With the last 16 matches confirmed and the roads to the final now complete, fans from Europe’s strongest football nations can really start dreaming.
The 16 teams that are still in the competition are only four victories from immortality, but for some the four matches seem to be much more difficult than for others.
Here’s a look at each favorite’s run to the final.
Portugal is in a tough run / Tibor Illyes – Pool / Getty Images
For Portugal to even reach a round of “finals” in their name, they must beat the top-ranked team on the planet, Belgium.
Fernando Santos’ men have fought for bigger sides so far – they were humiliated by Germany and needed two penalties to survive France – but that is the only level of competition left for them.
After Belgium, Portugal could face Italy and then France. These are probably the three best favorites, one by one. Ouch.
Belgium must earn this / Isosport / MB Media / Getty Images
If Belgium wins this tournament, it will be perhaps the most deserved triumph in the history of the competition.
Provided there are no surprises, Belgium must beat the defending champions Portugal, Italy and France to get through the final, where one of England, Germany or the Netherlands can wait.
It’s very, very tough, but if anyone can do it, it’s Belgium.
Spain must keep up / Jose Manuel Vidal – Pool / Getty Images
Spain have not been very impressive so far (their best result came against a Slovak side that had given up). They definitely have to increase it to get to the final.
Croatia in the round of 16 is a game that can go both ways, and there is a good chance that could be their easiest match now and to the final.
France may be in the way of the quarter-finals, after which Belgium, Portugal or Italy await.
Italy has looked good so far / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Probably the best in the group stage, Italy really need to earn this trophy if they want to win it.
Austria should not be very competitive in the round of 16, but then it goes up to a whole new level. Belgium or Portugal are waiting in the quarterfinals, after which there is a good chance that they will face France or Spain.
We have not yet seen how Italy will cope with such a high level of opposition, although the early signs suggest that it will be fine.
France are still favorites to win / Alex Pantling / Getty Images
The favorites before the tournament France have ended up on the tougher side of the bracket, but fortunately for them they are in the kindest half.
Switzerland in the round of 16 should not be too tricky, after which Les Bleus will then have to go through either Croatia or Spain – two tough matches but again two matches that the French should win.
But they will face a real heavyweight in the semi-finals – Belgium, Italy or Portugal – and if France do not strengthen their game, their tournament may not go much further than that.
England has another favorable run / Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
Is England a favorite? Well, if you look at their run to the final, you have to say that they are with a good shot.
Germany can either be trampled or do the trampling, but if England can survive it, they have seen the greatest threat on their side of the bar.
Sweden or Ukraine in the quarterfinals is not the scariest idea, and the Netherlands in the semis is okay. If you offered it to England before the tournament started, Gareth Southgate would have bitten you.
It’s the World Cup 2018 again.
The Netherlands has a good way to the final / BSR Agency / Getty Images
Anything less than a trip to the semi-finals should now be seen as a failure for the Netherlands.
Frank de Boer’s side can beat the Czech Republic in the 16-year-olds and they expect to win either Wales or Denmark in the quarter-finals.
Their first real test comes in the semifinals, where both Germany and England can easily be seen as favorites, but the Netherlands definitely have good chances of reaching the final.
Germany expects to reach the final / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Germany did their best to embarrass themselves in the group stage, but they are here, and now they will feel good about a deep run this summer.
Joachim Low’s side must get past an England team that is yet to start, after which they will face either Sweden or Ukraine in the quarterfinals. The victory by seeing them face one of the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Wales or Denmark in the semis.
If the right Germany shows up, they can roll their way through to the final with very small problems and leave them with a straight shootout against one of the big boys to decide the fate of the trophy.
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