Euro 2012 Quarterfinals: Teams with Most Momentum Heading into Critical Round

The field of eight at Euro 2012 is complete, and after some rocky starts and close calls, there are some teams that are feeling better than ever, while some favorites are pondering the ways in which they can avoid elimination for a few more days.

Here's a look at the teams that emerged from the group stages and into the quarterfinals riding the most momentum. 

Germany

It was suspenseful for a while, but in the end, the two teams everyone expected to emerge from the Group of Death are the ones in the quarterfinals.

The only team from Group D to avoid any real threat was Germany, which is still the 9-4 odds-on favorite to win (via PaddyPower). Germany was the only team in the entire field to win all three of its matches in the group stage, and it currently boasts a Euro-leading nine points.

Next up for Germany is a match versus Greece, which is already being overshadowed by political turmoil—but the Germans refuse to allow themselves to be distracted. There is no team as zoned in as Germany right now.   

The best part of it all is a Germany vs. Spain final is still very possible. 

England

They may not have dominated throughout the group stages, but the Three Lions still managed to come out on top and were the only team in Group D to avoid a loss.

Tuesday's match against Ukraine was particularly critical, given the return of Wayne Rooney and the starting lineup turmoil that caused, but England managed to rise above for a 1-0 win. Though it started off Euro 2012 with a shaky 1-1 draw versus France (which dropped a 2-0 decision to Sweden on Tuesday), England rebounded with big wins over Sweden (3-2) and Ukraine (1-0).

Though the pressure has been mounting steadily over the last week, England has found a way to tune it out, and now that Rooney's back, anything may be possible for the Three Lions.

Spain 

It's easy to see that next to Germany, Spain is the other favorite to be one of the last teams standing. In a congested Group C, the Spaniards managed to avoid a loss and win with seven points. Now, the defending champs' biggest concern is finding a way to avoid getting smug before a match against France that could be a trap game.

As Spain coach Vicente del Bosque told The Guardian:

"

Any team is difficult but France are playing well and have a good team. They have made changes that have got results. … What I don't want is this Spanish custom that we don't have to be careful of the opponent. It is a huge match, a match that appeals to everyone.

"

Spain's wins haven't been resounding—it beat Croatia by a meager 1-0 margin, and though it beat Ireland 4-0, that means little given Ireland's abominable performance at Euro—but this is still one of two teams to beat, and its confidence is only growing.