And so, after 30 days, 51 matches and 117 goals, Germany's summer of football draws to a close. Many aspects will remain in the memory from an open, entertaining and intriguing tournament - Spain's dazzling run to glory, England's dogged march to the final and Scotland fan's charge to anywhere that could host a party, to name but a few. The time seems right, therefore, to look back on the highlights (and lowlights) of the first fully fan attended, summer held men's tournament for European teams in 6 years. Whatever your post Euros feelings are, take a moment to reflect, feel free to disagree (or agree with every word I've said, which I somewhat doubt...) in the comments and enjoy the brief, surreal relative round ball hiatus of the next couple of weeks before the club football hype-train begins to roar back into action once again...
Best team: Spain
I know, I know, the 'best' team in any tournament is surely the one with their fingerprints daubed all over the trophy once the final ball has been kicked. Anyone who has been watching the game for any length of time, though, will know that the side who have proved themselves as the most adept at seeing their way through 90 or 120 minute cup ties isn't always the one who lays claim to the most scintillating brand of football. Look no further than this competition 8 years ago, when an unfancied Portugal team somehow edged their way to Euro 2016 glory despite finishing third in their group and winning just one of their 7 matches in normal time (their 2-0 semi final victory over Wales).
This time, however, there can be no doubt about which group of players deserved, and duly attained, glory in Germany. When Spain win international tournaments they tend to have earned it, and this was no different. An exciting and well balanced side combining youth with experience, La Roja's flame burned brightly throughout a tournament where several other big names, France, Belgium and England included, failed to really set fire as an attacking force. Spain finished as the highest single tournament scorers in Euro history with 15 goals, also becoming the first side to twice win the competition with a 100% record, their 7 wins in 7 games including convincing victories against the Italians, Germans, French and English en route to their Berlin coronation.
Worst team: Scotland
Statistically, there's no getting away from it. Despite creating a huge party atmosphere and winning many friends in Germany, the Scots were one of just 4 teams to secure a solitary point within their group, and of that quartet, had the worst goal difference (scored 2, conceded 7). The die was of course cast in that opening night 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the hosts, where the defence looked all at sea. Performances improved after that - Steve Clarke's charges huffed and puffed their way to a creditable 1-1 draw with Switzerland, before going toe to toe with Hungary only to concede a last minute winner that confirmed a low key exit to their first foreign Euros in 32 years. Clarke has brought a lot of pride back to Scottish football, but that elusive knockout berth remains a pipe dream for now.
Best Player: Nico Williams
The Spanish side was full of class throughout, held together by midfield lynchpin Rodri and brimming with attacking talent including the 17 year old wonderkid Lamine Yamal (more on him in a bit...). The player who stood out across the competition, however, was the Barcelona youngster's counterpart on the opposite wing. Nico, sibling of Athletic Bilbao teammate Inaki and only 22 himself, lit up the tournament, producing some blistering attacking play and adding an extra layer of dynamite upfront. Williams also delivered two of Euro 2024's most iconic strikes, smashing home after embarrassing a Georgian defender in the Round of 16 before grabbing the crucial opener against England in the showpiece. These stellar performances earned Williams a place in UEFA's team of the tournament, and have quickly catapulted him into the territory of Europe's most sought after talents, with the winger reportedly on the radar of multiple Premier League giants including Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Best Newcomer: Lamine Yamal
The 17 year old's presence at this tournament has been unignorable. Being touted as one of the pre-tournament 'ones to watch' doesn't always lead to a great deal, but the fledgling Barcelona star seems to have proven in a few short matches that he has what it takes to handle the hype. The winger has been a vital cog in Spain's attacking machine, dancing past defenders, providing a steady stream of assists and finally getting his record breaking goal with a scintillating equaliser against France in the semi-final. Comparisons with a certain diminutive Blaugrana star of yesteryear are always to be taken with a pinch of salt, but if he can keep up this form then Yamal will eventually force such claims to be taken seriously.
Most Disappointing Player: Kylian Mbappe
It was another Euros of frustration for a player undoubtedly at the forefront of Europe's elite tier of attackers, but with a peculiar aversion to this particular competition. The Frenchman did at least get his first European Championship goal this time around, a penalty against Poland, but seemed seriously affected by the facial injury that he sustained in his country's opening game against Austria. Mbappe was forced to sit out the group stalemate against Holland before briefly being forced to don a mask on his return, which he eventually banished. It must be said that the new Real Madrid signing was not helped by an anaemic French forward line that provided him little encouragement throughout the tournament, but the reality is that Mbappe is the player above all others that Le Bleus fans trust to break through such an attacking malaise. The bottom line, as strange as it reads, is now this: 12 goals at World Cups, 1 goal at the Euros. The Frenchman will now have to wait another 4 years to improve on the latter tally.
