A French team puts its 26-game unbeaten streak against a Dutch squad determined to restore pride from a bad defeat.
The host nation, brimming with long-lost confidence, meets a Spanish team angered that it has been ridiculed by the English tabloids.Saturday's first two European Championship soccer quarterfinals aren't all about what happens on the field.
The Dutch were stung by a 4-1 loss to England in their previous game and have a lot to prove.
"For me, the tournament is only starting now," said Patrick Kluivert, whose goal in the loss to England enabled his team to edge Scotland in the group standings.
Kluivert has made only brief appearances as a substitute after struggling to regain full fitness from a knee injury.
The French, tired of being asked why they have left behind stars such as Manchester United's Eric Cantona, David Ginola of Newcastle and Bayern Munich's Jean-Pierre Papin, have given their answers on the field.
Victories over Romania and Bulgaria were their 11th and 12th in 13 games with a tie against Spain their only blemish in that span.
After six years of gloom, England's chase for a title is fast gaining momentum after victories over Scotland and the Netherlands.
But Alan Shearer, who is Euro 96's top scorer with four goals, may miss the game against the Spaniards at Wembley because of a hamstring injury.
The Spaniards are at full strength and are confident they can silence some 74,000 England fans at the home of English soccer.
If only they could silence the English media.
According to the tabloids, Spanish fans have sent back 5,000 of their 7,000 ticket allocations and the team is so sure it will lose it has already chartered a plane to fly home Sunday.
"I don't believe that's what has been written in the English papers is the opinion of the English players and the English people," coach Javier Clemente said.
"I believe it has been to undermine the expectancy of the players but it will not put us down. There is no doubt that the players will be very motivated to play. Our team has shown in the group games it does not surrender and we are not afraid of the English team."