With the valiant Czechs losing out to a Ronaldo inspired Portugal it put one piece of the Iberian semi final in place.
Spain did not let their neighbours down and eased to victory over a lacklustre and uninterested looking French side.
What both of these sides have is an ability to win regardless of the performance, the sheer guile and determination from Ronaldo has shown Portugal are looking to the final and if Spain continue to win game after with six midfielders than we are surely in for a clash of two very different styles of teams who are highly experience, motivated and driven.
Greece raised a nations spirits but Germany showed that this team is a machine of skill, strength, pace and high performance football. Their demolition of a resolute Greek side has made them favourites going into the semi final stage and they will not bow out easily.
Facing them are England conquerors Italy, in the cruellest fashion England floundered out in yet another quarter final at yet another penalty shoot out. Italy dominated the game from start to finish with 67% possession for sustained periods of the game. They are organized in midfield and physical in defence and with Buffon between the posts this is a clash of two in-form power houses of European football.
Come Thursday evening whichever two teams are preparing for a final battle deserve to be where they are, the road has not been easy and at this stage one can say, the four best teams remain,
Interestingly these ties are very hard to call, when you are facing a decisive 90 minutes of football some players will rise to the occasion and others will not. Italy and Germany, Spain and Portugal boast dozens of champions league winners in their mix and one feels these tests will be settled by the minds of the coaches and by which ever teams want it more.
One nation and one team know they are three hours of football away from being European Champions.