Under-21 EURO quarter-final preview: What to look out for
Saturday, June 21, 2025
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We preview Sunday's quarter-finals with Denmark, France, Germany and Italy targeting the remaining semi-final slots.
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The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship quarter-finals conclude on 22 June with four more teams chasing semi-final slots.
We preview Sunday's last-eight action.
Quarter-final fixtures
Saturday 21 June
Portugal 0-1 Netherlands (Žilina)
Spain 1-3 England (Trnava)
Sunday 22 June
Denmark vs France (Prešov, 18:00)
Germany vs Italy (Dunajská Streda, 21:00)
All kick-off times CET
Sunday's games
Denmark vs France (Prešov, 18:00)
Perhaps not many would have expected Denmark to come top of a group containing a Netherlands side that won all ten qualification games and a dangerous Ukraine team. But in the likes of William Osula, who has scored three times so far, and Conrad Harder, who netted a double in the draw with Finland, they appear to have the firepower to trouble any opponent, and could end up as one of the big stories from this tournament.
France were involved in one of the matches of the group stage as they required a winner 12 minutes into added time to beat Georgia on Matchday 2, yet things were much more straightforward for them in their third game as they comfortably saw off Poland 4-1. The likes of Mathys Tel, Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Djaoui Cisse seem to be beginning to click, and we may well look back at that last-gasp Georgia victory as a turning point for Les Bleuets
Germany vs Italy (Dunajská Streda, 21:00)
The only side to finish the group stage with a perfect record, Germany displayed their impressive strength in depth by overcoming England 2-1 on Matchday 3 despite changing their entire team from the Matchday 2 victory over Czechia. Confidence is sky-high, and with tournament top scorer Nick Woltemade likely to return to the starting XI after being rested on Wednesday, Italy's defenders could be in for a busy night.
The Azzurrini, though, are enjoying an impressive tournament of their own. They may not have scored as many as Germany, but have conceded just once, with a much-altered line-up earning a 1-1 draw with fellow heavyweights Spain to conclude an unbeaten Group A campaign. If they can keep Woltemade and Co quiet, Carmine Nunziata's men will believe they can progress to a first EURO U21 semi-final since 2017.