1) Croatia ▲4

The most notable thing from beating Spain is that without Luka Modric they remain a force to be reckoned with. Their record should have been 100% only for that bizarre collapse against Czech Republic – and, really, the disruptive element in their fanbase deserve as much blame as the players. Based on what we have witnessed so far, calling them dark horses is playing their chances down, especially now their path in the knockout stages is moderately easier on account of finishing above the reigning champions. While Modric and Ivan Rakitic are the star turns, Ivan Perisic has arguably been their best player. Defensively they are sound. And Mario Mandzukic could yet have a big impact in attack.

• Match report: Turkey 0-1 Croatia

• Match report: Czech Republic 2-2 Croatia

• Match report: Croatia 2-1 Spain

2) Germany ▲2

In the first half against Northern Ireland the world champions looked outstanding – a penetrating performance full of intricate attacking play – but they could only score once through Mario Gómez. He missed a succession of good chances and the second half became a bit more muddled. Should we expect more prolonged spells of brilliance or are they set to remain a team that performs in fits and starts? On top form irresistible, it must be a worry for Jogi Löw that they look incapable of remaining at that level for more than a few minutes at a time. It would not be inconceivable for them to dominate a game only to lose out because of a single lapse in concentration.

• Match report: Germany 2-0 Ukraine

• Match report: Germany 0-0 Poland

• Match report: Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany

3) Italy ▼1

Let’s not get carried away by their weakened team’s limp performance against the Republic of Ireland. The Azzurri deserved to lose despite Antonio Conte suggesting otherwise but there was an obvious laissez faire attitude in the team with many of their best players resting thanks to top place in the group being guaranteed in advance. Taking on Spain promises to be the tie of the round, but with both teams losing their final games, their form in the opening two (in which Italy conceded just two shots on target) may provide a better indicator.

• Match report: Belgium 0-2 Italy

• Match report: Italy 1-0 Sweden

• Match report: Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland

4) Spain ▼3

How much can be read into the defeat to Croatia? If Sergio Ramos had converted his second half penalty, things would have been so much different. Instead, Antonio Conte’s impenetrable Italy await in the last 16 and Andrès Iniesta, muted against Croatia, David Silva and friends will need to be at their creative best to advance. The manner in which David de Gea was beaten, twice at his near post, in the Group C closer was unusual and questions may be asked over whether the off-field furore surrounding the goalkeeper has had an impact.



• Match report: Spain 1-0 Czech Republic

• Match report: Spain 3-0 Turkey

• Match report: Croatia 2-1 Spain

5) France ▼2



They failed to perform in the one game they will have in this tournament where the pressure was not unbearably intense. Without Dimitri Payet, Didier Deschamps’ team seemed to lack a spark in attack, even though Paul Pogba was more convincing in the opening half. Issues over their ability to defend set pieces remain a concern, but not as much as their ability to ride the hopes of a nation. Could they channel the World Cup winners of 1998 by turning a not overly-convincing start into a relentless machine come the knockout stages?

• Match report: France 2-1 Romania

• Match report: France 2-0 Albania

• Match report: Switzerland 0-0 France

6) Poland ▲2

Poland looked like a team coasting through the group and if suspect finishing had not let them down against Germany, Adam Nawalka’s side would have had nine points and top spot in Group C. Such was Germany’s bluntness in attack, they have not been properly examined defensively yet. It is safe to say there is more to come and there is no doubt, barring a mental collapse, they should have the measure of Switzerland – and after that would likely come Croatia. Still we wait for Robert Lewandowski to leave his mark, though.

• Match report: Poland 1-0 Northern Ireland

• Match report: Germany 0-0 Poland

• Match report: Ukraine 0-1 Poland

7) Belgium ▼1

There are still considerable problems for Marc Wilmots to iron out, but the Red Devils showed enough in the second half of their game against the Republic of Ireland, and the 1-0 victory over Sweden, to justify some of the hype. As stoic and stodgy as Hungary have been, it would be a disaster if Belgium did not reach a quarter-final against Wales or Northern Ireland. The former took four points off Belgium in qualifying, so the draw is not as favourable as it may initially seem.



• Match report: Belgium 0-2 Italy

• Match report: Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland

• Match report: Sweden 0-1 Belgium

8) Wales ▲4

It must have been beyond the wildest dreams of most in Wales to finish top of the group and whatever happens now this tournament will go down in history as a success. Chris Coleman and his players should not – and will not – settle for that though, with finishing above England giving them an appetising path through the knockout stages. They will fear nobody and if their big three – Gareth Bale plus Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen – perform they can beat any team in a one-off match. The dismantling of Russia was the highlight of Coleman’s career, but what odds that being usurped in the coming days?

