THE football feast of three and even four games a day is over, but the tension only ramps up from here.

Euro 2020’s group stage is complete, and we stand now at the halfway point, wondering what to do with ourselves in two whole days without a single game to gorge upon, looking ahead with mouths watering to the fast-approaching knockout rounds.

Here, we take a look back at the triumphs and disappointments of the group stage, the standout stars, the under-performers and the biggest talking points.

Outstanding Italy

Led by Roberto Mancini, the most suave, debonair manager at the tournament, Italy have been the most impressive side so far at Euro 2020.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, either, given the Azzurri are riding an unbeaten streak that, at most recent count, stretches 30 matches.

But even so, few would have expected Mancini’s men to outperform the likes of France, reigning European champions Portugal and a talent-rich England squad. They might not possess as many superstar names as they have in past tournaments, but Italy are well organised, robust, efficient and – a rarity among many of the top sides at this European Championship – entertaining.

Italy are the first men's side in Euros history to win every group stage game without conceding a goal pic.twitter.com/q88Sr0HPHx

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 21, 2021

Granted, with a group containing Wales, Switzerland and Turkey, Italy have not yet been stretched; and a last-16 match-up with Austria is also, on paper, a kind fixture for the Azzurri. But they could hardly have done more at this stage, boasting a 100 per cent record with seven goals scored and none conceded.

An honourable mention, also, to the Netherlands, who have been thoroughly impressive in topping their group with maximum points. The thrusting runs of Gini Wijnaldum – who is the joint-second-highest scorer with three goals – the intelligent forward play of Memphis Depay and the midfield mastery of Frenkie De Jong have made the Oranje a joy to behold.

Lethal Lukaku

Predictably, Cristiano Ronaldo sits atop the scoring chart at the conclusion of Euro 2020’s group stage. But with three of the Juventus superstar’s five strikes having come from the penalty spot, it’s hard to argue that anyone other than Romelu Lukaku has been the most lethal striker from open play.

The 28-year-old Belgian has taken his fine club form – which saw him fire Inter Milan to a first Serie A title in a decade this past season – into the summer tournament, scoring three times and displaying the kind of speed, movement and deadly finishing that have seen him deliver on his vast potential since moving to Italy from Manchester United two years ago.

Belgium have looked comfortable at the Euros so far. With Lukaku firing, their “golden generation” might at last deliver silverware.

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Denmark: Everyone’s Second Team

In one of the most harrowing incidents witnessed on an international football pitch in decades, images of Christian Eriksen’s collapse from a cardiac arrest in Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener against Finland will live long in the memory of all in attendance and the millions of shocked television viewers.

Thanks to the rapid response of the medical personnel at the scene, Eriksen was resuscitated and was able to recover in hospital. Denmark were made to finish the game later than evening and lost 1-0.

What a night for Denmark and their fans as they secure qualification from Group B with a 4-1 win over Russia #RUSDEN | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/KC5yrThnqJ

— Unibet (@unibet) June 21, 2021

Defeat in their second match, against Belgium, appeared to spell the end of a shell-shocked Denmark side’s campaign, but they rallied in their final group game to beat Russia 4-1 and progress to the last 16, where they will play Wales.

After everything they’ve endured at Euro 2020, Denmark will be everyone’s second team for as long as they remain.

Pogba Purring

There have been some outstanding midfield performances at Euro 2020 thus far. The aforementioned De Jong has effortlessly dictated proceedings for the Dutch. Manuel Locatelli and Marco Verratti have each put in smooth-as-silk displays for Italy. Teenager Pedri has impressed for Spain and Portugal’s Renato Sanches has rediscovered his form of 2016.

The most impressive midfielder of the group stages, though, was Manchester United’s Paul Pogba – or, more accurately, France’s Paul Pogba, as the former Juventus man has performed to a level and consistency rarely seen in his time at Old Trafford.

France, the world champions and easily the most talent-packed squad at the Euros, progressed from by far the competition’s toughest group to book a place in the last 16. Not all of their stars have delivered as yet, though – with the goalless Kylian Mbappe, in particular, yet to take off.

But Pogba, as he did at the World Cup three years ago, has performed, producing some of the most jaw-dropping passes of the competition and showing the ability to control and create that convinced United to spend a world-record fee to re-sign him back in 2016.

Kane’s drought

After having claimed the Golden Boot on England’s run to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and once again earning the Premier League’s top-scorer prize in 2020-21, it was widely expected that Harry Kane would figure highly in the scoring charts at Euro 2020.

The Three Lions skipper is scoreless so far, though. While England have struggled to properly service their captain, as Raheem Sterling, with two goals, was the only group-stage scorer for Gareth Southgate’s side, Kane has still misfired with the opportunities to have come his way. Across three games, the Tottenham marksman has hit the target with just one of his five total attempts.

If England are to match or exceed their World Cup run of three years ago, they’ll need Kane to rediscover his scoring touch.