Euro 2012 TV Schedule: When and Where to Watch Tournament Quarterfinals

After a thrilling group stage that saw its fair share of drama, tension and controversy, Euro action is about the pick up again as the quarterfinals get underway. Eight teams are left to battle for one of the most prestigious championships in the sport.

Even though Spain and Germany remain the favorites to reach the finals after winning their respective groups, the other squads have plenty of talent as well and aren't going to let the two European powerhouses cruise to the title match.

With that in mind, here's a complete television schedule for the quarterfinal round, and a trio of players to watch as they hope to push their teams to the semifinals.

Quarterfinal TV Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Channel
Thursday, June 21	2:45 p.m.	Czech Republic vs. Portugal	ESPN
Friday, June 22	2:45 p.m.	Germany vs. Greece	ESPN
Saturday, June 23	2:45 p.m.	Spain vs. France	ESPN2
Sunday, June 24	2:45 p.m.	England vs. Italy	ESPN

Players to Watch

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

After failing to score in each of Portugal's first two games, Ronaldo got on the board in a big way by scoring twice to power his side to a 2-1 victory over Netherlands. He will need a couple more performances like that for Portugal to reach the finals.

Ronaldo has become one of the most criticized players in all of Europe, and most of it has to do with his lack of production in big games. It's an image he has a golden opportunity to change if he can play at an elite level for as long as Portugal stays alive.

Aside from Nani, Portugal doesn't have much attacking depth, so there's no escaping the pressure for Ronaldo. The team will go as far as he can carry them, plain and simple. Czech Republic has had some defensive issues, opening the door for a huge performance.

Wayne Rooney (England)

Rooney returned from his suspension in fine fashion by scoring the only goal in England's win over Ukraine. The victory allowed England to avoid Spain in the quarterfinals, which immediately boosted the team's chances of advancing.

Getting Rooney back should really help the Three Lions offense become more consistent. They didn't have a true go-to player on the field without him, and that limited what the team was able to do, forcing them to utilize a more conservative approach.

It's become clear that new manager Roy Hodgson isn't worrying about style points. England has attempted to slow the game down and win by outlasting opponents. Rooney fits right in and should find his form against Italy.

Iker Casillas (Spain)

Spain stands three wins away from defending its European Championship from 2008. Casillas played a crucial role on that team, and he'll have to do so again this time around if La Roja are going to reassert their football dominance.

With David Villa sidelined due to injury, the Spanish offense hasn't been able to generate as many chances. That's caused the pressure on Casillas and the back line to go way up. So far, they have been able to hold up.

A match against France, which has a wide variety of players capable of causing problems, will be a tricky test for La Roja. It will be up to Casillas to ensure his defenders are all on the same page so Spain can keep its Euro 2012 dreams afloat.