From France to Italy: Form guide of each quarter-finalist at Euro 2016
How each quarter-finalist is playing.
With eight teams remaining at Euro 2016, below is a guide to the form of the quarter-finalists, looking at their strengths and weaknesses.BELGIUM
Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen have marshalled a defence that has not conceded in their last three games with the imposing Thibaut Courtois largely untroubled in goal.Yannick Carrasco had been the first choice for the right-hand side of the attack but lacked impact and was replaced for the last game against Hungary by Dries Mertens. Midfielder Mousa Dembele has battled with injury but could yet make his mark as Belgium, helped by a kind draw, look a strong bet to go all the way to the final.FRANCE
Despite scoring a goal in the group stage, Griezmann appeared lost and jaded after a gruelling season at Atletico Madrid. However, two goals and a man-of-the match performance against Ireland after being pushed closer to striker Olivier Giroud gives him a launch pad potentially to become the star of Euro 2016.
France's biggest concerns remain at the back. Patrice Evra has struggled at left back and the makeshift centre-back partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Adil Rami, while not really tested, has also not convinced. Sevilla man Rami has been shaky in particular and his suspension for the quarter-finals could actually be a positive for the hosts.The absence of midfield dynamo and newcomer N'Golo Kante may also hurt Didier Deschamps' defensive unit after he filled the holding role over the first four games as if he had been playing at international level for many years.GERMANY
Central defenders Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels have delivered despite suffering injuries late in the season, with Hummels missing the start of Euro 2016. The German defence has now kept four clean sheets, and they are the only team not to have conceded a goal in the tournament so far.
Toni Kroos is capping a Champions League-winning season with Real Madrid and has taken over the playmaking role from the injured Bastian Schweinsteiger. He is the first port of call for defenders and beautifully distributes the ball across the entire pitch, reading the game like no other player in the Germany team.The frontline has been a disappointment with neither Mario Goetze nor Thomas Mueller finding the back of the net so far.
Defenders Boateng and Shkodran Mustafi have scored and coach Joachim Loew deployed his only out-and-out forward, Mario Gomez, midway through the group stage. Gomez has scored scored twice to repay his manager's trust.Youngster Joshua Kimmich at right back and Julian Draxler on the wing have laid claims for regular starting spots with their outstanding performances so far.ICELAND
A hallmark of Italy's national teams over the years has been their sturdy defence and that has been the case at Euro 2016 where they have conceded just one goal so far in the tournament. The chemistry and understanding between the Juventus quartet of keeper Gianluigi Buffon and defenders Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, has made them almost impenetrable at then back.Coach Antonio Conte has also brought out the best in players such as forward Eder, who had scored one goal in 14 league appearances after joining Inter Milan on loan from Sampdoria in January, but has looked transformed for the national team.
He scored a magnificent solo effort against Sweden that ensured Italy finished top of Group E and it was his free kick that led to their opener against Spain in the last 16.Italy have also been boosted by the performances of AS Roma's experienced midfielder Daniele De Rossi, with the 32-year-old rolling back the years to pull the strings against Spain.POLAND
But at the other end, hitman Robert Lewandowski, the leading scorer in Euro 2016 qualifying with 13 goals, has only mustered two attempts on target in the tournament, both in the last match.Poland's captain did coolly dispatch the first penalty in the shootout though, and the scintillating form of Kamil Grosicki on the left flank should provide more chances for the striker to break his duck in open play.Poland, who have found the net three times in four matches, have scored two goals fewer than any other of the quarter-finalists.PORTUGAL
WALES
Wales have been propelled into the last eight on the shoulders of the world's most expensive player Gareth Bale, whose three goals helped them top their qualifying group and made him the tournament's joint top scorer.It was also Bale's superb low cross that was turned into his own net by Gareth McAuley to secure a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in the last 16.The midfield axis of Liverpool's Joe Allen and Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey have also performed an excellent job in providing a stable foundation and feeding Bale.The only doubt remains whom manager Chris Coleman chooses to lead the forward line with Sam Vokes, Hal Robson-Kanu and Jonathan Williams having all started matches at the tournament.