Spain have impressed so far with some great attacking football. The two youngsters Lamine Yamal (left, 16) and Nico Williams (21) are emblematic of this
Image: Keystone
Swiss jubilation after Ruben Vargas scored 2:0 against Italy. It was Murat Yakin's team's best performance so far at these finals
Image: Keystone
Like the entire French team, Kylian Mbappé has yet to really get going - that should change in the quarter-final against Portugal
Image: Keystone
Three-goal scorer: Jamal Musiala is one of the hopes of the German team
Image: Keystone
After a slow group stage, the Dutch were able to celebrate several times in the round of 16. They celebrated an unchallenged 3:0 victory against Romania
Image: Keystone
Jude Bellingham saves the once again disappointing England team from being knocked out of the tournament with his overhead kick against Slovakia
Image: Keystone
How good is Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo still? And can the superstar lead his nation to victory against France?
Image: Keystone
Turkey won the rain battle in Leipzig - thanks in part to Mert Günok's best save of the tournament so far - and are through to the quarter-finals instead of the secret favorites Austria
Image: Keystone
Spain have impressed so far with some great attacking football. The two youngsters Lamine Yamal (left, 16) and Nico Williams (21) are emblematic of this
Image: Keystone
Swiss jubilation after Ruben Vargas scored 2:0 against Italy. It was Murat Yakin's team's best performance so far at these finals
Image: Keystone
Like the entire French team, Kylian Mbappé has yet to really get going - that should change in the quarter-final against Portugal
Image: Keystone
Three-goal scorer: Jamal Musiala is one of the hopes of the German team
Image: Keystone
After a slow group stage, the Dutch were able to celebrate several times in the round of 16. They celebrated an unchallenged 3:0 victory against Romania
Image: Keystone
Jude Bellingham saves the once again disappointing England team from being knocked out of the tournament with his overhead kick against Slovakia
Image: Keystone
How good is Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo still? And can the superstar lead his nation to victory against France?
Image: Keystone
Turkey won the rain battle in Leipzig - thanks in part to Mert Günok's best save of the tournament so far - and are through to the quarter-finals instead of the secret favorites Austria
Image: Keystone
The quarter-finals at the European Championships in Germany are about to enter the hot phase. Who is the top favorite and what are Switzerland's chances? Keystone-SDA classifies them in a form ranking.
1st Spain
The Spaniards are the only team to have won all their matches at this European Championship. But that's not the only reason why coach Luis de la Fuente's team has emerged as the top favorites. It's the way in which the team, led by the leading wolf and chief strategist Rodri, performs. Sometimes they take control of the game, sometimes they let their opponents have the ball. The "Furia Roja" are brimming with self-confidence. Even after falling behind early in the round of 16 against outsiders Georgia, the Spaniards did not let themselves be rattled. Because they knew: if we continue to follow our plan, nothing can go wrong. Throughout the tournament, the young wingers Lamine Yamal (16) and Nico Williams (21) have impressed with their pace, creativity and carefree attitude. If the defense, which did not always look solid against Georgia, improves, Spain should be difficult for hosts Germany to break down in the quarter-finals.
2. Switzerland
Rarely has a Swiss national team performed as confidently as they did in the round of 16 against Italy. Coach Murat Yakin's team were in control at all times during the match in Berlin - with the exception of Fabian Schär's header against his own post. The post-match performance was also uncharacteristically brash by Swiss standards. "When we saw that they were coming with a back four, we knew: We're going to crush them." Statements like those from Murat Yakin seem all the more astonishing when you consider that the national team coach was heavily criticized not so long ago. But the national team has achieved a turnaround. With this team and this spirit, anything seems possible. Even a victory in the quarter-final against the great England.
3 France
Two own goals, a goalless draw and a converted penalty. The World Cup finalists have cheated their way into the quarter-finals with this meagre haul. It has been a disappointing tournament for the French so far. However, the Équipe Tricolore are taking heart from this. Because as the saying goes: a good horse only jumps as high as it has to. It goes without saying that there is still plenty of room for improvement in coach Didier Deschamps' team, who remains surprisingly calm despite poor performances - probably in the knowledge that his players will be at their best when it counts. If the French can unleash their potential in the quarter-final against Portugal, nothing will stand in their way of reaching the semi-finals.
4 Germany
The hosts got off to a brisk start at their home European Championships, but were unable to keep up the pace. Julian Nagelsmann's team only secured group victory against Switzerland in the very last minute, and in the round of 16 against Denmark they only fell behind by a hair's breadth and a toe's length respectively. Nevertheless, this German team can be trusted to do anything - for better or for worse. 2006 showed just how far euphoria can carry a team, and a victory against Spain will be needed to experience a second "summer fairytale". The decisive factor will be whether the German defense can keep the Iberians' nimble attacking players under control. Otherwise, the quarter-finals will be the end of the line for the hosts.
5 Netherlands
The Dutch have stealthily played their way into the quarter-finals. The preliminary round was anything but exhilarating, but in the round of 16 Ronald Koeman's team had less trouble with the surprise team Romania than with their own exploitation of chances. As a result, the Dutch are back among the top eight teams in Europe for the first time since 2008. In the quarter-finals, they will face the euphoric Turks. If the Eleven Valleys can show their potential on the pitch and ignore everything else, they will qualify for the semi-finals. Who knows where the journey will take them in the weaker half of the table.
6th England
Having started the tournament as one of the top favorites, England were only convincing in the first 15 minutes of their opening game against Serbia. After that: yawning boredom. This is all the more surprising given that the Three Lions have a number of top stars in their team. At more than 1.5 billion euros, the squad has the highest market value of all participating nations. However, there was no sign of this in the round of 16 against Slovakia. It is only thanks to a stroke of genius from Jude Bellingham that England are still in the tournament. The question is: when will coach Gareth Southgate loosen the tactical shackles and give his players more freedom? Because there is no question that England have the quality to reach the final.
7 Portugal
Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão. The Portuguese attack is peppered with world-class players. And yet they only seem to be servants of the omnipresent Cristiano Ronaldo. In the round of 16 against Slovenia, the now 39-year-old tried almost insistently to create another monument for himself with a goal and go down in the history books of the European Championship as the oldest goalscorer. The fact that he did not manage to do so with his numerous free kicks from the best position or from eleven meters is emblematic. Even if his team-mates back their captain, the question remains: could they perform better if they weren't Ronaldo's servants on the pitch?
8 Turkey
Turkey were on the brink of elimination from a perfectly feasible group with Portugal, Georgia and the Czech Republic. Coach Vincenzo Montella's team squandered a lead against ten Czechs and were only lucky to avoid conceding another goal, which would have meant elimination. This made their performance in the round of 16 against Austria all the more remarkable. Buoyed by the euphoric fans, the Turks made the most of their lightning start against the secret favorites and advanced to the next round somewhat fortunately, but not entirely undeservedly. As in 2008, the semi-finals beckon. Turkey will play a home game in Berlin. Will the atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium allow the Turks to surpass themselves once again?
SDA
