Euro 2016 Power Rankings: Final 16 teams in France

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The dramatic end to the group stage couldn’t disguise the fact that, for the most part, this has been a slightly disappointing opening to the tournament, yielding just 1.92 goals per game and precious few games of real quality. No side won all three group games, while many of the less-fancied sides troubled their supposed betters.

The suggestion is that this is a very open tournament, although there remains the possibility that one of the top sides will suddenly click into gear and surge through to success on July 10.

The knockout bracket has yielded an unbalanced final 16, with powers France, Germany, Spain, Italy and England on one half, while Belgium and Portugal benefited from underperforming in the group stage by being given a more favorable rout to navigate on the road to the Stade de France.

Here is how the remaining teams stack up (and how the eliminated teams rank based on their showing):

EURO 2016 POWER RANKINGS: THE FINAL 16

 

 

1. FRANCE

Pre-Tournament (1) | Opponent: Ireland

The hosts struggled at time to break down dogged opponents and haven’t found anything approaching fluency, but, Patrice Evra’s bizarre concession of a penalty aside, they haven’t looked like conceding and have in Dimitri Payet the most in-form creator in the tournament. If Paul Pogba’s furious performance against Switzerland can be sustained, he may be about to prove a few people wrong as well.

 

 

2. GERMANY

Pre-Tournament (3) | Opponent: Slovakia

Far from its best, still short of a striker and sill struggling to find the right balance between attack and defense, but its midfield remains an awesome unit. The performance against Northern Ireland suggests that with Mario Gomez in the team and Thomas Muller playing centrally, the old firepower could return.

 

 

3. SPAIN

Pre-Tournament (2) | Opponent: Italy

Through qualifying the problem was a lack of rhythm. The performance against Turkey suggested that has returned, but sloppiness contributed to the downfall against Croatia, which resulted in a brutal last-16 draw against Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

4. ITALY

Pre-Tournament (5) | Opponent: Spain

Took Belgium apart and had enough to find a late winner against Sweden. Tactically impressive but lack central creativity. The Azzurri’s biggest problem is a draw that pits them against Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

5. CROATIA

Pre-Tournament (9) | Opponent: Portugal

Has arguably the best midfield in the tournament ,and, while there are legitimate doubts about Mario Mandzukic’s capabilities, the biggest problems seem off the field. Beating Spain showed it can mix it with the best, and it’s in the easier half of the draw. If Luka Modric returns to fitness and Croatia gets by Ronaldo & Co., look out.

 

 

 

6. ENGLAND

Pre-Tournament (4) | Opponent: Iceland

Dominated all three games but lacked cutting edge and really disappointed with its set pieces. Could still trouble better sides with pace on the break, but it won’t find that in its last-16 opponent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. BELGIUM

Pre-Tournament (6) | Opponent: Hungary

Wrangling continues between squad and coach and the Red Devils still seem less than the sum of their parts, but they’re very good parts.

 

 

 

 

8. POLAND

Pre-Tournament (8) | Opponent: Switzerland

Produced a performance of great tactical acuity to frustrate Germany and didn’t concede a goal in the group stage. Robert Lewandowski hasn’t fired yet, but his partnership with Arkadiusz Milik should be dangerous; plus, Poland is in the easier half of the draw.

 

 

 

 

9. PORTUGAL

Pre-Tournament (10) | Opponent: Croatia

A misfiring and sulky Cristiano Ronaldo contributed to a disjointed first-round display, but if it can get the balance right, Portugal still has the potential to reach the latter stages, especially given its half of the bracket.

 

 

 

 

10. HUNGARY

Pre-Tournament (23) | Opponent: Belgium

Bernd Storck has transformed his side into a hard-working, well-disciplined unit with enough firepower to unsettle opponents.

 

 

 

11. WALES

Pre-Tournament (16) | Opponent: Northern Ireland

Took full advantage of a demoralized Russia en route to winning Group B. Tactically well set up but weirdly lacking in ambition against England.

 

 

 

12. ICELAND

Pre-Tournament (15) | Opponent: England

Rode its luck at times but played with great commitment and spirit and was efficient in taking its chances.

 

 

 

 

 

13. SLOVAKIA

Pre-Tournament (12) | Opponent: Germany

A little unfortunate to lose to Wales, had the quality through Vladimir Weiss and Marek Hamsik to pick off Russia and defended doggedly against England. Just beat Germany prior to the competition and won’t be awed by the reigning World Cup champions.

 

 

 

14. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Pre-Tournament (19) | Opponent: France

A glorious finale to the group stage carried the Irisih through when they looked to have blown it by letting a lead slip in the opener against Sweden. Ireland is hard-working and well-organized, and Wes Hoolahan and Robbie Brady give it enough creativity to be a threat.

 

 

 

15. SWITZERLAND

Pre-Tournament (18) | Opponent: Poland

The creative players aren’t quite firing but defensive solidity got them through.

 

 

16. NORTHERN IRELAND

Pre-Tournament (20) | Opponent: Wales

Magnificent against Ukraine and battled gamely for the narrow defeats to Poland and Germany that proved enough. It has goalkeeper Michael McGovern–not the on-fire Will Grigg–to thank for that.

 

 

THE ELIMINATED EIGHT

 

 

17. TURKEY

Pre-Tournament (17)

Clung on as it was outclassed by Croatia but well-beaten by Spain. Earned victory over the Czech Republic in the final game, but it wasn’t enough.

 

 

 

18. ALBANIA

Pre-Tournament (24)

Technically adept but lacked a little in incisiveness. Battled gamely after being reduced to 10 men early against Switzerland and very nearly held France.

 

 

 

 

19. AUSTRIA

Pre-Tournament (7)

Although it held Portugal, it only really got going in the second half of the final game, the 2-1 defeat to Iceland, although it could easily have gotten more out of that game. Played scratchily and never got the best out of David Alaba.

 

 

 

20. CZECH REPUBLIC

Pre-Tournament (14)

Turned in a remarkable comeback to get the draw against Croatia but otherwise offered little in a disappointing showing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

21. SWEDEN

Pre-Tournament (21)

A dire tournament for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to say farewell. It didn’t manage a shot on target until five minutes into its final group game. Only got a point because Ireland panicked having taken the lead.

 

 

 

 

 

22. RUSSIA

Pre-Tournament (11)

Desperately poor from the offset. The loss of three key midfielders sapped the life from an aging side that needs rejuvenation before hosting the World Cup in two years.

 

 

 

 

23. ROMANIA

Pre-Tournament (22)

Battled hard in the first game but lacked ambition and cutting edge. The decision to omit Nicolae Stanciu for the second game, against Switzerland, and then settle for a draw looked odd at the time and worse in retrospect.

 

 

 

24. UKRAINE

Pre-Tournament (13)

Flickered at times in defeat to Germany, but a defeat to Northern Ireland made Ukraine the first side to be eliminated.