Denmark

Denmark is the feel-good story of the tournament, but you also have to be happy for the Czech Republic and its surprise quarterfinal berth. The Danes managed to finish second in Group B under trying circumstances after seeing star midfielder Christian Eriksen collapse on the field in their opening group game against Finland because of a cardiac arrest. The team went on to lose that match after being told it needed to be finished, and it was then defeated by Belgium in an emotional back-and-forth encounter five days later. A 4-1 defeat of Russia in the final group game secured the Danes' progress, though, and they thrashed Wales in the round of 16 on Saturday to comfortably clinch a spot in the final eight. They had the largest margin of victory in the round and got an extra day of rest over the Czechs. Nothing seems to be stopping the Danes at the moment. They got through the round of 16 without Yussuf Poulsen on the field, but a case could be made that Wales was the weakest team to advance to the knockout round. The Czechs will provide a step up in competition, and Patrik Schick is probably the second-most dangerous forward Denmark will have faced in the tournament behind Lukaku. Schick's Golden Boot quest is one of the unlikely storylines that have developed during the team's push into the final eight. He has the most goals of any player left in the competition with four, while Lukaku, Raheem Sterling of England and Haris Seferovic of Switzerland have three each. The Czech defense has been impressive as well. It held the Netherlands without a goal and did not allow multiple tallies in any of its four contests. Jaroslav Silhavy's squad has not lost often in the last year, and when it has, it fell by a goal in most of those games. The lone exception is a 4-0 loss to Italy in a June 4 friendly. Since March 2019, the Czech Republic has nine wins from 17 matches, with a 1-1 draw with Belgium and a 2-1 victory over England as its notable results. The Czechs may not completely halt the Danes' momentum, but they could at least slow them down. Denmark's key to breaking down the Czech defensive line could be Eriksen's replacement, Mikkel Damsgaard. The Sampdoria player has a goal and an assist at Euro 2020 and has three goals and four assists in just six national team appearances. Damsgaard could end up as the tournament's biggest breakout star. It may take a moment of brilliance from the 20-year-old in front of goal or setting up the likes of Kasper Dolberg or Martin Braithwaite for the Danes to move into the final four. Prediction: Denmark 1, Czech Republic 0