10 interesting stats from the Euro 2020 so far

After an intriguing first knockout round at Euro 2020, the quarter-final round at the tournament was arguably not as eventful.

Nevertheless, Spain needed another extra time and a nervy penalty shootout to down ten-man Switzerland after going 120 minutes against Croatia. Later in the day, in a heavyweight clash between two tournament favourites, Italy beat Belgium to set up a blockbuster last-four clash with La Roja.

In the two other Euro 2020 quarter-finals, Denmark continued their fairy-tale run in the competition, beating Czech Republic, while in the last quarter-final, England produced the most resounding victory among the semi-final quartet, seeing off Ukraine 4-0.

On that note, let's have a look at ten interesting stats from the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.

#10 Spain equal their highest-ever goals tally at a single edition of the Euros

Spain players celebrate after their Euro 2020 penalty shootout win against Switzerland.

It would be fair to say that three-time champions Spain have blown hot and cold at Euro 2020.

After opening their campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against Czech Republic, Spain were held to a 1-1 draw by Poland in their next game. La Furia Roja, though, announced their arrival at Euro 2020 with an emphatic 5-0 dismantling of Slovakia to book their place in the Round of 16.

Up against 2018 FIFA World Cup finalists Croatia, Spain recovered from an early own goal to lead 3-1 with five minutes to go, before Croatia scored twice to force extra time. Luis Enrique's men, though, recovered to score two unanswered goals in extra time to reach the quarter-finals.

Spain struggled to break down ten-man Switzerland and also missed two spot-kicks in the shootout on their way to the Euro 2020 semis. In the process, La Furia Roja have equalled their best goal tally (12) at a single edition of the European Championship.

Luis Enrique's men will now take on tournament favourites Italy for a place in the Euro 2020 final.

#9 Euro 2020 has seen more own goals (10) than all of the other editions of the competition combined

Denis Zakaria (n red) put one through his own net against Spain

Continuing the alarming trend of own goals at the tournament, Denis Zakaria of Switzerland became the tenth player at Euro 2020 to put one into his own net.

That tally is one more than the combined tally of own goals ever recorded in European Championship history.

Earlier in the tournament, Merih Demiral, Mats Hummels, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro, Wojciech Szczęsny, Lukas Hradecky, Martin Dubravka and Juraj Kucka also scored own goals.

Despite Zakaria's own goal and Remo Freuler's red card, Switzerland thwarted Spain for large swathes to force a second straight penalty shootout. However, the Swiss, who scored all five of their spot-kicks against France, converted only one of their four and exited the tournament despite their keeper Yann Sommer's heroics.

#8 Italy set a new record for most consecutive wins (15) in European Championship history, including qualifiers

After failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Italy have been on a tear under Roberto Mancini.

The Azzurri won all ten of their Euro 2020 qualifying games before navigating the group stage of the competition without dropping a point. Since then, in the knockout rounds, Italy have met sterner opposition but have managed to up the ante.

In the Round of 16, Mancini's men needed extra time to see off Austria, while in the quarter-finals, Italy survived a late rally from Belgium to prevail 2-1. In the process, the Azzurri became the first team in European Championship history (including qualifiers) to win 15 games on the trot.

Italy, who'll take on Spain in the last four, are now two wins away from their first European Championship triumph in more than fifty years.

#7 Denmark reach their first European Championship semi-final in 29 years, the longest gap between successive last-four appearances in the competition by any team

Denmark players rejoice after reaching the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

Denmark have had had an interesting campaign at Euro 2020. After Christian Eriksen collapsed in their tournament opener against Finland, the result of the game became secondary on the day.

The game resumed after a break but the Danes lost by a solitary goal. In their next game, Denmark made a rousing start against tournament favourites Belgium, netting the opener, but the Red Devils fought back to take all three points.

On the brink of an exit from the tournament, Denmark thumped Russia 4-1 to book an unexpected place in the Round of 16. That made them the first team in European Championship history to qualify for the knockout rounds after losing their first two games.

