4 things to watch in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016

With the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 slated to begin tomorrow, we take a look at the storylines heading into each individual matchup.

Poland vs. Portugal

Details: Thursday, June 30 (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)

On the surface, the opening quarter-final contest is highlighted by each side's marquee attacker; Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski will garner much of the attention heading into the match at the spectacular Stade Velodrome. The latter is yet to find the net in France, while the former has endured a mixed bag thus far, netting two against Hungary - including a sumptuous backheel flick - while also missing a penalty against Austria and making headlines for some unsavory quotes and ill-tempered microphone tosses.

But the real battle will take place in midfield, where the Selecao will need to break down a unit anchored by the unshakable Grzegorz Krychowiak if they are to breach a defence that has only conceded once thus far in the tournament - and that was a stunning bicycle kick that miniature hulk Xherdan Shaqiri pulled out of thin air.

Portugal struggled to craft chances against Croatia until pouncing on the counter-attack in the waning seconds, and when his side was labouring against Hungary, Ronaldo dropped deeper into midfield to collect the ball, turning provider for Nani. Will he be forced to eschew some of his scoring responsibilities to play set-up man once again? And if so, can Krychowiak lock him down?

Wales vs. Belgium

Details: Friday, July 1 (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)

What did Marc Wilmots learn after being bamboozled by Antonio Conte in Belgium's opening match of the tournament? That question looks destined to play a key role in Friday's encounter.

For the first time since the 2-0 defeat to the Azzurri, the Red Devils will be faced with another side that lines up with three central defenders; though Wales' formation leans towards being a 5-3-2, while Italy's wing-backs offer more going forward in what is predominantly a 3-5-2 system. Conte's team looked menacing on the counter-attack, and he didn't have the human lightning bolt that is Gareth Bale at his disposal. Wales will get its chances.

That still might not be enough, though.

Belgium, despite some question marks over the solidity of its defence and its penchant for leaving gaping holes to be exploited by the opposition, looked to have stumbled upon attacking gold in the second half of the 4-0 drubbing of Hungary in the Round of 16. Eden Hazard was Eden Hazard again, his link-up with Kevin De Bruyne blossomed into a devastating partnership, and not having the lumbering Marouane Fellaini on the pitch alleviated some of the team's attacking issues from the opening game against the Italians. Pure talent, with which Belgium is beyond spoiled, should win out in the end.

Germany vs. Italy

Details: Saturday, July 2 (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

With all due respect to the other three matches of the round, this is the main event. Germany, having assumed the mantle as tournament favourite after stepping up a gear and blowing Slovakia away in the Round of 16, will be out to extinguish its Italian demons, having never beaten the Azzurri in eight previous tries at major international tournaments (four losses, four draws).

How much bearing will that have on this match? None. If anything, the most recent meeting between the two European giants, held in March of this year, is the only one of relevance in this storied rivalry; Germany hammered Italy 4-1 in a match that highlighted the talent discrepancy between the sides.

The Azzurri lack the skill, finesse, and star power of the best sides at Euro 2016. It's a point that both Antonio Conte and his players have openly admitted throughout the tournament.

“This national side is short on great talent, so we have to come together as a team. We have to have a playing style, and Conte is really the master in this area," Leonardo Bonucci said after the 2-0 win over Spain on Monday.

Italy has truly been the sum of its parts thus far, but is this German juggernaut, which now looks to be in full flight after sorting out some lingering squad selection issues, a task too great to overcome? On paper, absolutely. But then again, so was Spain.

Conte will need to concoct another masterpiece if Italy is to reach the final four, but in Joachim Low, he'll face his toughest challenge yet - one who has already gotten the better of him in the past.

France vs. Iceland

Details: Sunday, July 3 (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)

Surely, this is where the fairy tale ends, right?

After producing what will almost certainly go down as the most endearing moment of the competition, Iceland's reward for sending English football into a tailspin is a date with the pre-tournament favourite, France.

Conventional wisdom says Les Bleus simply have too much firepower to be trampled by Iceland's glass slipper, even if Didier Deschamps' star-studded squad hasn't quite clicked just yet.

Should Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet, and Antoine Griezmann all put it together at the same time, we could come out of this contest discussing how France finally delivered a marquee performance that laid down a marker for the other three sides in the semi-finals of the tournament. If they struggle, however, we could be reminiscing about one of the greatest upsets in football history.