PARIS -- Somehow, a classic encounter between Germany and Italy is not the main attraction of the quarterfinal-stage at the European Championship.Icelands next act in what is already one of the most surprising stories in European Championship history is the match thats drawing most attention.Can the team, which surprised so many by beating England 2-1 in the round of 16, do the same to host France when they meet at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis?The island nation of just 330,000 people has undoubtedly taken the spotlight from all the others in the final eight, including Wales, which other times would be basking in its underdog status. And its overshadowed other themes, such as Cristiano Ronaldos quest for an elusive first title with Portugal.Heres a look at how the Euro 2016 drama is peaking after what most concede to have been a lackluster group stage:---MANIC MONDAYA truly memorable day in European Championship history whetted appetites for the quarterfinals.Two-time defending champion Spain lost to an Italian team thats defied its old reputation for dour, defensive play.That was just a warm-up act.Icelands 2-1 victory over England is one of the most surprising results in European Championship history. After all, as England great Gary Lineker quipped on Twitter, Iceland has more volcanoes than professional soccer players.---ICE, ICE, BABYNext up for Iceland: France in its national stadium on Sunday. Now, home fans are starting to believe their team can replicate the Euro 1984 and 1998 World Cup teams by winning on home soil.But, given what happened to England, and others, French fans will likely be a little wary now about the match that concludes the quarterfinals.Iceland, in its first appearance at the European Championship, has other achievements to brag about. The team also drew 1-1 with Portugal, daring to celebrate to the seeming annoyance of Ronaldo.Then came the late drama of Icelands last two group games against Hungary and Austria; the global discovery of national TVs hysterical match commentator; culminating in the delicious upset of England.---GERMANY CRUISINGQuietly, ominously, Germany cruised into the quarterfinals without conceding a goal.Italy coach Antonio Conte says the 2014 World Cup winner is the best team in France, which is part-truth and part-psychological.If one team can intimidate Germany, its Italy.Italys 2-1 win in a Euro 2012 semifinal extended a tradition of German losses that includes World Cup semifinals in 2006 and 1970, and the 1982 World Cup final.Italy has played two top-class teams at Euro 2016 -- Belgium and Spain -- and comfortably won both 2-0---GOLDEN YEARSIf not now, then when for Belgium?A so-called golden generation is finally shining ahead of playing a Gareth Bale-inspired Wales that is united and must not be underestimated.Belgium failed to impress at the 2014 World Cup when tamely losing a quarterfinal to Argentina, and its inhibited play in losing to Italy in the first game of the group stage looked more of the same.Since then, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne have starred in three straight wins -- the combined score, 8-0.However, how good were those opponents? Ireland, Sweden and Hungary all came through the Euro 2016 playoffs and would not have qualified under the old 16-team format.Wales need not fear Belgium in Fridays match after they advanced through the same qualifying group. Wales drew 0-0 in Brussels, then won 1-0 at home with Bale scoring.Belgium is unlikely to be short of fans. After all, the match takes place in Lille, near the Belgian border. And Hazard is a local hero, having started out his career in the city.---CRISTIANOS QUESTAt 31, this is likely Ronaldos last good chance to win a trophy with Portugal, an achievement that could propel him to another Ballon dOr over great rival Lionel Messi.Now at his seventh finals tournament, Ronaldo came closest at his first, but the Euro 2004 host lost in the final to Greece.A quarterfinal against Poland and a so-far misfiring Robert Lewandowski is an offer Portugal would surely have taken before the tournament. Belgium or Wales await the winner.---GETTING BETTEREuro 2016 picked up welcome momentum in a round of 16 spread over three days, each one having its own distinct character.Saturdays slow start slumped to a dire end; on Sunday, the big boys roughed up the underdogs; Monday peaked with two compelling dramas.The first half of the tournament was memorable mostly for the fans: A happy, noisy and friendly majority, but with nasty outbreaks of fighting and flare-throwing.The final two weeks needs to be remembered for the quality of the games and the goals. Air Max 97 Cheap Online .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Air Max 97 Clearance . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. http://www.cheapnikeairmax97.com/ . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Air Max 97 China Wholesale . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. Cheap Air Max 97 China . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has defended the selection of three left-arm fast bowlers in the attack for the first Test at the Gabba, where Australia piled on 429 in the first innings. Mohammad Amair, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz made up the Pakistan pace attack for the Test, while the other fast bowlers in the touring squad, Imran Khan and Sohail Khan, were overlooked.Weve got an attack thats pretty balanced and weve got guys that are sort of specialists in all areas, Arthur said on ABC radio on Saturday morning. Like weve got Imran Khan sitting off who bowls well with wickets with a lot of grass on. I wouldnt be speaking out of line if I said I dont think he has got the pace to bowl on a good wicket here. But when it does a little bit hes fantastic.Sohail Khan comes in and swings it right arm, but Ive got a doubt about Sohails comebackability. If he has got to bowl, his first spells very good, his second spells okay, his third spell is tough and then you just dont get anything more. That puts a lot of pressure on our other units.I think we picked our three best bowlers. I think weve always got to pick your three best bowlers. Id be lying if I said we didnt have a look at the Australian side, seven left-handers in their XI, if we get it to swing its left-arm to left-arm.However, Pakistans bowling was far from their major problem on the first two days in Brisbane, where their batting order collapsed to be 8 for 67 before Sarfraz Ahmed led a minor recovery. Among those out cheaply were captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who was caught at slip for 4, and veteran Younis Khan, who edged behind first ball.Younis has endured a lean patch with his last six Test innings reading 0, 2, 1, 2, 11 and 0, although he scored 218 against England at The Oval this year and a century in his next Test againnst West Indies in Abu Dhabi.dddddddddddd. Misbah also made a hundred on the England Test tour and, Arthur said, despite the age of the elder statesmen in the batting order, he was confident they still had something to offer.Ive seen Misbah do it time and time again, Arthur said. And Younis Khan is just a complete professional, he really is. Id be lying if I said there wasnt a little doubt in my mind. But I had that doubt in England and I saw Younis come out and play exceptionally well, albeit against a different attack. So Im backing him in for the time being.Pakistans batsmen struggled to get through the difficult period under lights on the second day in Brisbane, where Australias fast men used the pink ball and the movement in the air to great effect. Asked on radio by former Australia opening batsman Chris Rogers whether there were day-night Test cricket led to problems due to the imbalance of conditions, Arthur agreed.I think there are. I would agree and you can appreciate, being an opening batsmen, its not an even playing field, Arthur said. You walk out at 1 oclock in glorious conditions like this, its a totally different ball game than opening up at 6 oclock or 6.30 or whenever they go out. So there are still issues around it, I think, definitely.I think its the future. If youre playing just one a summer, youve got to do it. Funny enough in Dubai it didnt do anything. I was surprised when that they had it at the Gabba, because the Gabba was the one where the conditions might be extreme. In Adelaide it seems to be good, although the ball does goes round. It is the future, I agree with you though I dont think the playing fields are even. 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