Day 16 of Euro 2016 brought with it elimination matches. We have collated some of the best of our content from the last 24 hours in one place as the business end of the European Championship got under way. All the latests news, plus group guides, kick-off times and news from around the teams can be found at our special microsite.
1 – A substantive feat, but some style would be nice
It is no small accomplishment for Poland to have reached the quarter-finals at a European Championship finals. Their determination and resilience in reaching this point is to be commended.
But it would be kind of nice if Robert Lewandowski would do something spectacular too, would it not?
Richard Jolly writes if Poland were a dark horse to advance deep into Euro 2016, it was not exactly like this:
“An achievement to savour was secured after an underwhelming display. Poland converted five, almost immaculate, penalties, Grzegorz Krychowiak drilling the last into the roof of the net in emphatic fashion, but only after they had spent 75 minutes on the back foot.”
2 – Big names train for big stage
Manchester City. Chelsea. Manchester United. AS Roma. Liverpool. Some of Belgium’s biggest players ply their trade at some of the world’s biggest clubs.
Their widely-backed side will take on Hungary in their first knockout match on Sunday. See how they prepared for it on Saturday in our training session photo gallery.
3 – ‘We knew it was going to be an ugly match’
Wales and Northern Ireland, two Home Nations enjoying storybook runs at Euro 2016. One would continue, the other would, well, Brexit.
It was an accordingly cagey and chippy affair. But eventually Gareth Bale would connect with Gareth McAuley, who is not his teammate, to break the deadlock.
The own goal was enough to send Wales on.
“It was an ugly game, but who cares?” Wales coach Chris Coleman said.
4 – Beauty rest
France have as much talent as anyone at Euro 2016. It just has yet to really translate into exceptional play.
Much of that comes back to Paul Pogba, the rising global superstar whom coach Didier Deschamps has had trouble coaxing the best out of at this tournament.
The France coach says the star simply needs some peace to find his form.
“There is a lot of talk about him but he is still quite young and needs to have tranquillity and concentration.”
5 – Greg Lea on a day of qualifiers
Portugal (though sluggish), Wales (thanks to Gareth Bale’s brilliance) and Poland (on penalties) are all through to the knockout stages thanks to victories on Saturday.
Portugal in particular are lucky to be through following one of the more drab performances of the group stage. It took a 90th-minute Ricardo Quaresma goal off a Christiano Ronaldo miss to net the victory over a game Croatia squad.
Bale’s beautiful crosser lifted Wales past their British counterparts in Northern Ireland, while penalties were necessary for Poland to knock off Switzerland. This despite an unbelievable goal from Xherdan Shaqiri that you’ll have to see to believe.
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