By The Numbers: EURO 2024 Quarter – Final Team Stats

Only four teams remain at EURO 2024, two of whom were among our favourites for the tournament. This past weekend saw 450 minutes of football in four games, as three of the four quarter-finals went into extra time. In the end, Spain knocked hosts Germany out, while France and England needed perfect penalties to progress. On Sunday night, the Netherlands came from a goal down to beat a young, but spirited Turkey 2-1. By The Numbers reviews how the four winners performed.

3 – games that went to extra time
1 – only once before have three of the four EURO quarter-finals gone to extra time
1 – Spain ended as champions the last time this happened (2008)

Spain v Germany

Spain and Germany had been the most entertaining sides in the tournament. They remain the leading goalscorers at the tournament (10 & 11 goals respectively), and there is a good chance the tournament will end with them as the only teams to reach double figures for goals. Spain took the lead through Dani Olmo just after the break, but Germany rallied back to equalise late on. As the game looked like it was headed for penalties, another substitute Mikel Merino grabbed a late winner for Spain. In the end, youth won over experience, with Germany’s Toni Kroos and possibly Thomas Muller making their last-ever appearances in the EUROs.

8 – minutes when Spain’s Pedri was substituted, the earliest sub in EURO history.

3 – goals scored in this game, all of them coming via substitutes
119 – the minutes on the clock when Merino scored the winning goal, the third latest winning goal in EURO history (after Platini for France in 1984, Dovbyk for Ukraine in 2020)

Portugal v France

As if to balance things out, the second quarter-final was much less engaging than the first. And that is being polite – it was as if they were two different sports. Portugal’s last three games at the EUROS have seen them record goal counts of 0-0-0, while for France their last three games have seen them record 0-1penalty-1own goal. As such, seeing the game drag to extra time was not a surprise. Unlike his previous game, Digo Costa could not produce any saves in the shootout, but credit to the French players for holding their nerve.

86 – non-penalty shots by France at EURO 2024
0 – open play goals scored by France at the tournament (two own goals & one penalty)
23 – shots taken by Ronaldo at EURO 2024, without scoring
29 – the last time a player had more shots without scoring at a major tournament was Messi (29 in 2010)

England v Switzerland

Saturday was the night of comebacks, beginning with England’s penalty shootout victory over Switzerland. After a goalless first 74 minutes, Breel Embolo opened the scoring for the Swiss, and it looked like that would be enough. But Bukayo Saka equalised a few minutes later with a brilliant long-range strike into the far post. The goal was as majestic as his performance on the day and was a perfect reward for the night. It was also a game that Africa can be proud of, with both scorers Embolo (born in Cameroon) and Saka (of Nigerian parents) boasting African descent.

5 – times Switzerland has reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament
5 – times Switzerland has been eliminated at this stage of a major tournament (a record).
10 – penalty shootouts that England have been involved in at major tournaments
1 – this is the first time they scored all five of their penalties
2 – This is the second time they score 100% of their kicks (4/4 at EURO96 v Spain)

Netherlands v Turkey

The fourth quarter-final saw the Netherlands come from behind to edge past Turkey in Berlin. The Dutch had started the game in a promising manner but failed to take advantage of the several half chances they created. In the end, Turkey kept the pressure on after a corner was tamely cleared, with Arda Guler delivering a perfect cross in the same movement of play. However, Turkey did not build on that lead and the Dutch pressure ultimately told with two late goals. It means the Dutch are in the last four for the first time in 20 years.

6 – times Netherlands have reached the EURO semi-finals (behind only Germany 9)
4 – goals by defenders for Turkey at EURO2024, a new record at a EUROs
3 – goals from corners scored by Turkey at EURO2020 (a record-equalling total in EURO history)

*Stats from Opta