Women’s Euros Quarterfinals Predictions, Part 2 | OneFootball

Spain vs. Switzerland

Friday July 18 @ 3pm ETStadion Wankdorf, Bern, SwitzerlandBroadcast on FOX

Switzerland advancing into the knockout rounds is one of the feel-good stories of this Euro. It’s a testament to the years the confederation has put into building the women’s game, not to mention the sweat, injuries and tears of the players. What a pity it might all end in this fixture.

Let’s be candid: Spain is the strongest side at this Euros. That doesn’t mean they’re unbeatable, but it would take 90+ minutes of some spectacularly switched on soccer to do it. And while Switzerland have showed flashes of offensive brilliance, and dogged defending, asking them to topple the world’s #2 ranked team is a tall order.

Swiss manager Pia Sundhage is one of the world’s best tacticians, and she’ll have worked and honed her squad to be the best iteration of that country’s famed watches as she can. Will that precision and poise hold up in the flurry of a Spanish attack? We’ll see.

But to win the Swiss have to score. Happily, Italy showed it can be done, and attacking creativity will fall on two young sets of shoulders: Sydney Schertenleib (18) and Iman Beney (19). They will be responsible for dancing, probing and occupying the Spanish defenders’ focus so their teammate Géraldine Reuteler can fire in shots from outside. She hit a goal against Iceland but made that critical shot/pass that Riola Xhemaili poked into the net to advance Switzerland over Finland. Similar magic will be required.

For Spain, all they need is patience. They’re the better team, and they know it. If they simply play their game, the opportunities will come. And then their quality will shine though.

Josep’s call: Spain 3 – 1 Switzerland

France vs. Germany

Saturday July 19 @3pm ETSt. Jakob-Park, Basel, SwitzerlandBroadcast on FOX

If this fixture is half as bonkers as Thursday’s Sweden/England tie, we’re in for a treat. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be. Both teams are women’s soccer heavyweights and inside the FIFA Top Ten.

Based on those rankings, and indeed historical performance in Euros past, Germany would be the clear favorite. But, gentle reader, this is a mirage. You can never rule out the Germans, doing so is folly, but they are vulnerable right now.

The loss of team captain Guilia Gwinn in the opening match to a knee injury weakened their foundation; the mauling they suffered in a 4 – 1 loss to Sweden cracked that wide open. Gwinn’s right back replacement, Caroline Wamser, is under suspension for a red card, leaving that position an open question and an obvious point of exploitation by France.

France aren’t perfect, yet it’s precisely this imperfection that allows them the space to be themselves and play a fractured, disjointed game that nevertheless gets results. When they went down to the Netherlands, there was no panic. They got steely, regrouped and in a six minute span tore the Dutch apart. There’s no reason that won’t happen to Germany.

Josep’s call: We’ve already had two group winners eliminated in the quarterfinals, this game will not be a third. France will win 3 – 1.