Euro 2016 Daily: Last 16 confirmed as Ireland party, Rodgers was 'approached by FA'

Updated 23/06/2016 at 08:23 GMT

The last 16 fixtures have been decided, and a report suggests Brendan Rodgers was approached by the FA to replace Roy Hodgson after Euro 2016.

Ireland's midfielder Robert Brady greets his partner Kerrie Harris after the Euro 2016 group E football match between Italy and Ireland

Image credit: AFP

THURSDAY MORNING'S BIG STORIES

1- The Round of 16 line-up was confirmed last night after the final round of group fixtures:

Switzerland v Poland - Saturday 25 June, 1300 (Stade Geoffroy Guichard, St Etienne)

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Wales v Northern Ireland - Saturday 25 June, 1600 (Parc des Princes, Paris)

Croatia v Portugal - Saturday 25 June, 1900 (Stade Bollaert Delelis, Lens)

France v Ireland - Sunday 26 June, 1300 (Parc OL, Lyon)

Germany v Slovakia - Sunday 26 June, 1600 (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)

Hungary v Belgium - Sunday 26 June, 1900 (Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)

Italy v Spain - Monday 27 June, 1600 (Stade de France, Paris)

England v Iceland - Monday 27 June, 1900 (Allianz Riviera, Nice)

2 - England approached Brendan Rodgers to be manager after he was sacked by Liverpool, according to The Sun.

The new Celtic manager reportedly had secret talks with the FA's head of elite development Dan Ashworth, with Roy Hodgson under pressure to keep his job.

The Northern Irishman, who would have replaced the 68-year-old after the Euros at the end of his contract, was said to be flattered but was chasing a club position.

If Hodgson's gamble to rest players hadn't backfired in the 0-0 draw against Slovakia, of course, this sort of story would never have seen the light of day. And despite this story pertaining to contact a while ago, the real message is clear: Roy, your time is up.

That's actually pretty depressing. Yes, England lacked final product in the group stage - but lest we forget, they've looked more confident on the ball and around the pitch than any England team since Euro '96.

But with Hodgson's risky choice throwing England into the path of a string of impressive-looking teams in the bottom half of the draw - France, Germany, Italy and Spain among them - we can only expect more of this type of report should England fail to get to, say, the semi-finals.

Roy Hodgson is gambling with England's hopes of making the last 16

Image credit: Eurosport

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3 - Ireland will need to produce a similar performance to the one that helped them beat Italy on Wednesday if they are to have any chance of knocking out hosts France in the last 16, insists Ireland manager Martin O'Neill.

"We need a performance like tonight again to stand a chance," O'Neill said after his side's 1-0 victory over Italy in their final Group E game helped them reach the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time.

"If we can recover in time, we want to play as strongly as we did tonight."

Martin O'Neill

Image credit: Reuters

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Iceland 2-1 Austria. The tournament debutants sealed their place in the last 16 after a stoppage time winner. Read the match report here.

Hungary 3-3 Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a whirlwind final group game, with both sides heading into the tournament’s last 16. Read the match report here.

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 group F football match between Hungary and Portugal at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on June 22, 2016.

Image credit: AFP

Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland. Robbie Brady was the hero as he headed home a late winner to book a place in the last 16 for Martin O'Neill's men. Read the match report here.

Sweden 0-1 Belgium. Radja Nainggolan scored a superb strike to see his side through to the next round in Nice .Read the match report here.

*THERE ARE NO FIXTURES ON THURSDAY*

ON THE GROUND

Kevin Coulson in Lille: The Republic of Ireland tricolore was strung up on a tree outside the stadium in Lille and it proudly boasted the country’s credentials ahead of their must-win match against Italy. "Seven Eurovisions, 1 Nations Cup" was scrawled across it.

It was another demonstration of the self-deprecating Irish sense of humour, with singing titles outstripping their one tournament victory over Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. And if the chants in the stadium during the match were also a song contest, the Irish fans got the votes from the press box for variety of performance, humour and pure decibel level.