Simulating Euro 2016 (QF, Semis & Finals)

Well, it all kicks-off tomorrow and our simulator has done an incredible job so far. Some results were surprising, while others were as predictable as they come. So before the real tournament begins, how do the last three simulated stages look and who are Europe's champions?  You can review the previously simulated matches right here:

|  Group A  |  Group B  |  Group C  |  Group D |  Group E |  Group F |  Round of 16  |

In the last match of the 2016 Euros for the month of June, Ukraine, who had already won against Poland at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, take on the team that eliminated defending champions Spain in the round of 16, Sweden. With a total of 7 goals in the match, "entertaining" would prove too light a description for this particular meeting. With no goals in the first-half however, this game seemed to be going the conservative route, that until a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal in the 59th put the Swedes in the driver seat. But a duo with the same first name would flip the script when Yevhen Seleznyov and Yevhen Konoplyanka scored in the 67th and 78th to give Ukraine the 2-1 lead and for Dynamo Kyiv's Konoplyanka his third goal of the tournament. The Swede's pressed for an equalizer and 5 minutes before the full-time whistle they got it when Kim Källström put the ball in the back of Pyatov's net. The game headed for extra-time.

In the additional 30 minutes, Ukraine utilized their wings as best they could and came out flying, regaining the advantage just 7 minutes into the extra frame with another goal from Konoplyanka. With just a minute to go in extra-time the Ukrainian's would put it out of Sweden's reach when full-back Bohdan Butko scored his first for his country, making Ibrahimovic's goal one minute later irrelevant. Ukraine's opponents in the semi-finals will be the winner between Romania and Belgium.

Final Score: Ukraine 4-3 (AET) Sweden

After defeating Group B winners Russia in penalty-kicks, Romania took on Belgium who managed to eliminate Austria in the round of 16. With Belgium seen as favorites, the Red Devils lived up to the expectations going 1-0 ahead in just the 10th minute with a corner kick goal from Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen. Looking to settle for the narrow victory, the Belgians sat back and for nearly the rest of the match is sure looked like the 1-0 scoreline would hold. But the strategy to invite the Romanian attackers into their own half nearly proved the demise of the Belgians as despite a visible lack of creativity for the majority of the match the Romanians managed to equalize in the 78th with a goal from Denis Alibec. The Belgians did not panic however, retaking the lead just two minutes later thanks to Eden Hazard's first of the tournament and a goal that proved to be the winner as it was too much for Romania to overcome yet another deficit. Belgium moves on to face the surprising Ukrainians in the semi-finals.

Final Score: Romania 1-2 Belgium

In what was probably the most anticipated match of the quarter-finals, Group C winners Germany who had so far won every one of their matches, was taking on Group E winner, Italy. But in a meeting which was supposed to be a close encounter, the defending champions were dominating from the start and were a much better side throughout. After going ahead in the 32nd with a goal from Arsenal's Mesut Özil, the Italians showed some life as they leveled the score just two minutes later thanks to a quick goal from Thiago Motta. But after the Italian goal, the German domination continued and two second-half tallies, another from Özil and Thomas Müller's fourth of the tournament sealed the deal as the defending world champions moved on to face the winner of Czech Republic and England.

Final Score: Germany 3-1 Italy

With Germany waiting after their victory over the Italians, the final quarter-finals match between England and the Czechs has a throwback feeling of the 1996 Euros where a win for England would recreate a similar semi-final meeting between them and the Germans while a victory for Czech Republic would see the two finalists from that year competing in an elimination match once again. With the semis on the line, both sides played a conservative match, with neither squad willing to expose their own defense with overly attacking football. After a scoreless first half, the lone goal and the match-winner came just a minute after the restart when youngster Eric Dier scored his second of the tournament to see his side through to the next round.

Final Score: Czech Rep. 0-1 England

Surprising their own fans and Euro spectators as a whole, Ukraine managed to advance to the semi-finals and face Belgium in Lyon where both sides played out scoreless draws in the group stages; with Ukraine picking up a point against Northern Ireland, while the Belgians played to an identical result against Italy. A similar outcome looked to be in the stars for the two on this day as well, but with 5 minutes remaining in regulation, the Belgians would snatch a winner thanks to a goal from Romelu Lukaku to send the Belgians through to their first Euro final since 1980 when they lost to West Germany.

Final Score: Ukraine 0-1 Belgium

A rematch of the 1996 Euro semi-final, where England lost out to the Germans in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium, the stage was set for the two to renew their long-lasting rivalry. While England was returning to the Stade Vélodrome where they were held to a scoreless draw against Russia in the group stages, the Three Lions would not be held off the scoresheet this time around. With chances at both ends, England managed to put one past Manuel Neuer in the 27th minute, going 1-0 up with a goal from Jamie Vardy. As the match moved along with English keeper Joe Hart keeping the Germans at bay with a few spectacular saves, memories of 1996 were quickly coming back when Thomas Müller equalized in the 87th minute; sending the match into extra-time. In the extra frame it was Müller again, giving his side the lead in the 94th. But just two minutes after Müller's second of the match, it was Vardy once again, as his spectacular shot into the German top corner that would send the match into penalty kicks; a deciding feature that has been less than friendly for the English in the past. 

As expected, it was another penalty disaster for the English who were unable to capitalize on Germany's miss on the very first shot. Missing three of their own, the Three Lions were again eliminated from a major tournament via the spot kicks.

Final Score: *Germany 2-2 (AET) England (Germany wins 3-2 on penalty kicks)

In another rematch of a previous European Championship meeting, the Germans (West Germany then) face-off against Belgium, a rematch of the 1980 Euro final in Italy, which West Germany won by a final score of 2-1. 

National stadium Stade de France favored the Germans once already in this tournament when Joachim Löw's side defeated Poland by a score of 1-0 in the group stages and so would be the case on the day. With an identical score and even the same goal-scorer as the match against the Polish, Mesut Özil's lone tally was enough for Die Mannschaft to overcome a resilient Belgium side to claim their record fourth European title. 

Final Score: Germany 1-0 Belgium

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