• Match report: Wales 2-1 Slovakia

• Match report: England 2-1 Wales

• Match report: Russia 0-3 Wales

Facebook Twitter Pinterest How much better can it get at Euro 2016 for Wales stars Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale? Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP

9) Hungary =

Zoltan Gera is 37. Let that sink in for a moment. He is still pulling the strings for Hungary, who have crept up on everybody but themselves by topping Group F. For a team that prides itself on defensive solidity, conceding three to Portugal will be a concern before taking on Belgium but they still dug deep to get a point.

• Match report: Austria 0-2 Hungary

• Match report: Iceland 1-1 Hungary

• Match report: Hungary 3-3 Portugal

10) England ▼3

How to rate their chances in the knockout stages? Dominating games is all well and good but it is blatantly obvious that a squad with five strikers have been lacking a clinical edge. Roy Hodgson said “we’re not doomed” four times in his post-match press conference after the draw with Slovakia, but his lack of a coherent plan and playing style is an undoubted concern. Maybe things will straighten out when they face teams that need to attack instead of group opposition that appeared happy to sit back and let England have the ball.

• Match report: England 1-1 Russia

• Match report: England 2-1 Wales

• Match report: Slovakia 0-0 England

11) Portugal ▼1

Cristiano Ronaldo has looked in the mood since the start of this tournament, despite his penalty miss against Austria. It just took him a while to find his finishing touch and now he has – with two crucial goals against Hungary – Euros beware. Croatia, their last 16 opponents, have looked more unified and, based on the group games, are a superior outfit. But a team with the continent’s best player cannot be ruled out - though others will need to step up in other areas for them to progress.



• Match report: Portugal 1-1 Iceland

• Match report: Portugal 0-0 Austria

• Match report: Hungary 3-3 Portugal

12) Switzerland ▼1

Proved surprisingly stubborn against France and could have won it late on if it was not for a dodgy handball call. Granit Xhaka has stood out as their best player, certainly enough to give Arsenal fans reason to be excited, and while Xherdan Shaqiri has drifted in and out of games, Vladimir Petkovic’s team may be able to frustrate Poland on Saturday afternoon. To progress, however, would require a more clinical level of finishing.

• Match report: Albania 0-1 Switzerland

• Match report: Romania 1-1 Switzerland

• Match report: Switzerland 0-0 France

13) Iceland =

This is the dream that never ends. Ninety three and a half minutes had passed when Arnor Ingvi Traustason produced the greatest moment of this tournament (and his country’s sporting history?) to give Lars Lagerback and his team of overachievers – that is not meant disparagingly – a last 16 tie with England. Again they will be underdogs but it is a tag they obviously relish. Considering their nothing-to-lose attitude coupled with England’s lack of goalscoring sharpness, would it be really wise to doubt them?

• Match report: Portugal 1-1 Iceland

• Match report: Iceland 1-1 Hungary

• Match report: Iceland 2-1 Austria

14) Slovakia ▲1



In the opening two games the central defensive partnership of Martin Skrtel and Jan Durica looked bothersome, but they showed a newly-acquired resoluteness against England to keep a clean sheet and ensure their qualification as one of the best third-placed teams. Marek Hamsik, of course, has the ability to light up any match no matter how important but this remains a team with too many passengers and it would be a major surprise to see them reach the quarter-finals.

• Match report: Wales 2-1 Slovakia

• Match report: Russia 1-2 Slovakia

• Match report: Slovakia 0-0 England

15) Republic of Ireland ▲1

Fourteen years it took for the Republic to win a game in a major tournament, but what a way to do it. Robbie Brady’s late header against Italy proved enough to see Martin O’Neill’s team squeeze through as a third-placed qualifier. They celebrated in Lille as if they had won the competition and the players were seen enjoying a beer and pizza. It would be remiss to say that their job is complete, though. In ordinary circumstances France should not be too bothered by a hard-working if technically limited team, but a squad with a persevering attitude will provide a testing obstacle.

• Match report: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Sweden

• Match report: Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland

• Match report: Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Robbie Brady scores a late header to put Republic of Ireland through as one of the four best third-placed teams Photograph: Ray McManus/Sportsfile via Getty Images

16) Northern Ireland ▼2

Similar to Wales in that reaching the last 16 equates to a stunning success, but wildly different in that this is a squad with no star player. The West Brom pair of Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans have been outstanding in defence but it is hard to fault anyone. Michael McGovern produced the game of his life to keep Germany’s tally down to one – amazingly he had more touches and more passes than any outfield player – and a similar show will be required if they are to advance to the quarter-finals, on top of a renewed attacking effort. In all likelihood, heading home at the weekend.

