Who is the favorite, who is the disappointment - where does the DFB team stand?

After 44 out of 51 EURO matches, only three quarters of the teams are left. On Friday and Saturday (both at 6pm and 9pm), it goes into the hot phase and tickets for the semifinals are up for grabs. Spain faces Germany, followed by Portugal against France. On the other side of the bracket, England and Switzerland, as well as the Netherlands and Turkey, will play against each other a day later. We sort the eight teams based on their performance at the Germany EURO - and give a preview.

The Favorite

Spain: Dominance. Enjoyment. Spectacle. For all that, the Spaniards lead at this EURO. No one has played as well or as successfully as they have. The 2010 World Cup champions have won all their games deservedly and have only conceded one goal. Up front, the super talents Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzle, while Middfield conductor Rodri leads the defensive line. The big question now is: How can Germany stop this team? The Spaniards themselves are so confident that they don't even believe anyone can stop them, not even the host nation.

The Host

Germany: Unbeaten in the quarterfinals - and not at all hopeless against Spain. That would have been unlikely for many back in the gloomy November after the 0:2 in Austria. Julian Nagelsmann has achieved the turnaround with his clear personnel strategy. A solid defense with Chief Antonio Rudiger. Young star Jamal Musiala on the way to becoming the top scorer and of course Toni Kroos as the stabilizer. The fans celebrate in pink and white the black-red-golden football fairy tale. If they manage to beat Spain, anything is possible on the way to the final on July 14 in Berlin.

The Strong Performers

Switzerland: With a dominant win against title defenders Italy in the round of 16, the Swiss left everyone in awe. Even though Italy was weak, the Swiss controlled the game with a mature performance without any problems. They had already given the German team a run for their money in the group stage. In particular, Granit Xhaka from Leverkusen and Ruben Vargas from Augsburg stood out. Trainer Murat Yakin let the players celebrate with doner, the focus is already on the disappointing Three Lions. The first entry into the EURO semifinals seems more achievable than ever before.

The Surprise Packages

Netherlands: After a mediocre group stage performance with third place, the Netherlands made a big impression with their dominant 3:0 win over Romania. "Such performances are what we need to have a chance to go on," said Chief Coach Ronald Koeman, whose team silenced the criticism at home. A quarterfinal against Turkey, a potential semifinal against Switzerland or England: the way to the first EURO final since 1988 seems open. The flexible offense with the fast Cody Gakpo, Leipzig's Xavi Simons, and the involved central striker Memphis Depay is exciting. The conversion rate remains a weak point.

Portugal: After a perfect start, the two recent performances of the 2016 European champions left some questions unanswered. Is the team better with or without captain Cristiano Ronaldo? A drama surrounding the superstar unfolded during the lucky win against Slovenia in the penalty shootout. First, he missed from the spot and cried, then he scored and celebrated. Offensively, Coach Roberto Martinez has a wealth of top talents. The quarterfinal against France will also be a test for the sometimes attacking defense. The way to a possible second title is the most challenging.

Turkey: With momentum from the surprising 2:1 win over Austria, Turkey is heating up for the mood-crasher against the Netherlands in Berlin. On Saturday, the captain Hakan Calhanoglu, who was yellow-carded in the quarterfinals and suspended, will be available again and is looking forward to great support from the fans. "It's the same in every stadium. But it's even higher in Berlin," said the former Bundesliga pro. The team showed its tactical flexibility in the quarterfinal victory with a three-defender line. The hope for the first EM semifinal since 2008 is also great because of this.

Disappointments

England: Experts criticize, the media scold: England is the most criticized team at this EM. The team with Bayern star Harry Kane and Champions League winner Jude Bellingham has disappointed in all four games so far. Only a brilliant moment from Bellingham in the fifth minute of stoppage time saved the round of 16 against Slovakia. Coach Gareth Southgate is accused of timidity and cluelessness. Despite the favorable tournament tree and the huge potential, the Three Lions are still being considered favorites to win the title, despite their poor performance.

France: There's no question, that's just not enough for an offense like the one the French have. Four games, three goals - two of which were own goals and one was a penalty. What's going on with Les Bleus? Kylian Mbappé is still not getting used to his facemask after his nasal bone fracture in the opening game against Austria, despite having tried numerous mask models. Antoine Griezmann is still searching for his role, while players like the former Bundesliga pros Marcus Thuram or Ousmane Dembélé are not finding the net. At least the defense, which was considered a weakness before the tournament, is doing a good job. What the team of Didier Deschamps, who has been coaching since 2012, needs: A convincing win with goals from their own play and not from the opponent's goal.

Turkey's national soccer team is eager to continue their impressive run in the European Football Championship 2024, with star player Hakan Calhanoglu returning from suspension for their quarterfinal match against the Netherlands.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo will be a crucial factor in their quarterfinal clash against France, despite the team's recent performance leaving some doubts about their title defense.
As England prepares for their quarterfinal match against Switzerland, the pressure is mounting on manager Gareth Southgate, with Bayern Munich's Jude Bellingham and Tottenham's Harry Kane looking to salvage a dismal tournament for the Three Lions.
DFB, the German football association, is eagerly awaiting their quarterfinal match against Spain, hoping their solid defense and young stars like Jamal Musiala can pull off an upset and propel them into the semifinals of the European Football Championship 2024.