Buoyed by their performance against Russia, Denmark thumped Wales 4-0 in the Round of 16 and beat the Czech Republic 2-1 to reach their first European Championship semi-final in almost three decades.

Denmark's gap of 29 years between successive Euro semi-finals is now the longest ever in the history of the competition.

The upbeat Danes will next take on tournament favourites England for a place in the Euro 2020 final.

#6 England become the first team to open their European Championship campaign with five consecutive clean sheets

England are through to the Euro 2020 semi-final

Continuing their emphatic start to their Euro 2020 campaign, England beat Ukraine 4-0 in Rome to book their place in the last four.

In the process, the Three Lions became the first team in European Championship history to start their campaign with five consecutive clean sheets. Spain are the only other team to register five clean sheets in a single edition of the Euros (2012) but that wasn't achieved in their first five games.

After playing out a 1-1 draw against Italy in their tournament opener in Gdansk, La Furia Roja did not concede another goal en route to lifting their third Euro title.

England now meet high-flying 1992 champions Denmark for a place in the Euro 2020 final as Gareth Southgate's men eye their maiden European Championship triumph.

#5 England keep seven consecutive clean sheets for the first time in their history

Continuing with the theme of clean sheets, England made it seven consecutive games in all competitions without scoring a goal for the first time in their history following their 4-0 quarter-final win over Ukraine.

Prior to their Euro 2020 campaign, England had eked out solitary-goal wins against Austria and Romania in Middlesbrough.

Defensive solidity has been England's trademark under Gareth Southgate, a trend the Three Lions would like to continue when they take on Denmark at the Wembley on Wednesday.

#4 Jordan Henderson scores for the first time in his 62nd England appearance, breaks record for most games before scoring first goal for the Three Lions

Playing his 62nd game for England, Jordan Henderson could not have chosen a more opportune moment to open his account for the Three Lions.

The Liverpool midfielder scored England's fourth of the night against Ukraine in Rome to help his team qualify for the Euro 2020 semi-final. In the process, Henderson broke Sol Campbell's record of most games played before scoring their first Three Lions goal.

#3 Patrick Schick becomes the 9th player in European Championship history to score five goals in a single edition of the competition

Patrick Schick scored his fifth goal at Euro 2020 when he netted against Denmark in the third quarter-final.

That made the Czech Republic player only the ninth in European Championship history, and second at this Euros, to score five or more goals at a single edition of the competition.

Earlier in the tournament, Schick scored a brace against Scotland and netted once apiece against Croatia and the Netherlands either side of drawing a blank against England.

With his strike against Denmark, Schick joined Cristiano Ronaldo as the joint top-scorer at Euro 2020. However, with the Czech Republic losing 2-1 to the Danes in the last eight, the Bayer Leverkusen forward will not be able to add to his tally at the tournament.

#2 Harry Kane becomes the first England player to score twice in a Euro knockout game

Harry Kane rejoinces after scoring one of his two goals against Ukraine.

After going goalless in the group stage of Euro 2020, England's prolific striker Harry Kane arrived at the party by netting against Germany in the Three Lions' 2-0 Round-of-16 victory.

Kane followed that up with a brace against Ukraine in the quarter-final in Rome, scoring either side of the half-time interval to help England to a resounding 4-0 win on the night.

In the process, the Tottenham Hotspur forward became the first English player to score multiple goals in a knockout game in the Euros.

Kane will hope to continue his goal-scoring form when England take on Denmark for a place in the Euro 2020 final.

#1 Euro 2020 has seen the most headed goals in a single edition of the competition

Harry Maguire is ecstatic after scoring against Ukraine in Rome.

Harry Maguire scored a fabulous header to double England's lead against Ukraine in their Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine in the Italian capital.

Harry Kane then scored his second of the night to put England firmly in the ascendancy before Jordan Henderson scored his first goal for the Three Lions, also through a header, to make it an emphatic win.

The tournament has so far seen 24 headed goals, the most at any edition of the competition.

With three more games left, this tally could increase as Euro 2020 approaches its business end.

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 20 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by S Chowdhury

10 interesting stats from the Euro 2020 quarter-finals