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Ranking the best (and worst) Euro 2016 semi-finalists

48 games gone. There's just three to go. The eight quarter-finalists have become the fantastic fo...



Ranking the best (and worst) E...
Soccer

Ranking the best (and worst) Euro 2016 semi-finalists

48 games gone. There's just three to go.

The eight quarter-finalists have become the fantastic four, with both Wales and Portugal surprising the pre-tournament predictions in reaching the semi-finals. One of those teams are guaranteed their place in the Final on Sunday evening in the Stade de France.

On the other side of the draw, World Champions Germany meet hosts France in a tie that many had predicted before a ball was kicked. Despite the unexpected additions of Spain and Italy to the bottom half of the draw, the cream has certainly risen to the top.

Here are Newstalk.com's rankings of the semi-finalists at Euro 2016.

1. GERMANY

The World Champions have the best defence left in the tournament, conceding only one goal, from the penalty spot so far. Jogi Low's side got through the biggest test of their tournament so far after defeating Italy on penalties after a rather uninspiring game.

Due to the luck of the draw, Germany will face the second-best side left in the tournament for the second game in a row. They go into the game against hosts France as underdogs.The Marseille game is the biggest test, Germany will have had a World Champions, They do like semi-finals against tournament hosts though...

The Wales team pose for a group photo during the walk around at the Stade de Lyon before their semi-final. Picture by: Nick Potts / PA Wire/Press Association Images

2. FRANCE

Romania, Albania, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland and Iceland, are not the most impressive list of teams, but that is who France have had to play, to reach the final four. Their performance against a tired Iceland team was one of the most impressive so far. No other team has yet scored five goals in a game.

With Antoine Griezmann. Olivier Giroud and Dmitri Payet, France have three of the tournament's top-five goalscorers. The question for the team is how do they cope against the toughest opposition they have faced so far? All other semi-finalists could arguably say they have had tougher opponents on the way to the semi-finals.

3. WALES

A breath of fresh air in this tournament, Wales outclassed a fancied Belgium in the quarter-finals. Not many would have expected Chris Coleman's side to be the last of the three British teams standing at Euro 2016, let alone reach the last four. The second-highest goalscorers in the tournament, Wales have threats all around the field.

Their win against Belgium was one of the most impressive performances of the tournament so far, and with Gareth Bale in the team, they have one of Euro 2016's genuine stars. Wales struggled against Northern Ireland as favourites. Will they cope better this time around as favourites?

4. PORTUGAL

The only team in the history of the European Championships to reach the semi-finals of a tournament without winning a game. Portugal advanced from Group F as one of the best third-placed teams after drawing their three games with Iceland, Austria and Hungary. It took 117 minutes for Fernando Santos' side to get their first shot on target against Croatia.

It took a Renato Sanches goal to equalise against Poland, as Portugal advanced on penalties. Questions remain about the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo. When on form, he is almost unplayable. Portugal's issue has been that their captain has not been at his best in France. Can they outplay Wales? 

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