With Day 3 of Euro 2016 in the books, we have collated some of the best of our content from the last 24 hours in one place. All the latests news, plus group guides, kick-off times and news from around the teams can be found at our special microsite.
1 — ‘Magical’ Modric
It’s almost unfathomable to think that Luka Modric was once voted one of Real Madrid’s worst ever signings. However, since those early struggles in 2012, the classy playmaker has become integral to the Spanish giants and his presence in the team has helped Madrid land two Uefa Champions League titles. If you thought he was important to Madrid, then watching him in action for Croatia against Turkey on Sunday shows how absolutely vital he is to his national team.
Even in a side boasting the likes of Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic and Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic, Modric remains the star man. His stunning first-half volley decided the contest and got Croatia off to a wining start. Yet aside from the goal, Modric was by far the best player on the pitch, a fact not ignored by his national team coach, Ante Cacic.
“Luka really deserves to be talked about, especially after this match,” Cacic said. “It was one of his best matches in Croatia’s history. He was really playing well. He was really our leader.
“He scored a magical goal and at the end it was the only goal. We need Luka in this form. All the team looks better and more aggressive when he plays like that.” Without doubt, Modric was the standout player on Day 3.
2 — Northern Ireland’s unlucky 13
Dogged, determined, and spirited, but it ultimately was not enough for Northern Ireland as their first ever European Championship match ended in defeat to Poland. It was always going to be a tough task against a side filled with players playing across Europe's top leagues, led by two strikers in Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) and Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax) who scored over 50 league goals between them last season. It was Milik that grabbed the only goal of the game to consign Northern Ireland to defeat — their first in 13 matches — and while the loss was justified, limiting Poland, who scored 33 goals in qualifying, to the solitary goal was some achievement.
All is not yet lost for Northern Ireland. A win against Ukraine in their next match on Thursday gives them a great shot of a third-place finish that could be enough to progress to the knockout stage.
However, as Richard Jolly commented, Northern Ireland's very presence in France should be commended, but now they face far more gifted teams.
3 — Germany up and running ... sort of
World champions and a squad brimming with world class players, yet Germany entered Euro 2016 far from the all-conquering side that triumphed in Brazil two years ago. A mixed bag of results in that time, and the absence of key players from the World Cup — through retirement and injury — has left Germany, dare we say it, fallible.
Their problems were made worse on the eve of their opening game against Ukraine with injuries to central defensive pair Mats Hummels and Antonio Rudiger. And against Ukraine, it was strange to see such a porous Germany defence, the lack of structure in the backline uncharacteristic with great German teams of the past. They had goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to thank on more than one occasion, and defender Jerome Boateng for his goalline clearance.
And yet, despite failing to impress, Germany still won relatively comfortably and kept a clean sheet. Rather than a cause for concern, Germany fans should take encouragement from their team’s early signs, while opponents should worry that Germany are sure to only get better.
Reflecting on Germany's opening win, Thomas Woods looks at where Germany need to improve if they are to win Euro 2016
4 — Zlatan’s last hurrah?
He may be one of the biggest personalities taking part at Euro 2016, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also one of the best players on show in France. He will have his chance to showcase his talents on Monday when he leads Sweden against the Republic of Ireland, in what could be his final European Championship.
Ibrahimovic, 34, has kept everyone guessing about his club future, and while he is expected to join Manchester United having left Paris Saint-Germain, the Sweden captain is keeping his cards close to his chest. One thing he has been very open about, as usual, is his abundance of self-belief, and his pre-match press conference was filled with the sort of anecdotes only Ibrahimovic can produce.
“I have been dominating wherever I go. I have no issue about that,” he said when asked if it was time he delivered on the international stage. “The legend can still deliver.”
We will all see if Ibrahimovic does indeed “deliver” on his promise.
5 – Sunday marks a day of firsts in this admittedly only three-day-old tournament
Sunday’s action may have been only the third day of play at this year’s European Championship in France but it marked two notable stats.
Bastian Schweinsteiger’s stoppage-time strike against Ukraine on Sunday to seal Germany’s first victory in Group C made the world champions the first team at Euro 2016 to win a game by more than a single-goal margin.
Many expected the new 24-team tournament to produce numerous one-sided encounters in the group stage, but all seven matches thus far have been evenly contested.
Even Turkey, Russia and Northern Ireland, who were all outclassed by their opponents for long periods, managed to stay in their matches right up until the final whistle, with the Russians even nicking a point against England. It bodes well for the action to come.
And speaking of Northern Ireland, they earned perhaps the torunamen't most unwanted stat. Find out what it is by reading Greg Lea's Euro 2016 Day 3 takeaways.
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