Five talking points from the Euro group stages
With the group stage of Euro 2016 now complete, focus turns towards the knockout stages of the championship, which will begin when Switzerland take on Poland in St Etienne on Saturday.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at some of the key talking points as the remaining 16 nations look to stay on course for the final at Stade de France on July 10.
LET FOOTBALL MAKE THE HEADLINES
There were plenty of ugly scenes and unwanted negative headlines from several of the group matches, with violence both inside and outside the grounds. While the French authorities and UEFA have each done their best to clamp down on the trouble, question marks remain over fan security and possibility of further disruption. However, let's all hope the rest of the tournament is played out in the great spirit the vast majority of genuine football supporters have brought with them, rather than again focus on the mindless actions of certain unwelcome balaclava-wearing visitors.
WHO WILL PAY THE PENALTY?
With the knock-out stages comes the increased probability of games being decided on the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. While some argue the outcome is down more to luck than genuine skill, there is little doubt of the high drama and nerve-shredding tension involved. That, of course, is swiftly followed by utter elation for the winners and total dejection for the losers - as the likes of England's Stuart Pearce, Chris Waddle, David Batty and, not forgetting Gareth Southgate, will all testify.
WHO WILL EMERGE TO BE THE PRIDE OF BRITAIN?
With all of the three home nations progressing and the Republic of Ireland also booking a place in the last 16 after their surprise 1-0 win over Italy, there will be plenty of ongoing interest. Well, okay, maybe not so much in Scotland. Any bragging rights England secured from their victory over Wales in Lens were quickly diminished after Chris Coleman's men went on to win Group B. That set up a battle of Britain showdown against Northern Ireland in Paris on Saturday while England tackle everyone's second favourite team Iceland in Nice on June 27. The Republic, meanwhile, face the formidable task of trying to upset hosts France on Sunday. While genuine hopes of going on to win the competition might be somewhat thin, being the last team to come back home is certainly something worth singing about for a few seasons.
THE LOW ROAD TO GLORY IN PARIS WILL BE TOUGH
Following Croatia's win over Spain to top Group D and England's failure to see off Slovakia, suddenly the bottom half of the draw does not look as inviting. There is, of course, the sound argument that if you are going to win a major championship, you are going to have to beat the best somewhere along the way. That said, taking on Italy next was probably not what Spain coach Vicente del Bosque had in mind when plotting his squad's path towards Saint-Denis on July 10, nor a potential meeting with world champions Germany at the quarter-final stage, where England could end up against France. Had the Three Lions taken just one of their chances against Slovakia, things might have been so different - as they may yet turn out to be for Wales.
CAN RONALDO STEP THINGS UP?
After misfiring in front of goal, lambasting Iceland's "small mentality", proving he is human with a spot-kick blunder swiftly followed by an admirable selfie moment with a fan, then hurling a reporter's microphone into a lake, Cristiano Ronaldo has rarely been out of the spotlight during the tournament. However, the Real Madrid superstar answered those critics with two goals in Lyon as Portugal drew with Hungary to progress to a last-16 clash with Croatia. Playing in a record 17th European Championship finals match, Ronaldo became the first player to score at four different tournaments. The cameras will all again be on the three-time World Player of the Year in Lens - and everyone is waiting to see just what he will deliver when it matters most.