Euro 2012 Quarterfinals: Predictions for France-Spain

The group stages of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship have already been filled with intriguing matches, blowouts and upsets.

We have seen Russia lose a qualifying spot in Group A to Greece and Czech Republic. Netherlands finished the group stages without earning a single point.

Croatia almost managed to qualify for the knockout stage, along with Spain, Italy and Ireland. France and England managed to advance from Group D to the quarters.

With these developments, the quarterfinals seem to promise a caliber of football that the group stages were unable to deliver. 

Czech Republic, the winners of Group A, will face Portugal, the second-place survivors of the "Group of Death". Germany will face Greece, the surprise team of the quarterfinals, and England will face off against Italy.

In this preview however, I will be looking at Spain vs. France.

Questions abound in anticipation of this match: Will Torres manage to shine like he did against Ireland and score some pivotal goals? Will France's attack, led by Benzema, Nasri, and Ribéry, rise to the challenge and cause trouble for the Spanish defense?

Read on for some predictions on how I think the match will unfold.

1-0 Goal for France: Karim Benzema

So far in the Euro Cup, Karim Benzema has been something of a time bomb waiting to explode.

In the group stage matches, he had some scoring chances but just wasn't able to put shots into the back of the net.

I think that this match will be the one where Benzema really finds some good chances, and this match will be the one in which he converts at least one opportunity.

This goal will be the first one of the match and will put France up 1-0 against the Spaniards.

Yellow Card for Spain

After going down 1-0, Spain will start to feel some frustration, as they would have had failed to capitalize on some convertible chances.

A player like Sergio Ramos or Sergio Busquets would probably receive a booking in this situation.

1-1 Goal for Spain: David Silva

David Silva is a very versatile player who can adjust to big-match situations.

I foresee him making a big impact at a critical point in the first half against France.

In the midst of a Spanish attack, the French defense will make a mistake of some sort, and this will lead to a goal from the Spanish side.

I feel that David Silva is the player who puts Spain back on level pegging. 

Halftime: 1-1

After a pretty even first half, I see France and Spain standing even at 1-1, thanks to the goals scored by Karim Benzema and David Silva. 

2-1 Goal for Spain: David Silva

After an even first half, both teams will be looking to open the second half with an intensified attack.

I predict that, after his first-half equalizer, David Silva will also score a second goal, as the Spaniards look for an offensive outburst to put even greater pressure on France.

Nearly a Goal for France: Crossbar-Rattling Shot

After going down 2-1, France will now be the team loaded with frustration.

Following Spain's second goal, the French will have a golden opportunity to tie the game, but unfortunately, this chance will end in a heart-breaking miss.

France will still trail 2-1 after that near miss.

Yellow Card for France

Things couldn't be going any worse for the French side—they are down 2-1 and came so close to equalizing.

This negative energy is bound to be released, setting the stage for a French player being shown a yellow card.

This won't improve things for the French.

3-1 Goal for Spain: Fernando Torres

After a complete shift in momentum in this match, Spain will look to add to their goal tally.

I predict that Fernando Torres will find himself one-on-one with goalie Hugo Lloris and will score with a nice finish to increase the Spaniards lead.

2-3 Goal for France: Samir Nasri

After seeing numerous chances go down the drain, France will manage to salvage an opportunity towards the end of the match. 

A player like Samir Nasri will score a low powerful shot from somewhere outside the box to cut the Spanish lead back to a single goal.

Full Time: Spain Wins the Quarterfinal 3-2

After a long excruciating match of football, Spain comes out on top.

These two teams have looked pretty even so far in this tournament, but Spain just has a more composed style of play, and that style of play will win them a spot in the semifinals.

Spain would then go on to play Portugal in the semifinal.