Euro 2012 Bracket: Predictions and Picks for Quarterfinals

The 16 have become eight, and soon the eight will become four.

After 24 matches and 60 goals, eight teams have advanced to the quarterfinals of Euro 2012. Only four can continue to the semifinals.

Here are my picks for all four quarterfinals, with players to watch, stats and full details on every match.

Leave your picks in the comments below.

Czech Republic vs. Portugal

Details: Thursday, 2:45 p.m. Eastern, Warsaw.

Player to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured).

Portugal's captain is the best player in Europe, and he reminded us why that's true with that two-goal performance against Holland.

Another to watch: Petr Jiracek.

The Czech midfielder scored twice in the group stage, including the goal (against Poland) that sent his team into the quarterfinals.

Stat attack: Czech forward Milan Baros has committed 14 fouls, the most of any player in the tournament. He has not scored a goal and has taken only two shots.

Who wins: Portugal.

After watching the Portuguese take out the Netherlands in the Group B finale, most probably think this will be a cakewalk. It won't. The Czech Republic's Petr Cech is still a top-class keeper, and his defense gave up next to nothing after that embarrassing 4-1 loss to Russia in the opener.

Still, Portugal's team is better. Plus, they have Cristiano Ronaldo. For the rest of this tournament, bet against him at your own risk.

Germany vs. Greece

Details: Friday, 2:45 p.m. Eastern, Gdansk.

Player to watch: Mario Gomez (pictured).

The big German striker scored three times in the group stage, tied for the most by any player. The other two guys who scored three goals in the group stage—Russia's Alan Dzagoev and Croatia's Mario Mandzukic—will both be watching from home.

Another to watch: Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Germany's midfield general did it all in the group stage, setting up goals, shielding the defense and dictating the flow of play. He could be their most important player.

Yet another to watch: Mesut Özil.

With apologies to Schweinsteiger, Özil is Germany's best midfielder. He just didn't quite show it in the group stage. Expect that to change.

Stat attack: Only one team won all three matches in the group stage: Germany.

Who wins: Germany.

Sorry, Greece, but this one is all about Germany. If the Germans play to their potential, Greece will have no chance.

Spain vs. France

Details: Saturday, 2:45 p.m. Eastern, Donetsk.

Player to watch: Fernando Torres (pictured).

Spain experimented with a formation devoid of strikers in their first match. Against Ireland, Vicente del Bosque drafted El Niño into the squad and was rewarded with two well-taken goals.

Spain struggled at times during the group stage to convert all their possessions into goals. The form of their most recognizable striker might be key.

Another to watch: Karim Benzema.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals for Real Madrid than Benzema over the last two seasons. But at Euro 2012, Benzema has struggled for form. After a disappointing Group D finale, France will need their star striker to perform.

Stat attack: Spain held 60 percent of possession against Italy, 66 percent against Ireland and 65 against Croatia.

Who wins: Spain.

Both teams played well at times in the group stage, but both also struggled. Spain needed a late goal to see off Croatia in their Group C finale, and if not for a couple controversial calls and one clutch save by Iker Casillas, Spain could have been sent home.

France dominated Ukraine in their second match but stumbled against Sweden—who had already been eliminated—in their Group D finale.

Will they be left to rue their second-place finish after playing Spain? Probably so.

England vs. Italy

Details: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. Eastern, Kiev.

Player to watch: Andrea Pirlo (pictured).

At 33, Pirlo still ranks among the world's top midfielders. After being shown the door at AC Milan last summer, Pirlo joined Juventus and promptly led the Bianconeri to the Scudetto. This summer he's showing the same form with Italy, having set up or scored all four of the Azzurri's goals so far.

Another to watch: Steven Gerrard.

Wayne Rooney gets all the attention, but Gerrard has been England's driving force in the midfield. Along with an impressive physical contribution in the middle of the park, Gerrard has had a hand in nearly all of England's goals so far.

Yet another to watch: Daniele De Rossi

De Rossi, a grizzled veteran for both AS Roma and Italy, started as a defender in Italy's first two matches. He shined there before moving to midfield in the Group C finale against Ireland. He played well there, too.

Stat attack: Rooney's goal against Ukraine snapped a personal scoring drought of 673 minutes at major tournaments.

Who wins: Italy

This figures to be the tightest match of the quarterfinal round. Both teams are fully capable of winning, and penalties almost seem inescapable.

If that happens, England fans know better than anyone just how unlikely their team is to advance.

Never say never, though.

Fearless Picks

Here are my predictions for the quarterfinals.

Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal.

Germany 4-1 Greece.

Spain 2-1 France.

England 1-1 Italy (a.e.t., Italy win on penalties).

Those results would set up an all-Iberian semifinal of Portugal and Spain on one side of the bracket.

The other side would feature a semifinal of Germany and Italy.

What are your picks, readers? Let me know in the comments or via Twitter.

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