Saturday’s games: Poland, Wales, Croatia are favourites to advance

A look at Saturday’s games at the European Championship:

SWITZERLAND VS. POLAND

When: 8:45 a.m. TV: TSN 1,3, 4, 5

How did they get here? Switzerland finished second in Group A with five points. Poland finished Group C tied on seven points with Germany, but finished second on goal difference.

What to expect: The Swiss made hard work of a fairly easy group, beating Albania by a lone goal, coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Romania, and sitting back and defending against France in a 0-0 tie. In a do-or-die game against a sharp Poland team, who cemented its rep- utation as one of the tournament’s dark horses with a strong group stage, Switzerland will be forced to play out more. The already visible cracks in its defence should become even more apparent than they were in the round robin.

Pick: Poland.

WALES VS. NORTHERN IRELAND

When: 11:45 a.m. Where: TSN 1,3, 4, 5

How did they get here? Wales unexpectedly topped Group B; Northern Ireland finished third in a tough group featuring Germany and Poland.

What to expect: The Welsh, propelled by Gareth Bale, looked like one of the most dominant teams in the round robin, but benefitted from a fairly easy group and succumbed to a late loss against England. The Irish kicked off the tournament in one of the most difficult groups and earned a respectable 2-0 victory over Ukraine to progress. Still, they will likely need some of the luck the country’s famous for to go any further.

Pick: Wales.

CROATIA VS. PORTUGAL

When: 2:45 p.m. Where: TSN 1,3, 4, 5

How did they get here? Croatia finished top of group D after a comefrom-behind win against Spain Tuesday; the Portuguese faltered in the round robin, dropping to third in Group F behind Hungary and Iceland.

What to expect: The Croatians, who have produced some of the tournament’s best play so far, will be flying high after capping group play with that comeback win against the defending champion. Portugal’s start to the tournament was rockier, with three ties in their opening three games. But a silver lining to the Portuguese’s last match of the round robin, a 3-3 draw against Hungary, was a man-of-the-match performance by striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his first two goals of the tournament. If Ronaldo remains in form, anything can happen.

Pick: Croatia Laura Armstrong