The group stage wrapped up without too many shocks (and for those keeping track, the Equalizer did say the eight teams who’ve been knocked out would not win), opening up the path to the trophy for one of the last eight still standing. While things have been relatively staid in the upset department thus far, the quarterfinals have the opportunity to deliver some left turns, and send some giants home early.
Norway vs Italy
Wednesday, July 16, 9 pm (3 pm ET), Geneva
A throwback to the earlier years of the European Championships, quarter-final #1 is a re-run of the 1993 Euros final, something only a handful of players from the two squads were alive for. Although Norway has remained somewhat competitive since the end of the 90s, Italy struggled with more of a noticeable drop-off but a nation that’s reorientated its trajectory in recent years, Le Azzurre have been producing better results than their opposition in recent times.
