THE EURO 2016 QUARTER FINALS PERMUTATIONS

POLAND VS PORTUGAL, BELGIUM VS WALES, GERMANY VS ITALY, FRANCE VS ICELAND

Most ardent followers of the beautiful game made one big collective heave of relief when the preliminary rounds of the 2016 Euro cup concluded. The huge representation of underdogs had seemingly colluded to threaten this edition and almost turned it into one of the drabbest tournaments in recent memory, resulting in the corresponding high number of low scoring performances on display.

Well, that has come to pass and with round of 16 over, the Euro soccer jamboree shifts into top gear as the quarter finals beckon with some intriguing if not outright, mouth watering match ups!

This, having been branded an underdog’s tournament, there was no keeping the minnows away as Wales, Poland and most incredibly, Iceland have all surmounted great odds and surpassed expectations to make it this far.

Every connoisseur of the game must be wishing that Poland versus Portugal and Germany versus Italy would have been switched around with either power playing the less fancied Portugal or Poland but football being what it is, one of the giants will unfortunately have to take an earlier flight home.

POLAND VS PORTUGAL

This can rightly be adjudged as a contest of polar opposites. Of the two, it would be easier to predict what Poland will bring on the day as compared to Portugal, a compact and defensive show. 
The Portuguese squad which boasts of a higher profile player courtesy of Real Madrid’s iconic forward Cristiano Ronaldo, has largely been lethargic and has performed in fits and jolts, belying its potential.

Poland boasts the best defensive record at these finals, behind Germany, going undefeated and having conceded a solitary goal, albeit a beautiful one, a Xhedran Shakiri’s overhead wonder goal for Switzerland at their last game. 
Playing an ultra compact and defensive 4-4-2 formation, has been both their forte and bane as Poland concedes few but scores even fewer because numbers are committed in midfield aimed at stifling opposition which has largely left the two lethal front men, Arkardiuz Milic and Robert Lewandowski isolated. Lewandowski has yet to even score! 

Relying on quick movement from defense through midfield, this is a team adept at playing direct or courtesy of their pressing capitalizing on opposition mistakes in transition to launch rapid counter attacks where the pace of full back Lucasz Pischek and winger Jakub Blaszykowsky comes in handy.

Portugal stands accused of being lethargic and too dependent on Ronaldo. If their last gasp win over Croatia is anything to go by, it was Croatia that didn’t turn up perhaps having written their opponents off after their convincing win over Spain at their last group game. Portugal at last rose to the occasion and credit to their fighting spirit on the day, were rightly rewarded when Carlos Queresma headed in a rebound deep in added time.

Irrespective of whichever side they wake up on or whichever Portugal turns up, this is a game the mercurial Portuguese wouldn’t want to concede early because if they do so, its “bom dia adios, hasta la vista amigos!” redemption would be next to impossible! All the same, Poland should win this one by the odd goal. Poland 1-Portugal 0.

BELGIUM VS WALES

Battle of the wizards; Bale vs Hazard

Its a case of the bigger demon; Welsh Dragons versus Belgium's Red Devils! There is no doubt that Wales have at times ridden their luck. It wouldn’t be unfair then to say that they have finally reached the end of the road. Heavily dependent on the individual brilliance of Gareth Bale and to some extent Aaron Ramsey, they just don’t have enough in their tank to overcome Belgium. Unless of course Belgium implodes or conspire against themselves!

Wales might also have to contend with the absence of team captain as well as the glue that holds their defense together, Ashley Williams, via shoulder injury.

That coupled with the magical Eden Hazard’s sparkling performance at Belgium's last game against Hungary, finally showing glimpses of why he was voted the English Premier League’s best player the season before last, plus an embarrassingly rich array of attacking options available to Marc Wilmots, its hard not to conceive a convincing victory for the Red Devils. The Devils will surely slay the Dragons. Belgium 3- Wales 1.

GERMANY VS ITALY

Conte expected to produce another tactical masterstroke against old enemies Germany

This is arguably the final before the final! It’s so so unfortunate that these two colossi of world football have to meet this early in the competition. This is a match up that would confound even the most celebrated crystal ball of all crystal balls out there!

Germany, who are at an advanced stage of a rebuilding project for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, have at times not looked their best but have yet to concede a single goal at these finals with a nil all draw against Poland in the group stage as their only blemish. Coach Joachim Loew's replacement of one Mario for another, Gomez for Gotze seems to have been the missing chip.

Italy, who admittedly by their own high standards are parading their weakest team ever at any major tournament have only conceded once, the late goal by Republic of Ireland’s Brady, albeit Conte having rested 8 regular players. Devoid of exceptional talent, the Azurri has thus relied on sheer workmanship, team work and most of all the tactical brilliance of Antonio Conte. 
As is typical with Italian footballing tradition, Conte has simply built his team from the back, going with the sure handed goalkeeping abilities of Gianluigi Buffon ably assisted by the defensive trio of Juventus teammates, Chiellini, Barzagli and Bonucci.

Against Spain, Conte blindsided the fleet footed Spaniards by brazenly setting up his side to play a more possession based game, matching their more illustrious opponents in play, confusing and rattling them to submission.

With Germany now playing a possession based passing style of play akin to the Spaniards, would it be safe to therefore assume that Conte will employ the same approach against the Germans? A safe bet probably and why not? Expect the wily Italians to come up with a shrewd plan.

History beckons, a record going back decades old nemesis Germany and Italy meet again

The defending World Champions Germany might be slight favourites in this contest but Italy can sleep soundly at the thought of their historical superiority over the Manschafft going back to the semi-final of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a 4-3 win for the Azurris. Italy has since overcome Germany severally; 3-1 at the final of the ’82 World Cup in Spain, 2-1 at the semi-finals of 2006 World Cup when Germany played hosts and most recently at the semi-finals of the last Euros in 2012 where they overcame their nemesis 2-0.

History aside, Italy should win this one by the odd goal. Germany 0- Italy 1.

FRANCE VS ICELAND

Deschamps having a word with his captain Evra, has struggled to come up with a winning formula

Watch out for the slings, David versus Goliath anyone? Its more like, David against one of the many Goliaths, as Iceland, playing at their first ever international tournament, has exceeded its own as well as everyone's expectations and overcome several big hurdles to get to the quarters.

Iceland hoping to emulate their Scandanavian kin Denmark who ripped the form books in 1992!

Could this band of well organized and confident Scandanavians do the unthinkable and eliminate hosts France? Not entirely impossible! Denmark did the unthinkable in 1992.

Though abundantly gifted in attack, its no secret that the French rear guard is fragile and Coach Didier Deschamps has seemed unsure of his best combination relying on the individual brilliance of Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann severally to lift them out of adversity. Going by Coach Lars Largarback’s exemplary record as Sweden’s coach at 5 major tournaments and how well he’s been able to drill this Iceland side and succeeded in making them seem like a seasoned and sophisticated machine, France has their work cut out for them. 
It’s not hard to see Iceland drawing France out to a long match spilling into extra time and then a penalty shootout and overcoming them on via post match penalties! The soccer gods must be crazy….