• Match report: Poland 1-0 Northern Ireland

• Match report: Ukraine 0-2 Northern Ireland

• Match report: Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany

17) Albania ▲4

Got the win their astounding effort deserved but the wild celebrations were soon tempered by the anxious wait to find out if that win was enough to see them creep into the last 16. Albania needed two third-placed teams to finish with worse records, but saw Turkey beat Czech Republic 2-0, Slovakia held out against England, Northern Ireland avoid a walloping against Germany and Republic of Ireland left them bottom of the third-place league. Nonetheless, for a first major tournament they did alright.

• Match report: Albania 0-1 Switzerland

• Match report: France 2-0 Albania

• Match report: Romania 0-1 Albania

18) Turkey ▲5

Played off the pitch by Croatia and pummelled by Spain, that it took the Republic of Ireland’s late win against Italy to halt them from progressing to the last 16 meant they were the team that, above all, highlighted the flaws of the tournament’s structure. A poor side made worse by their star player, Arda Turan, not being at the races. Their surrender against La Roja will live long in the memory.

• Match report: Turkey 0-1 Croatia

• Match report: Spain 3-0 Turkey

• Match report: Czech Republic 0-2 Turkey



19) Sweden =



At least they had a shot on target against Belgium (three, to be precise). This was quite an unfortunate and undeserved way for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to bow out of international football, playing with a team that permanently looked a couple of levels below him. Erik Hamren’s team depart with a point but without any of their players scoring. The group was difficult but their campaign can be considered nothing less than a disappointment.



• Match report: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Sweden

• Match report: Italy 1-o Sweden

• Match report: Sweden 0-1 Belgium

20) Romania ▼3

Aware that a win against Albania, the perceived weak link in the group, would all but ensure their progress, Anghel Iordanescu’s team simply did not turn up, and lost after a bizarre goalkeeping error from Ciprian Tatarusanu. Throughout the group they showed nothing in attack and for all their solid defending and esteemed qualifying record, failed to keep a single clean sheet. Their campaign can be considered nothing more than a drastic failure – dropping out at the group stage for the fourth time in five European Championship campaigns.

• Match report: France 2-1 Romania

• Match report: Romania 1-1 Switzerland

• Match report: Romania 0-1 Albania

21 Austria ▲1

Collectively they had a stinker and only rise on this list on account of other teams’ ineptitude. The No10-ranked team in the world finished bottom of the weakest group in the tournament, a hard fall from predictions that the craftiness of David Alaba and tireless work of Christian Fuchs was enough reason to make them an outside shot to go far. Fun fact: Aleksandar Dragovic’s missed penalty against Iceland was the third successive miss at the tournament after the first four were scored.

• Match report: Austria 0-2 Hungary

• Match report: Portugal 0-0 Austria

• Match report: Iceland 2-1 Austria

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Florian Klein reflects on Austria’s early exit as Iceland players celebrate in the background. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

22) Czech Republic ▼4

That perennial Arsenal reserve Tomas Rosicky was their key midfield player said much for the state of the squad. Coming back to take a point off Croatia was a fluke and a freak, helped largely by the unruly mob supporting the opposition that were intent on causing trouble. Yet if we are to weigh this squad up against others, it is among the weakest and it is therefore not especially surprising to find them near the bottom of this list.

• Match report: Spain 1-0 Czech Republic

• Match report: Czech Republic 2-2 Croatia

• Match report: Czech Republic 0-2 Turkey

23) Ukraine ▲1

Of the sides that endured shocking tournaments, this may be the most surprising of all, considering the attacking talent in the squad. Losing 2-0 to Germany, with the last goal coming in the final throes, was no major surprise but their meek response against Northern Ireland cost them. The first team knocked out, they battled without any reward against Poland in the final game. Still, the record reads a pitiful three defeats, five goals conceded and none scored. Only spared bottom place on account of being a modicum less shambolic than Russia.

• Match report: Germany 2-0 Ukraine

• Match report: Ukraine 0-2 Northern Ireland

• Match report: Ukraine 0-1 Poland

24) Russia ▼4

We will miss their haphazard defending, laughable goalkeeping and technically inept lone striker. The tournament will be a less amusing place without their incompetence but the shambles that proceeded their opening game begs the question how England could not destroy them in Marseille. Most worrying of all for Russia now will be how to form a capable team in time for the World Cup they host in two years time. Being so out of their depth on home turf, one imagines, would not go down too well.

• Match report: England 1-1 Russia

• Match report: Russia 1-2 Slovakia

• Match report: Russia 0-3 Wales