20 of the best images from the Euro 2016 group stage

20 of the best images from the Euro 2016 group stage [GALLERY]

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The twists and turns of Euro 2016 has showcased all that is good, and unfortunately, bad about football. Despite early fears over violence between fans, normal service has resumed with a largely positive vibe reverberating around the globe.

Minnows Iceland have perhaps been the major shock of the tournament thus far along with Will Grigg’s Northern Ireland, Hungary and the Republic of Ireland, who have been on fire, and earned their passage to the round of 16.

Hosts France have dazzled, with thanks to West Ham maestro Dimitri Payet, while Wales’ free-flowing football with Gareth Bale as the focal point has been a joy to behold.

Cristiano Ronaldo has found his feet with Portugal, so too with Kevin De Bruyne and Belgium, to name a few.

The round of 16 is sure to dazzle with glory at stake, while the expanded edition of Euro 2016 has opened the door for smaller nations to battle with the very best at the pointy end of the competition.

Below are the best images to come out of the group stages.

Belgium's supporter watch on a giant screen the Euro 2016 football match between Sweden and Belgium on June 22, 2016, at the fanzone in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. / AFP / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT (Photo credit should read GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images)

LYON, FRANCE - JUNE 16: Northern Ireland supporters celebrate their team's win in the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland at Stade des Lumieres on June 16, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

LILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 15: Marek Hamsik of Slovakia celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between Russia and Slovakia at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on June 15, 2016 in Lille, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

LYON, FRANCE - JUNE 19: Assistant coach Paolo Tramezzani of Albania holding Elseid Hysaj celebrates their 1-0 win after the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between Romania and Albania at Stade des Lumieres on June 19, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Turkish players celebrate their victory at the end of the Euro 2016 group D football match between Czech Republic and Turkey at Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on June 21, 2016. / AFP / PHILIPPE LOPEZ (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

TOULOUSE, FRANCE - JUNE 17: Gianluigi Buffon of Italy hangs from the crossbar as the Italian team celebrate victory in the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Italy and Sweden at Stadium Municipal on June 17, 2016 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

LENS, FRANCE - JUNE 11: Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between Albania and Switzerland at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on June 11, 2016 in Lens, France. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Ireland's midfielder Robert Brady greets his partner Kerrie Harris after the Euro 2016 group E football match between Italy and Ireland at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, on June 22, 2016. Ireland won the match 0-1. / AFP / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 21: Joachim Loew head coach of Germany looks on during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Parc des Princes on June 21, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Belgium's midfielder Marouane Fellaini (R) and Belgium's forward Christian Benteke (2nd-R) sit on the bench with other teammates ahead of the Euro 2016 group E football match between Belgium and Ireland at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux on June 18, 2016. / AFP / LOIC VENANCE (Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images)

Spain's forward Alvaro Morata (C-L) runs to celebrate his goal during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Spain and Turkey at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 17, 2016. / AFP / TOBIAS SCHWARZ (Photo credit should read TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Croatia's midfielder Ivan Perisic reacts as flares are thrown onto the pitch during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Czech Republic and Croatia at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne on June 17, 2016. Czech Republic and Croatia drew 2-2. / AFP / JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK (Photo credit should read JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

LYON, FRANCE - JUNE 22: Hungary players celerbate winning the group F and going through to the knock-out stage after their 3-3 draw in the UEFA EURO 2016 Group F match between Hungary and Portugal at Stade des Lumieres on June 22, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LENS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: A general view of Daniel Sturridge of England celebrating England's second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between England and Wales at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on June 16, 2016 in Lens, France. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

TOULOUSE, FRANCE - JUNE 20: Gareth Bale of Wales celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between Russia and Wales at Stadium Municipal on June 20, 2016 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Euro 2016 group F football match between Portugal and Iceland at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne on June 14, 2016. / AFP / FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images)

An Iceland supporter holds a picture depecting Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo before the Euro 2016 group F football match between Iceland and Austria at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris on June 22, 2016. / AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD (Photo credit should read KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images)

Dejected Austria fans sit in the stands after their team lost to Iceland 2-1 in the Euro 2016 group F football match between Iceland and Austria at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris on June 22, 2016. / AFP / TOBIAS SCHWARZ (Photo credit should read TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 10: Dimitri Payet of France celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates during the UEFA Euro 2016 Group A match between France and Romania at Stade de France on June 10, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Sweden's forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic applauds to acknowledge the spectators at the end of the Euro 2016 group E football match between Sweden and Belgium at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 22, 2016. / AFP / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

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