Elite 8 set for showdown; tough to predict final 4

THE first knockout round at the European Championships in France saw the field of 16 whittled down to eight, and this octet of teams is now ready to resume their relentless quest for the Henri Delaunay trophy.

Truth be told, I'm still catching my breath from the barnstorming action during the Round of 16, especially the final fixture on Tuesday morning when Iceland, of all teams, delivered a Mike Tyson-esque KO punch to dump England out of the tournament.

For those who witnessed the ecstatic celebrations that followed Iceland's come-from-behind 2-1 win in Nice, it's one of those amazing football stories that you will remember for the rest of your life.