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:

UEFA said on Thursday it will scrap the away goals rule for all of its club competitions from next season in favour of extra time and a penalty shootout.

Liam Livingstone saw England to a series-clinching win over Sri Lanka as the hosts overcame a batting slump in a rain-affected second Twenty20 international at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday.

Edinson Cavani scored his 52nd goal for Uruguay as they booked their place in the 2021 Copa America quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Bolivia on Thursday.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and its greatest cricketer Richard Hadlee led the tributes on Thursday after the Black Caps claimed the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) by beating India.

With the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 Cricket League coming close to its conclusion, few of the national team players found morale-boosting runs ahead of the series against Zimbabwe.

Brazil continued their winning romp through the Copa America Wednesday, eking out a controversial 2-1 victory against Colombia after struggling most of the match to answer a magnificent bicycle-kick goal by Luis Diaz.

EURO 2020 is down to the knockout stage, with the 24 qualifiers now 16 as they are whittled down to the side that lifts the trophy on July 11.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 109th goal for Portugal in Wednesday’s Euro 2020 game against France to equal former Iran striker Ali Daei’s all-time international record.

Shamim Hossain, called up to the national team squad yesterday, laid further credibility to the decision to include him for the Zimbabwe T20Is by guiding Prime Doleshwar to a five-wicket win over title-contenders Prime Bank in the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 Cricket League match at Sher-e-Bangla National team today. With Abahani also losing earlier today, the result means the title will be decided on the final match day on 26th June.

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:

Mohammad Ashraful presented a glimpse of his glory days as the veteran player smashed an unbeaten fifty to help his side Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club register a six-wicket victory over Abahani Limited in an enthralling Super League contest in the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 League in Mirpur today.

Gazi group skipper Mahmudullah Riyad has been fined Taka 20,000 for breach of Level 2 offence of the BCB code of conduct during their game against Prime Bank in Mirpur yesterday in the Super League stage of the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 League.

Bangladesh were drawn in Group G alongside Jordan and Iran during the draw for the Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

All-rounder Mahedi Hasan smashed his career-best T20 score to help Gazi Group chase down a commendable total posted by Mohammedan Sporting Club and seal a three-wicket victory in the Super League stage of the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 League in Mirpur today.

Virat Kohli said future editions of the World Test Championship final should be played as a three-match series after his India side were beaten by New Zealand in the inaugural showpiece match at Southampton on Wednesday.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson expressed both relief and satisfaction after his team defeated India by eight wickets in the inaugural World Test Championship (WCT) final on Wednesday after losing successive one-day finals.

Jos Buttler saw England to a comfortable eight-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday as the hosts went 1-0 up in a three-match series.

Peruvian-Italian striker Gianluca Lapadula inspired Peru to a second half revival as they fought back from a two-goal half time deficit to emerge with a 2-2 draw against Ecuador in the Copa America on Wednesday.

Brazil went behind for the first time in eight games on Wednesday but responded with a controversial equaliser before netting a winner deep into stoppage time for a 2-1 victory over Colombia at the Copa America.