Spain defeated Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Vicente del Bosque surprisingly named Alvaro Negredo as his lone striker, meaning Cesc Fabregas dropped to the bench. The rest of the side was as expected.
Paulo Bento was forced to change his striker, with Helder Postiga injured. As already announced, Hugo Almeida replaced him.
A difficult game...
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Will Portugal be able to break up Spain’s dominant passing game? More to the point, will they attempt to?
Selection
There will be few surprises in selection. Paulo Bento, having kept the same starting XI for his previous six competitive games, has been forced to bring in Hugo Almeida upfront in place of the injured Helder...
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Italy somehow failed to score despite dominating for 120 minutes, but won the resulting penalty shoot-out.
Cesare Prandelli brought in Riccardo Montolivo to play at the top of the diamond, because of concerns over Thiago Motta’s fitness.
Roy Hodgson made no changes from the XI that narrowly defeated Ukraine in the group stage.
Italy were the better...
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After three one-sided quarter-finals, this should be a much tighter, tenser tactical battle.
Roy Hodgson will name a standard 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1 formation, and although there’s a chance that a more direct winger could start on the flanks, it’s probable that he’ll stick with the starting XI that overcame Ukraine in the final group game.
Cesare...
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Laurent Blanc named an extremely reactive team – but France neither stifled Spain’s threat down the left, nor played their own game effectively.
Vicente del Bosque had hinted he would make changes from the team that beat Croatia, though it was still a surprise to see Cesc Fabregas return to the side in a false...
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