Cesc Fabregas struck the winning spot kick as holders Spain beat Portugal 4-2 on penalties after their Euro 2012 semi-final ended goalless after extra time on Wednesday.
Italy forward Mario Balotelli scored two superb first-half goals to steer his team to a 2-1 victory over favourites Germany on Thursday and into the Euro 2012 final where they will meet holders Spain.
England looked nothing like the disciplined team Roy Hodgson is trying to build but inspired by substitute Theo Walcott they beat Sweden 3-2 in a thrilling Euro 2012 Group D match to move closer to the quarter-finals.
A Wayne Rooney header and a slice of luck when Ukraine were controversially denied an equaliser gave England a 1-0 win over the co-hosts and a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 on Tuesday.
Xabi Alonso marked his 100th Spain appearance by scoring both goals as the holders eased to a comfortable 2-0 win over a feeble France and into a Euro 2012 semi-final against Portugal back in Donetsk on Wednesday.
Italy's Euro 2012 hopes were in the balance after they let Croatia off the hook, dominating the first half and taking the lead before tiring and being held to a 1-1 draw in their Group C match.
Spain spoiled the Irish party in Gdansk when a rejuvenated Fernando Torres netted twice in a crushing 4-0 Group C victory that eliminated Giovanni Trapattoni's side from Euro 2012.
Sparkling attacking football and goals from Jeremy Menez and Yohan Cabaye earned France a 2-0 win over Ukraine in their Euro 2012 Group D match after the game was halted for 55 minutes due to a thunderstorm.
Russia accused Polish soccer fans of provoking street battles with Russian supporters on the night of their countries' Euro 2012 match and urged Warsaw to prevent further clashes in the tournament.
Portugal substitute Silvestre Varela scored a dramatic 87th-minute winner to give his side a 3-2 win over Denmark in a pulsating Euro 2012 Group B match.
Two superb first-half goals by red-hot striker Mario Gomez earned Germany a 2-1 victory over a disappointing Netherlands in Euro 2012 Group B to put the winners in sight of the quarter-finals.
Mario Mandzukic may have got lost in translation when he was quoted as saying that he likes to "jump a lot" but the robust Croatia striker has left no doubt about the threat he poses in the penalty area.
UEFA is to investigate alleged racist chanting during the Euro 2012 matches between Spain and Italy and Russia v Czech Republic, the governing body said.
Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom believes defeat by Ukraine in their Euro 2012 Group D opener means their only hope of progressing hinges on beating England on Friday.
An own goal by Daniel Majstorovic helped England end a 43-year wait for a win over Sweden with a 1-0 triumph over their fellow Euro 2012 finalists in a friendly at Wembley.
Spain defender Carles Puyol will almost certainly miss Euro 2012 after he sustained an injury to his right knee that his club Barcelona said requires arthroscopic surgery and will sideline him for around six weeks.
Italy's troubles mounted as they produced some slapstick defending in a 3-0 defeat by fellow Euro 2012 finalists Russia in their only warm-up match for the tournament.
England eased to a 3-0 win over goal-shy Bulgaria thanks to a double strike from Wayne Rooney in their Euro 2012 Group G qualifier to take a step towards the finals.
Robin van Persie hit four goals to inspire Netherlands to an 11-0 annihilation of San Marino in Euro 2012 qualifying.
Wayne Rooney came under a barrage of criticism from the media today after his red card in England's 2-2 draw in Montenegro ruled him out for at least the first match of Euro 2012.