free-kicks over the bar, having scored just one goal in 60 tries in major events.

And then there was the late penalty miss, which was expertly saved by goalie Jan Oblak but may cause a change of penalty taker in the future, with the dependable Bruno Fernandes serving as a capable backup.

It wasn't simply the obvious set-pieces that raised eyebrows. With little movement off the ball and his teammates trying to funnel everything towards him, it's worth considering whether Portugal would benefit from Gonçalo Ramos joining the starting lineup.

With France coming up next and a centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano to contend with, could the Iberian nation aim to use Ramos' pace and pressuring from the outset, while deploying Ronaldo as an impact substitute?

Does Gareth Southgate have answers for England?

Despite entering the tournament as one of the clear favourites, England has been a complete snoozefest in Germany.

With the exception of the first ten minutes against Serbia and the three minutes between full-time and extra-time in the last 16, Gareth Southgate's team has been one-note and entirely out of sync with their pre-tournament expectations.

With the Players of the Season in LaLiga and the Premier League, as well as the Bundesliga's top scorer in a front four, England felt confident in their attack.

How mistaken they were.

To a man, the Three Lions' assault has been underwhelming, and there are genuine debates about dropping Phil Foden or Jude Bellingham.

Three weeks ago, that would have looked crazy, but with indications that Southgate is switching to a 3-4-3, there doesn't appear to be much room for both men.

Kane's growing isolation and subsequent dropping deep to fetch the ball has prompted many to cry for pace along the flanks, which neither Bellingham nor Foden has.

Anthony Gordon or Jarrod Bowen would make more sense in one of those wide offensive areas, but would Southgate have the courage to bench one of England's finest players for the sake of the team?

The jury is still out on that one.

Is Cody Gapko the tournament's top player thus far?

Perhaps that speaks to the relative volatility of Europe's top attackers in this tournament, but Cody Gakpo has been the most potent forward moving into the quarterfinals.

Liverpool great Jamie Carragher grumbled earlier this season that the Netherlands wide player "played the game in slow motion," but at EURO 2024, Gakpo has been on fire.

Gakpo presently leads the top scorer standings with three goals and one assist, and he has a fantastic chance to add to his tally on Saturday when the Netherlands meet Turkey.

Vincenzo Montella's team has been a breath of fresh air in this competition, but their four games haven't exactly shouted 'defensive stability'.

Türkiye allowed 21 shots against Austria last time out and required world-class goalkeeping from Mert Günok to get through.

If Gakpo and the Netherlands are granted equal room and time in the final third, only one side will likely advance to the last four.

Who will advance to the semifinals?

Following a spectacular group stage and a mixed last 16, the quarter-finals appear to be as open as they have been at any European Championship in the last two decades.

It's difficult to recall a period when so many of the final eight nations struggled in at least one facet of their performance, but this bodes well for what will undoubtedly be four intriguingly fantastic games.

Germany was given a scare by both Switzerland and Denmark, France hasn't clicked at all, England has been underwhelming as previously stated, the Netherlands require plenty of scoring opportunities, Portugal has a Ronaldo problem, Turkey is overly optimistic and will undoubtedly backfire, and the Swiss lack a true goalscorer.

Perhaps the only team we can't fault is Spain, but even they looked beatable in the first 20 minutes against Georgia.

In actuality, it's about as open as it can be for these tantalizing weekend matches.