SPAIN 2-0 FRANCE

Good riddance France.

Spain should not be blamed for this painful footballing experience, though their insistence on playing without a striker is, quite frankly, baffling. We all know they've got enough world class midfielders to fill two teams, but must they play them all?

But no, the real culprits must be France. Internal wranglings left Samir Nasri on the bench - an unpleasant man, sure, but still a potent attacking force - and with him sat French ambition.

And so the Quarter Finals are, thus far, going to form. Which leaves me wondering what tonight will bring. Writing this from sunny Somerset, nose streaming from hayfever, I can't quite work out what "the form" is for tonight.

England have been a bit like that. Are they actually quite good? Or will they be undone the first time they face a decent side?

Which begs the next question: are Italy a decent side?

Prior to our opening group game, most people thought France were good, but results and performances since have proven this not to be the case. Italy have drawn with the Spain Midfield XI and an average Croatian team and beaten the sorry Irish. Hardly the stuff of champions.

But, then again, they looked rubbish in 2006. Right up until this happened...



Calling this one is not for me. Especially when you consider that, in my pre-Euros predictions, I had Russia, Poland, Holland... and Ireland in the last eight.

Although I did have Germany to win. But I doubt you heard that here first.

THE STORY SO FAR

Match of the tournament: Sweden 2-3 England

Player of the tournament: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Goal of the tournament: Ibrahimovic (SWEDEN v France)