Theknockout stage ofUEFA Euro 2008 began with the quarter-finals on 19 June 2008, and was completed on 29 June 2008 with the final atErnst-Happel-Stadion inVienna.
All timesCentral European Summer Time (UTC+2)
The knockout stage was different from that of past tournaments. Teams in groups A and B were separated from teams in groups C and D until the final. This meant that teams from the same group who advanced past the quarterfinals would play each other again in the semifinals instead of the final. The reason for the format change this year was to equalise the rest periods during the knockout stage.[1] Also, in another major change, for the first time in a European Championship, only two venues (St. Jakob-Park,Basel andErnst Happel Stadion,Vienna) were used for the seven matches in the knockout stage of the tournament.[1] As with every tournament sinceUEFA Euro 1984, there was nothird place play-off.
Another new rule forgave all single yellow cards received up to and including the quarter-finals. However, players that were booked both in group tournament and quarter-finals missed semi-finals through suspension, but could play in the final. It was thus not possible to be suspended for the final without a red card.
The top two placed teams from each of the four groups qualified for the knockout stage.
| Group | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| A |  Portugal |  Turkey |
| B |  Croatia |  Germany |
| C |  Netherlands |  Italy |
| D |  Spain |  Russia |
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 19 June –Basel | ||||||||||
| Portugal | 2 | |||||||||
| 25 June –Basel | ||||||||||
| Germany | 3 | |||||||||
| Germany | 3 | |||||||||
| 20 June –Vienna | ||||||||||
| Turkey | 2 | |||||||||
| Croatia | 1 (1) | |||||||||
| 29 June –Vienna | ||||||||||
| Turkey(p) | 1 (3) | |||||||||
| Germany | 0 | |||||||||
| 21 June –Basel | ||||||||||
| Spain | 1 | |||||||||
| Netherlands | 1 | |||||||||
| 26 June –Vienna | ||||||||||
| Russia(a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||||||
| Russia | 0 | |||||||||
| 22 June –Vienna | ||||||||||
| Spain | 3 | |||||||||
| Spain(p) | 0 (4) | |||||||||
| Italy | 0 (2) | |||||||||
The first quarter-final saw Group A winnersPortugal take onGermany, who finished as runners-up of Group B. Germany'sBastian Schweinsteiger scored the opener half-way through the first half, beforeMiroslav Klose doubled their lead four minutes later. Portugal pulled one back five minutes before half-time, but Germany restored their two-goal lead on the hour mark. Portugal now needed two goals to take the game to extra time;Hélder Postiga pulled one back, but Germany were able to hang on to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since1996.
The second quarter-final was betweenCroatia andTurkey, and was a less high scoring affair. No goals were scored in normal time, and it took 29 minutes ofextra time beforeIvan Klasnić put Croatia into the lead. However, two minutes into injury time at the end of extra time Turkey was awarded a free kick. Controversially refereeRoberto Rosetti did not allow the Croatian coach to put on a substitute, after Turkey was awarded the free kick, which would have allowed for the Croatian defence to better settle. A long free kick from Turkey goalkeeperRüştü Reçber foundSemih Şentürk on the edge of the area; the striker turned and hit a shot into the top corner of the net to take the game to a penalty shootout. Croatia went first, but only managed to score one of their four penalties, while Turkey scored all three of theirs to win 3–1.
The Group C winners,the Netherlands, who had won all three of their group games, took on Group D runners-upRussia in quarter-final 3. The Netherlands' players woreblack armbands in sympathy for the death of Anissa,Khalid Boulahrouz'spremature baby daughter. Russia took the lead throughRoman Pavlyuchenko just before the hour mark.Ruud van Nistelrooy equalised in the 86th minute. In the 90th minute,Ľuboš Micheľ sent Russian defenderDenis Kolodin off for a second booking, but reversed his decision afterwards. The reversal was based on a linesman's (mistaken) observation that the ball was out of play before the tackle.[2] Eugen Strigel, head of the German referee committee, later judged the reversal against regulations as based on a mistaken premise.[3] The Russians played on with 11 players and with two quick-fire goals in the last eight minutes of extra time fromDmitri Torbinski andAndrei Arshavin secured a remarkable win.
The final quarter-final pittedSpain againstItaly. In 120 minutes of football, neither team managed to produce a goal, sending the game to penalties. Spain went first and scored three of their first four penalties,Gianluigi Buffon saving the other fromDani Güiza, whileIker Casillas saved two of Italy's four penalties. This leftCesc Fàbregas having to score to send Spain through. He converted, meaning that Spain had won their first competitive match against Italy sincethe 1920 Summer Olympics and thatSpain had qualified for the semi-finals for the first time since1984.
| Portugal | 2–3 | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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       Portugal[5] |      Germany[5] |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[5][6] |
 Croatia[8] |    Turkey[8] |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[8][6] |
| Netherlands | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | Russia |
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| Report |
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 Netherlands[10] |  Russia[10] |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[10][6] |
     Spain[12] |  Italy[12] |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[12][6] |
The first semi-final saw Group B runner-up and three-time championsGermany face Group A runner-up and first time semi-finalistsTurkey. Turkey scored first asUğur Boral converted a rebound from the crossbar.Bastian Schweinsteiger equalised for Germany four minutes later. In the 79th minute,Miroslav Klose headed Germany into the lead with his second goal of the tournament. Turkey managed to get back seven minutes later whenSemih Şentürk flicked the ball pastJens Lehmann. The match was headed for extra time when defenderPhilipp Lahm in the 90th minute scored the final goal and sent Germany into their sixth European Championship final. The TV broadcast of the match experienced technical difficulties caused by severe thunderstorms in Vienna, Austria, from where the television broadcast was transmitted. Television pictures in several countries were interrupted on three occasions, including at the time of Klose and Semih's goals. The entire match was recorded and distributed to all countries.
The second semi-final was a replay of the opening match of Group D,Spain in their first semi-final since1984 facedRussia who had not been in a semi-final since1988 as theSoviet Union. The first half was scoreless, but five minutes into the second,Xavi opened the scoring.Dani Güiza replacedFernando Torres in the 69th minute and scored the second goal for Spain in four minutes.David Silva rounded up the scoring with Spain's third of the night, sending Spain into their third European Championship final.
Germany[14] | Turkey[14] |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[14][6] |
 Russia[16] |    Spain[16] |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[16][6] |
The final match was played betweenGermany andSpain on 29 June 2008 at theErnst Happel Stadion inVienna, Austria. Spain won the match 1–0, the winning goal scored byFernando Torres.
   Germany[17] | Spain[17] |
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Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[19][20] |
