1) Germany ▲1
Joachim Löw was lacking balance in his team – overstocked with No10s – during the group stage but Germany seemed far better going forward with Mario Götze relegated to the bench against Slovakia. The most notable thing of all, though, is die mannschaft are the only side yet to concede a goal and possess the tournament’s most consistently impressive player to date in Toni Kroos. Their quarter-final against Italy on Saturday night in Bordeaux will likely be the toughest game the world champions play – but it could also take a lot out of them before a likely semi-final against France.
• Match report: Germany 2-0 Ukraine
• Match report: Germany 0-0 Poland
• Match report: Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
• Match report: Germany 3-0 Slovakia
2) Italy ▲1
If some pre-tournament predictions were to be believed, this was Italy’s most uninspiring squad ever. Yet they have beaten one of the ante-post favourites in Belgium 2-0; knocked out the champions, Spain, with an accomplished, tactically perfect win by the same scoreline; and also kept a clean sheet against Sweden. Their loss to the Republic of Ireland was an exception, with the second string failing to impress, and that aside the Azzurri have ticked all the boxes. With more than just cynicism, too; Antonio Conte has his players passing the ball well and attacking with menace.
• Match report: Belgium 0-2 Italy
• Match report: Italy 1-0 Sweden
• Match report: Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland
• Match report: Italy 2-0 Spain
3) Belgium ▲4
Eden Hazard delivered the individual performance of the tournament so far against Hungary, and it was telling at the end when Marc Wilmots playfully squirted his water bottle at the Chelsea player after he was substituted in the final moments. So much for all the earlier discussion of fall outs between the players and manager along with rumours of them playing to spite Wilmots – this was a team on top form and the question now is if they can keep it going against Wales, who the Red Devils struggled against in qualifying. One concern will be how they pushed forward almost too much and allowed Hungary space to break into – better sides will punish them.
• Match report: Belgium 0-2 Italy
• Match report: Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland
• Match report: Sweden 0-1 Belgium
• Match report: Hungary 0-4 Belgium
4) France ▲1
In many ways, les bleus’ last 16 win was much the same story for Didier Deschamps and company – a bad start, a questionable defence but enough individual brilliance in attack to keep the hosts on course. Antoine Griezmann was the go-to player this time, scoring twice to defeat the Republic of Ireland and tee up a quarter-final with Iceland. Adil Rami being suspended for that may be a blessing in disguise – to say the Sevilla central defender has failed to impress would be kind. Then again, he could be replaced by Eliaquim Mangala, who, as Manchester City fans may attest, is not entirely reliable.
• Match report: France 2-1 Romania
• Match report: France 2-0 Albania
• Match report: Switzerland 0-0 France
• Match report: France 2-1 Republic of Ireland
5) Wales ▲3
It was far from pretty but, helped by the one outstanding player on the pitch in Gareth Bale, Wales still found a way past Northern Ireland. Now they face familiar rivals in Belgium and Chris Coleman must play up to the fact that their better-fancied, technically superior opponents could only take one point from six in qualifying. Ashley Williams’ shoulder injury is a concern, though Coleman has told the fans to keep dreaming. Dare they look beyond Belgium?
• Match report: Wales 2-1 Slovakia
• Match report: England 2-1 Wales
• Match report: Russia 0-3 Wales
• Match report: Wales 1-0 Northern Ireland
6) Poland =
“We still have reserves of strength in our minds,” the manager, Adam Nawalka, said after knocking Switzerland out on penalties, yet Poland looked jaded and conceded numerous opportunities in the second half having dominated the first. They should have had the game wrapped up by the time Xherdan Shaqiri made it 1-1: Arkadiusz Milik missed a sitter in the opening minute and several other good opportunities went begging. Robert Lewandowski is still not firing but, with opponents marking him so closely, it has allowed others additional space. The top goalscorer in qualifying has become the tournament’s most effective foil.
• Match report: Poland 1-0 Northern Ireland
• Match report: Germany 0-0 Poland
• Match report: Ukraine 0-1 Poland
• Match report: Switzerland 1-1 Poland
7) Iceland ▲6
After the group stage, their ranking started with: “this is the dream that never ends”. Same again, then. England were abject, sure, but Iceland’s performance to not only win but to do so coming from behind deserves piles of credit. This is a team that plays such simple but effective football, it makes you nostalgic for previous eras. They deserve to go down as more than just the team that embarrassed England. Can they also get in the faces of France, who start slow and look unconvincing in defence? At this point, you could not bet against them and they evidently relish the underdog tag.
• Match report: Portugal 1-1 Iceland
• Match report: Iceland 1-1 Hungary
• Match report: Iceland 2-1 Austria
• Match report: England 1-2 Iceland
8) Portugal ▲3
Yet to win a game in 90 minutes, the draw is opening up kindly for Fernando Santos’ team. Nonetheless, they appear the weakest of the eight remaining sides and only advanced on account of Croatia being several shots over par in Lens on Saturday night. It may sound familiar from previous rankings, but with Cristiano Ronaldo there is always a chance. On general play, though, they look a cut below. “We do have room for improvement,” Santos said. They need to show it against Poland.
