Euro 2012 Scores: Assessing Top Outing from Each Quarterfinals Team

After nearly two weeks of intense group action, the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship is going to move into the knockout phase on Thursday. Before we can truly move forward, though, we have to look back at what we just saw from the first 12 days in the tournament. 

All eight of the quarterfinal squads put together impressive performances throughout the group phase, which is why they have made it to this point. 

Here is a look at each quarterfinal teams best match so far in the Euro 2012. 

Czech Republic (def. Greece, 2-1, on June 12)

Coming off an embarrassing 4-1 loss against Russia, the Czech Republic had a lot of work to do in order to keep its hopes alive in this tournament. Greece was coming off a draw against Poland. 

This was the match that turned everything around for Czech Republic. They scored two goals in a four-minute period in the first half of the match. A brief error in judgement from goalkeeper Petr Cech gave Greece some life late, but it wasn't enough. 

Greece (def. Russia, 1-0, on June 16)

There was not a lot expected of Greece in this tournament. They were a solid team, who would put forth a decent effort but not factor into the knockout phase. 

All that changed with a shocking 1-0 victory over the favored Russians in the final group game for both squads. A tie would not do the Greeks any good, so they used their sit-back-and-defend approach to cling to that one-goal margin until the final whistle blew. 

Germany (def. Portugal, 1-0, on June 9)

The only squad to make it through the group stage with a perfect 3-0 mark, the Germans set the tone for the tournament right out of the gate, by taking care of business against Portugal. 

The Group of Death was not supposed to look so easy, yet Germany separated itself from the pack by not trying to do anything fancy. This squad took it to Portugal, and the other two squads in the group, by attacking on offense when there was an opening, and always making sure to help each other get back defensively. 

Portugal (def. Denmark, 3-2, on June 13)

A common theme for Portugal this tournament has been to assume that as Ronaldo goes, so goes the rest of the squad. 

That's why Portugal's performance against Denmark was so critical to this squad making it through the group stage, because Ronaldo didn't have a great game. They were able to get three goals without their superstar scoring once, and the late heroics of Silvestre Varela put them in a position to make it to the knockout phase. 

Spain and Italy (1-1 Draw on June 10)

While I could go with Italy or Spain's victories, I think that we learned a lot more about both squads from their head-to-head draw in their first match of the tournament. 

I do think that Italy was the better team on this day, appearing to want the victory more, while Spain was coasting on its talent and hype. That said, when you have two powerhouse squads locking horns with each other, it just feels different. 

It was not the crisp, back-and-forth battle we might have expected going in, but it was good enough to whet the appetite for what we would see from both squads heading into the knockout phase. 

England (def. Ukraine, 1-0, on June 19)

It took a little help from the officials, but England was able to make it through the group phase with its most complete performance of the tournament against Ukraine on Tuesday. 

The triumphant return of Wayne Rooney, who scored the loan goal, was a big emotional boost for the rest of the squad. England was talked about as one of the most dangerous teams coming into the tournament, and they started to show why in their final group match. 

France (def. Ukraine, 2-0, on June 15)

It is hard to pick any of France's other performances, because they played an England squad without Wayne Rooney to a draw and missed a golden opportunity against Sweden in the group stage finale. 

Since there aren't good options available, the victory over Ukraine is the pick by default. Here is where France showed everything it could do, with timely attacks on offense and a stifling defensive effort. It will need more matches like that one to have a chance against the powerhouse Spain squad in the knockout phase. 

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