The last-16 stage of Euro 2020 produced some outstanding matches and shock results, with the biggest surprise of the round coming on Monday evening, as tournament favourites France were eliminated by Switzerland.
The world champions had a 3-1 lead entering the final 10 minutes of the clash with Switzerland, who managed to pull it back to 3-3 in the latter stages before triumphing on penalties, with Kylian Mbappe missing the decisive effort.
On Saturday, Denmark showed their class in a 4-0 success over Wales, before Italy advanced courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Austria, but it was far from comfortable for Roberto Mancini's side, who needed extra-time to progress.
Netherlands were shocked by the Czech Republic in Sunday's early start, while Belgium knocked out the holders Portugal courtesy of a 1-0 success, with Thorgan Hazard scoring the only goal of the clash in the 42nd minute.
Monday produced two outstanding matches, as Spain came through their last-16 game with Croatia courtesy of a 5-3 success after extra-time, before Switzerland managed to progress to the last eight by overcoming France.
On Tuesday, England recorded a 2-0 victory over Germany at Wembley courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, and the Three Lions will take on Ukraine in the quarter-finals, with Andriy Shevchenko's side recording a 2-1 win over Sweden after extra-time.
Switzerland will face Spain on Friday before Belgium take on Italy in the pick of the quarter-final ties, while Saturday's lineup is a surprise one, with Czech Republic tackling Denmark before England, as mentioned, go head-to-head with Ukraine for a position in the final four of the competition.
Here, Sports Mole selects its Euro 2020 team of the week from the last-16 stage of this summer's tournament.
DEFENCE
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Between the sticks, Thibaut Courtois gets the nod for his strong performance for Belgium against Portugal, with the Real Madrid stopper making a series of smart stops, while his handling and calmness under pressure were brilliant.
There are two England players in the back four, with Harry Maguire joined by Manchester United teammate Luke Shaw, as both were outstanding in the two-goal success over Germany on Tuesday night.
Maguire has recovered from an ankle problem to boost England's defence, which is yet to concede this summer, while Shaw was excellent in a wing-back role against Germany, providing the assist for Sterling to make it 1-0 and also playing an important part in his side's second of the night at Wembley.
Thomas Meunier, meanwhile, is also in the side, having put in an excellent performance against Portugal on Sunday. The 29-year-old provided the assist for Thorgan Hazard to score the only goal of the contest, and he was also defensively sound, with Portugal finding it difficult to get the better of the physical full-back.
The final spot in the back four is handed to Tomas Kalas due to his performance in the Czech Republic's 2-0 win over the Netherlands; the 28-year-old actually provided the assist for his side's first of the match, while he was excellent down the other end, as the likes of Memphis Depay and Donyell Malen struggled.
Italy's Leonardo Spinazzola is unfortunate to miss out, as he was also impressive in the round of 16, while Denmark wing-back Joakim Maehle deserves a special mention for his display against Wales.
MIDFIELD
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Paul Pogba was on the losing side in the round of 16, as France were shocked by Switzerland, but the Manchester United midfielder simply had to be included in this team. The 28-year-old scored his side's third of the match, which should have been enough to secure the victory, while his range of passing was sensational; the midfielder has had a strong tournament despite his nation's early exit.
Tomas Holes comfortably makes the XI due to his display for the Czech Republic against the Netherlands on Sunday; the 28-year-old opened the scoring in the 68th minute of the contest before turning provider for Patrik Schick to make it 2-0 in the 80th minute, and it was a brilliant all-round display from the midfielder.
Oleksandr Zinchenko played as a wing-back for Ukraine on Tuesday, but he has been placed into a midfield spot here, as it was impossible to leave the Manchester City defender out. Indeed, the 24-year-old put in a brilliant display against Sweden, opening the scoring in the 27th minute before providing the assist for Artem Dovbyk to win it for Ukraine in the final stages of extra-time.
Thorgan Hazard is unfortunate to miss out on a midfield role due to the competition in that area of the field, while Granit Xhaka was also brilliant in Switzerland's penalty-shootout win over France and deserves a mention.
ATTACK
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Kasper Dolberg's performance for Denmark against Wales on Saturday was excellent, with the 23-year-old's all-round display playing a major role in his side's success. The striker capped his strong performance with two goals, meanwhile, making the all-important breakthrough in the 27th minute before scoring a second just after the interval, which all but ended Wales's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Like Pogba, Karim Benzema did not deserve to be on the losing side in the round of 16, as the Real Madrid striker put in a strong performance, scoring twice against Switzerland. Benzema was ultimately replaced for the extra-time period, but it was still a fine display from the 33-year-old.
The final spot in this side is handed to Switzerland's Haris Seferovic for his two-goal display against France. The 29-year-old sent his country ahead in the 15th minute with a brilliant header before coming up with another in the 81st minute to halve the deficit to 3-2; it was a towering performance from the Benfica forward, who caused all sorts of problems in the final third of the field.
Spain duo Ferran Torres and Alvaro Morata deserve special mentions for their displays against Croatia, while Sterling's performance for England in their 1-0 win over Germany was also strong; it was tough to leave out any of the front three that have been named, though, due to their contributions in the round of 16.
SPORTS MOLE'S EURO 2020 TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Euro 2020 team of the week (4-3-3): Courtois; Meunier, Maguire, Kalas, Shaw; Pogba, Holes, Zinchenko; Dolberg, Benzema, Seferovic
Matt Law
