Paris (AFP)

A mountain to climb.

And not a Mount of the Ardennes, rather an alpine summit.

In four confrontations, Belgium has never beaten Italy in a major tournament before its match on Friday (9 p.m.) in Munich, in the wake of the first quarter of the Euro between Switzerland and Spain (6 p.m.).

The uncertainties surrounding the two Belgian guides, his playing master Kevin De Bruyne and his captain Eden Hazard, cover a little more fog the path of the Red Devils to a first title.

Especially since Euro-2016 in the group stage with a much less talented team, the Nazionale had tamed Belgium 2-0 by "KDB" and Hazard, present on the pitch from the kick-off.

"In short, let's say that we have shown that we are more of a team than them", summarizes about this match the coach of the time Antonio Conte, seduced by the work of Roberto Mancini.

"I like the fact that it is a real team, its unity, its compactness. The balance between attack and defense, the fact of fighting all together", he adds about the current Italian selection. in the French newspaper L'Equipe on Thursday.

Only the same could be said of Belgium, which since the disillusions of 2016 and 2018, has learned to win "Italian style", as the Italian-Belgian singer Frédéric François would hum.

- "We have learned to suffer" -

"First we are more realistic, retained in midweek the midweek of the Devils Youri Tielemans. We saw it, we passed against Portugal (1-0 victory, note) with a single shot on target (... ). Then we learned to suffer. "

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Belgian striker Dries Mertens, familiar with the science of results cultivated in the Boot after eight years in Naples, recognizes it in these "Red Devils" version 2021.

"We also learned to + hold the zero +, that's how we win tournaments," he appreciated Wednesday at a press conference.

A qualification against the Nazionale may give the impression that the way to the final is open.

The poster to designate their future opponent, the quarter Switzerland - Spain Friday (6 p.m.) in Saint Petersburg, being a priori less attractive.

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The two teams are not from the circle of designated favorites but this Euro allows one to dream after the ousting from the eighth of the Portuguese title holder and the last two world champions, Germany and France.

Blues just eliminated by the "Nati" which pulverized its glass ceiling.

- "Strong emotions" -

The Swiss, unable to qualify in a knockout match since 1938, broke the lock by offering themselves nothing less than the reigning world champions (3-3, tab 5-4).

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The top of a Euro roller coaster for the "Nati", adored after being crushed during the group stage.

"The energy reservoirs, which are rather empty after such strong emotions, must be refilled," warned national team director Pierluigi Tami.

Good news for Switzerland, they may not be quite full on the Spanish side either.

She also criticized after two inaugural draws, La Roja has reversed opinion by stacking ten goals in two games since.

Including five against the Croatian vice-world champions (5-3) after a poorly started match in the eighth, between the blunder of Unai Simon during the opening of the scoring then the lead of two wasted goals .

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Also the goalkeeper insisted Wednesday on the mental resources found to win in overtime: "Turning the scoreboard was a sign of the personality of the team."

The program of the quarter-finals played on Friday (in Paris hours, GMT + 2):

(6 p.m.) Switzerland - Spain, in Saint Petersburg

(9 p.m.) Belgium - Italy, in Munich

© 2021 AFP