• Match report: Portugal 1-1 Iceland
• Match report: Portugal 0-0 Austria
• Match report: Hungary 3-3 Portugal
• Match report: Croatia 0-0 Portugal (0-1 aet)
9) Croatia ▼8
Croatia, breakout stars of the group stage, were stifled in midfield and blunt in attack against Portugal, and eventually outdone by a breakaway goal late in extra-time. That was the first shot on target in the match, leading to justifiable questions over where it ranked among the worst tournament games ever. Considering Croatia were also in the weaker half of the draw and looked slick in all three Group D games, it was a major opportunity missed. As Ante Cacic remarked afterwards: “Football isn’t always fair.” Euro 2016 is a lesser place without Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic.
• Match report: Turkey 0-1 Croatia
• Match report: Czech Republic 2-2 Croatia
• Match report: Croatia 2-1 Spain
• Match report: Croatia 0-0 Portugal (0-1 aet)
10) Switzerland ▲2
Xherdan Shaqiri maybe deserved better for that amazing overhead kick and although they started sloppily – what was Johann Djourou planning when he gifted Arkadiusz Milik that first minute chance? – and could have allowed Poland more than a one goal advantage, their second half performance was arguably their most impressive of the tournament. It was especially cruel that Granit Xhaka, the team’s most tidy and dependable player throughout the campaign, was the fall guy for missing in the penalty shootout. On the whole though, theirs was an average campaign, especially considering the weakness of their group compared to others.
• Match report: Albania 0-1 Switzerland
• Match report: Romania 1-1 Switzerland
• Match report: Switzerland 0-0 France
• Match report: Switzerland 1-1 Poland
11) Spain ▼7
The outgoing champions were outfought in every department but above all in the dugout. Vincent del Bosque was out-thought by Antonio Conte, whose tactical masterplan silenced Sergio Busquets (by half-time La Roja’s key player, the one who makes it all come together, had only made 16 passes) and ensured there was no service to Álvaro Morata, who was smothered by the Juventus defence he trained with week in, week out for two seasons. Now, the question is how the team rebuilds after a crashing end of their golden era.
• Match report: Spain 1-0 Czech Republic
• Match report: Spain 3-0 Turkey
• Match report: Croatia 2-1 Spain
• Match report: Italy 2-0 Spain
12) Republic of Ireland ▲3
Martin O’Neill’s side looked shattered in the second half against France, a symptom of having only three days rest after their final group game while the hosts enjoyed a full week. But how well did they do to have Didier Deschamps’ team rattled at the interval? It has also been forgotten, due to the brilliance of Antoine Griezmann after the break, that Ireland could easily have been two or maybe even three goals to the good. Overall it was a solid campaign that saw the coming of age of several young players – a long way from the shellacking of four years ago, in which they gave the worst European Championship performance of all time.
• Match report: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Sweden
• Match report: Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland
• Match report: Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland
• Match report: France 2-1 Republic of Ireland
13) Northern Ireland ▲3
Narrowly beaten by Wales, undone by an unfortunate own goal in a low-quality but keenly-fought game, there was still much to cheer for Michael O’Neill’s team. That they emerged from a group containing three technically superior sides was an achievement in itself and while disappointment after bowing out in Paris on Saturday was only natural, when the dust settles this must be considered a moderately successful campaign, on the basis of their convincing win over Ukraine alone. The Ulsterman may have lost their other three matches, but they were all by a single goal.
• Match report: Poland 1-0 Northern Ireland
• Match report: Ukraine 0-2 Northern Ireland
• Match report: Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
• Match report: Wales 1-0 Northern Ireland
14) England ▼4
A squad of highly-rated players failed to beat the worst team in the tournament, required a late goal to defeat Wales and could not break down Slovakia. But apparently, Roy Hodgson’s team would be better against sides that needed to attack against them. Iceland showed more fight, more passion and actually had better chances when England were chasing the game. Pathetic, embarrassing, humiliating does not do it justice. Hodgson’s side no longer, the players involved should collectively feel disgrace for weeks to come.
• Match report: England 1-1 Russia
• Match report: England 2-1 Wales
• Match report: Slovakia 0-0 England
• Match report: England 1-2 Iceland
15) Hungary ▼6
In one sense admirable, in another incredibly naive. The Magyars tried to take on Belgium at their own game but came off poorly. They had chances at 1-0 to equalise but in the end their lack of class told, suffering the biggest defeat of the tournament so far – a proper walloping that could have been even harsher if Gabor Kiraly had not reached double figures in saves. Ultimately, this was a good return to a major tournament, but a pity it was tainted by the ugly manner in which they bowed out.
• Match report: Austria 0-2 Hungary
• Match report: Iceland 1-1 Hungary
• Match report: Hungary 3-3 Portugal
• Match report: Hungary 0-4 Belgium
16) Slovakia
There is no shame in losing to Germany but doing so without a fight should leave Jan Kozak and his players red-faced. Despite continuing with the sit back and frustrate approach that irritated England so much, they still allowed 22 shots – the most in the tournament – against the world champions and returned fire with only two meek attempts on target. Dull and limited, their over-reliance on Marek Hamsik to create was made even more obvious in the face of a heavy defeat.
• Match report: Wales 2-1 Slovakia
• Match report: Russia 1-2 Slovakia
• Match report: Slovakia 0-0 England
• Match report: Germany 3-0 Slovakia
Already knocked out
17) Turkey
18) Albania
19) Sweden
20) Romania
21) Austria
22) Czech Republic
23) Ukraine
24) Russia
• Power rankings: part one
• Power rankings: part two
• Power rankings: part three
