Roberto Mancini insists Italy ‘deserved it’ against Austria and should’ve scored before going to extra time, but this Round of 16 test will be ‘tougher probably than the quarter-final.’

Wales captain Gareth Bale cut short a post-match interview when asked about his future in international football after his country's crushing 4-0 loss to Denmark in the last 16 of the European Championship on Saturday.

Italy survived a huge scare as they scrambled past outsiders Austria into the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 with substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina scoring extra-time goals to earn them a 2-1 win at Wembley on Saturday.

Dominant Denmark thrashed Wales 4-0 to sweep into the European Championship quarter-finals on Saturday and continue a wave of positive emotion generated by sympathy for Christian Eriksen.

Gareth Bale is blocking out Denmark's new status as neutrals' favourites ahead of Saturday's Euro 2020 last 16 clash in Amsterdam as he attempts to recreate Wales' magnificent run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

Gareth Bale and Wales may have been the neutrals’ favourites during their rousing run to the semi-finals of the last European Championship, but as they prepare to face Denmark in the last 16 at Euro 2020 in Amsterdam on Saturday the goodwill is likely to all be for their opponents.

Marco Verratti’s return from injury has given new impetus to an Italy side looking increasingly like title contenders at Euro 2020.

England’s Euro 2020 squad have been given a private performance from pop star Ed Sheeran as they relax ahead of their last-16 showdown with Germany.

Spain striker Alvaro Morata said he has received vicious abuse on social media during Euro 2020 and that his wife and children have been shouted at on the streets of Seville.

With five goals in three matches, Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the goal scorers’ chart at the Euro 2020 after the completion of the group stage of the competition. And according to Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld, Portugal’s star forward might be “in the form of his life,” but Belgium can still stop Ronaldo when they go head-to-head in Seville for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

The 16th edition of the European Championship, Euro 2020, began on June 11 with matches in 11 major cities across Europe — for the first time in the 60-year history of the tournament. With the group stage in the books, it’s time for the knockout stage, where standings points and goal differential are jettisoned in favor of pure wins and losses. Let’s take a look at the journey of the top 16 teams so far:

The group stage of Euro 2020 came to an end on Wednesday, and with the last 16 starting at the weekend, AFP Sport looks at five stars of the tournament ahead of the knockout rounds:

England will face Germany in the last 16 of Euro 2020 while Belgium will take on Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo came to Portugal's rescue with two penalties to cancel out a brace from France's Karim Benzema in an enthralling 2-2 draw that sent both sides into the Euro 2020 last 16 in a frantic conclusion to Group F on Wednesday.

Sweden winger Emil Forsberg scored a double including the second fastest strike in European Championship history before Viktor Claesson's stoppage-time goal helped them seal a 3-2 win over Poland on Wednesday and top Group E heading into the last-16.

Spain crushed a hapless Slovakia 5-0 in their first Euro 2020 win on Wednesday, setting up a last-16 clash against Croatia, after being set on their way by a calamitous own-goal from keeper Martin Dubravka.

Portugal will have to recover their intensity and hunger to beat France in their final Euro 2020 group game on Wednesday after a disappointing 4-2 defeat by Germany, defender Pepe said on Tuesday.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic heaped praise on Luka Modric after the captain scored a stunning goal in Tuesday's 3-1 over Scotland that secured their place in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

Luka Modric curled home a magnificent finish as Croatia shrugged off a slow start to Euro 2020 to beat Scotland 3-1 on Tuesday and reach the last 16 in style, while leaving their opponents again on the tournament scrap-heap.