There was plenty of build-up to the last-16 stage of Euro 2016 but what we got on the first day was a damp squib. Only four goals were scored in the three matches held on Saturday's three – with one match being settled via penalty-shootout, the second by an own goal and the third by a 117th minute winner.
Thankfully, it was the Swiss Messi who managed to redeem the day. Trailing 1-0 against Poland with eight minutes to go, Xherdan Shaqiri pulled off a moment of magic. He pirouetted in mid-air and pulled off a fantastic bicycle kick to level terms. Unfortunately, it wouldn't prove to be enough – Granit Xhaka fired an important shot wide in the shootout, Poland slammed in all five and won the match.
No one came close to matching Shaqiri. In the second pre-quarter match-up of the day, Wales and Northern Ireland fought a cagey, drab match, which was only resolved by an own goal from a Northern Ireland defender, trying to clear a Gareth Bale (who else?) cross.
Finally, Portugal and Croatia played out 120 minutes which could have put many to sleep. There were no shots on target till the 117th minute and both the big names on the two sides, Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and Luka Modric for Croatia were neutralised. But just when it looked like it was heading for another penalty shootout, Ricardo Quaresma managed to slam in a volley to clinch qualification to the quarter-finals for Portugal.
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