Euro 2016: The Final Four

Verney and Beezley are back to dissect the goings on at Euro 2016 as we get closer to finding out which nation will be crowned as the new champions.

Wales continue to fly the flag for the home nations, while World Champions Germany and fellow European giants Italy and Portugal complete the final four.

All four sides have a chance of lifting the trophy, but before we review all the contenders let's look back at the quarter finals and what Verney and Beezley think of the latest Euro 2016 action.

QUARTER FINALS
Penalty shoot-outs decided two of the four quarter finals with Portugal and Germany knocking out Poland and Italy respectively. Wales continue to defy the odds as they came from behind to beat a Belgium side, who last year were ranked number one in the world. Hosts France put in a dominant first-half display as they beat Iceland 5-2 to complete the final four. But what do Verney and Beezley think of the recent action?

JV: Although they are now out of the competition, it is worth taking a moment to sit back and admire Iceland's journey in the competition...even if they did knock us out! Considering Euro 2016 was Iceland's first ever major tournament, along with the fact that they finished above Holland and Turkey in qualifying, Heimir Hallgrímsson's men should be immensely proud of their efforts. It had already been such a fairytale for them in the competition, but being 4-0 down in their quarter final against France left them with too much work to do. However, they refused to give up and did manage two goals in the second half and they can certainly look back at Euro 2016 as a tournament to remember for all the right reasons. As for France, let's just hope Olivier Giroud, who scored twice in the quarter final, can show this kind of form for Arsenal next season. Wales march into the semi-finals following what was a very composed performance and a thoroughly deserved 3-1 win, but more on that later. Robert Lewandowski put Poland ahead inside two minutes of their quarter final with Portugal before a penalty shootout eliminated them from the competition. Portugal have been very below par in the tournament and are one of the reasons I am not as keen on this third-place rule. A poor group stages finishing third and yet they are in the semi-finals. It just seems so wrong, but rules are rules and they got there fairly. The quarter final I saw the least of was in fact the most mouth-watering one as Germany took on Italy. Arsenal's Mesut Ozil got himself on the scoresheet, but the sides couldn't be separated and were level at 1-1 after 120 minutes. Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their history - but still won and will take some beating.

RB: As mentioned by Verney this seems to be the year of the underdog what with Iceland and the fact that Wales are still in the tournament! Germany-Italy was an immense penalty shootout, where it seemed more people wanted to miss than score! Portugal of course beat Poland, but I'm staying away from that, and then we have an absolute goal-fest which was France vs Iceland! 5-2.. no that isn't a typo it was actually 5-2! That sets up an absolute monster of a semi-final of France-Germany and also we can't forget Wales-Portugal can we!

WALES
Wales continue to do Great Britain proud in this tournament, so much so that they get their own section in this blog in place of the previous 'England' segment. Chris Coleman's men were simply excellent in their quarter final against Belgium despite going a goal behind to Radja Nainggolan's 13th-minute strike. Captain Ashley Williams equalised on the half hour mark to get Wales back on track before Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes completed a remarkable turnaround. So what were the verdicts of Verney and Beezley?

JV: After Wales' 2-1 defeat to us in the group stages, I genuinely thought it would kick-start our campaign and dent theirs. Instead, Wales are the ones in the semi-finals and in with a genuine shout of winning the tournament. Not even going a goal behind to Belgium could deflate them and they put in a performance to be proud of. The goal that put Wales 2-1 up within 10 minutes of the restart was one of the highest quality. Robson-Kanu is currently without a club after being released by Reading, but he well and truly put himself in the shop window with a magnificent turn and shot and one of the goals of the tournament. Belgium may have felt that they should've been awarded a penalty, but it was substitute Vokes who had the final say with a headed goal five minutes from time. This was in fact Wales' first ever European Championship but it certainly didn't seem like it and they more than deserve their place in the final four. The question is, just how far can they go? All the way wouldn't be out of the question that's for sure.

RB:Wales?! Well they are still going and are showing they are a lot more than a one-man team, Gareth who?! Fair play to Wales the only home nation left in it and I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm rooting for them! That Robson-Kanu goal- WOW!I honestly believe they can beat Portugal and the belief in the camp must be absolutely out of this world! Beating Belgium 3-1 as well is not easy.. a team that has Courtois, Hazard, Lukaku, Fellaini plus many many more stars!

SEMI FINALS
Everyone loves a good underdog story so no doubt there will be plenty of neutrals cheering on Wales in the semi-final, but each side still has one game to play before they can even think about the final and possible glory. So what are Verney and Beezley's predictions for the semis?

JV: If I could choose a winner from the first semi final it would definitely be Wales. They have defied the odds to be in the final four but fully deserve it, while Portugal, as I have said previously, are fortunate to still be in it due to the third-place ruling seeing them scrape into the knockout stages. In fact, they still haven't won a match inside 90 minutes during the whole tournament. But I just have this sneaky feeling that Portugal are going to win this one. I really hope I'm wrong! World champions Germany face France in the other semi-final and what a tie that looks set to be and one that is incredibly hard to call. If France can reproduce their first half against Iceland they will take some stopping, but Germany are always a hard nut to crack. With France being my pre-tournament prediction to win Euro 2016 I'm going to have to stick with them. But it is one of those where my heart says France but my head says surely it will be Germany. Either way, we'll find out soon!

RB: Semi-Finals? Well I've got everything else wrong so I'm going to say a Portugal win! Wales deserve it but my head says Portugal and surely Ronaldo has to hit form at some point?! My heart says Wales though and I hope they do it! In the other semi... well.... France?! Germany?! No disrespect to the competition but this is easily the biggest match of the Euro's so far and also the hardest to call. I have to go with Germany but this could also go all the way to penalties and I for one can't wait! Is it Thursday yet!?

When we return next time four will be down to two and we will know the finalists for this year's tournament. Will world champions Germany hold both major international honours at the same time? Can France win another tournament that they have hosted? Can Cristiano Ronaldo finally get his hands on a major international trophy? Or can Wales provide a truly wonderful underdog story? We can't wait to find out.

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