4 biggest disappointments from the group stage of Euro 2016

For all of the spectacular goals, dominant displays, and beautiful moments, the group stage of Euro 2016 also featured some bitterly disappointing performances. Be it individuals or entire teams, the weight of expectation came down like an anvil on some who were being tipped to light up France.

Here are the four biggest disappointments from the opening round of the tournament.

David Alaba and Austria

David Alaba struck the post with a dipping effort within the opening seconds of Austria's first match against Hungary, and it was all downhill from there.

Expected to be a dark horse that could stun a heavyweight or two en route to a deep tournament run, Austria instead goes down as the biggest disappointment of the competition. Leaving France with no wins and just a single goal scored, Alaba and company should probably send Ukraine a fruit basket - had the latter not lost all three of its matches, Austria would be headlining the discussion as the worst team in the tournament.

Stunned by the Hungarians, battered by the Portuguese - despite hanging on for a 0-0 draw thanks to some sort of dark magic that prevented Cristiano Ronaldo and company from scoring - and beaten with a 94th-minute goal by Iceland, Marcel Koller's side failed spectacularly in France.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Even Zlatan can only do so much on his own.

The towering Swede, who announced that Euro 2016 would be his international swan song, has put the nation on his back countless times in the past, but carrying this sorry lot proved too great a task even for Ibrahimovic.

Sweden limped out of the competition as the last-place finisher in Group E, going home after recording only three shots on target in the tournament - all in the final contest against Belgium. Ibrahimovic, who cut a forlorn figure leading an unspectacular attacking unit, had just one of them. Sweden's lone goal of the competition, against Ireland, was an own goal. It was that dire.

Not much was expected from the Scandinavians this summer, but many were hoping Ibrahimovic could at least provide a trademark moment of magic. It wasn't to be.

Tournament security

Much of the blame for the despicable scenes that marred the early days of the tournament falls on the perpetrators of the violence; Russian and English hooligans tore through the streets of Marseille, leaving a trail of blood and destroyed property in their wake. That much was out of the control of tournament organisers, who are responsible for proceedings in, and around, the various stadiums.

What they can control, however, is fans' ability to bring flares and fireworks into the grounds. In that regard, their efforts were an utter abomination. Croatia's match against the Czech Republic was the foremost example, but various projectiles were a staple of the group stage, as fans apparently had no issue smuggling them into the venues.

And then there was the pitch invader who manager to snap a selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo. A great moment for the young man, no doubt, but how he was able to leave the crowd and run almost the length of the pitch to reach the Portuguese star is dumbfounding - particularly given that he managed it in the wake of all the aforementioned issues.

England

This year was supposed to be different. Young, talented, and boasting a crop of strikers unmatched by any other nation, the Three Lions were going to re-establish themselves as a force for years to come.

Not exactly, as it turned out.

Despite solid performances against Russia and Wales - and a comeback victory against the latter - England was hampered by some familiar issues. A late defensive lapse cost Roy Hodgson's side a win against Russia, and an abject display against Slovakia saw the Group C favourite fall to second place behind the Welsh, a result that saw England blow a huge opportunity to earn a spot on the favourable side of the knockout bracket.

Any path to the final will now involve going through two of France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, which has left England supporters - so jovial and upbeat about their team's chances before the tournament - understandably disappointed.