Best Game: Austria 1-2 Turkey (Round of 16)
Euro 2024 hasn't been a tournament laced with goal-fests or heavyweight clashes for the ages. In fact, more games arguably failed to fire than not. There were still plenty of entertaining match-ups to be found, however, often involving some of the tournament's so called lesser lights. The best example was this enthralling clash for a quarter final place between two of Euro 2024's great underdogs.
An intense and enthralling spectacle took just 57 seconds to receive its spark when a goalmouth scramble from a Turkey corner led to centre back Merih Demiral sweeping home the fastest knockout goal in Euros history. The tone was set for a furious encounter between two outfits hellbent on attack, and it was a surprise when a breathless first half remained 1-0 to the Turks. Against the run of play, Austria were stung once again after the break by Demiral, the towering defender heading home a corner in the 59th minute to seemingly settle the contest. But the Austrians staged an admirable and quick comeback, another set piece resulting in Michael Gregoritsch stabbing home at the far post just 7 minutes later to reduce the deficit. Turkey weathered the resultant storm well, but relied on a stunning Mart Gunok save from a Christopher Baumgartner header at the death to secure their place in the quarter finals. Ralf Ragnick's side meanwhile, in his old Red Bull Arena stomping ground, ran out of juice.
Other honourable mentions in this category go to Croatia's thrilling 2-2 draw with Albania in Group B (played at 2pm on a Wednesday, thanks schedulers...), Germany and Spain's high class, high stakes quarter final clash and another game involving Austria - their superb 3-2 downing of Holland to turn Group C, and the knockout draw, on its head.
Worst Game: Denmark 0-0 Serbia (Group C)
There were a handful of turgid goalless affairs to endure at this tournament, and whilst the colossal anticlimax that was France vs Portugal is tempting, it seems only right that the wooden spoon should he handed to a Group C clash, the section that saw an almost freakishly low tally of just 7 goals in 6 games. Had Jude Bellingham failed to nod home the winner for England against Serbia, every match would have finished either 0-0 or 1-1. Thrilling stuff, but the piece de re(zzz...)istance must be this Munich ode to mundanity. When the highlight of the game is a goal being disallowed due to a corner kick somehow being put out of play and curving back onto the field, you know you're struggling...
Best Goal: Xavi Simons vs England (Semi Final)
A competitive field, with several excellent strikes in Germany to choose from. But the pick of the bunch goes to Xavi Simons' thunderbolt finish to open the scoring for the Netherlands in their eventual semi-final defeat to England. The Paris Saint Germain midfielder collected the ball just inside the attacking half, strode forward and launched an unerring drive high above Jordan Pickford and into the far corner of the net. Detractors have suggested that the Everton stopper should have done better, having got a hand to the effort. Well perhaps, if he had somehow cloned himself multiple times and stood in each segment of the goal frame. Otherwise, this was as pure a strike as they come from an exciting young player whose stock continues to grow.
In a tournament not short of memorable strikes, several others deserve a mention. Jamal Musiala finished off an excellent team move in the opening night demolition of Scotland, as did Christian Eriksen in an emotional moment against Slovenia. Nedim Bajrami's record breakingly early strike for Albania against Italy was another highlight of the group stages, whilst Mert Muldur and Arda Guler pulled out a couple of delights for Turkey in their victory over Georgia. In the knockout stages, there were more fantastic finishes from the likes of Nico Williams, again against the Georgians, Remo Freuler to begin Switzerland's Italian job in the Last 16 and Lamine Yamal in Spain's semi-final downing of France.
Biggest Overachievers: Georgia
Making their major tournament debut, little was expected of the Georgians ahead of their opening fixture against Turkey, and even less so after an entertaining but flawed display in a 3-1 loss. The minnows gradually worked their way into the tournament, however, building momentum with a respectable 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic and then stunning the continent with a 2-0 humbling of Group F winners Portugal to ensure progression as one of the best third-placed sides. Georgia's tournament only peaked when a Robin Le Normand own goal gave them a shock lead over eventual champions Spain in the Last 16. La Roja responded with four of their own to prevent a quarter-final meeting with the hosts, but Georgia had already done more than enough to ensure their legacy at this tournament. After 3 goals, their star striker Georges Mikautadze also went home with a share of the golden boot, not a bad consolation prize.
Despite many valid criticisms of the extended 24 team Euros format that has been in force since 2016, Georgia's progress in this edition is at least a sparkling vindication of the system at its best. Qualification through the Nations League allows capable minnows such as Georgia a shot at the big time and the chance to create moments that the competition is surely all the richer for.
But it wasn't just Georgia on our mind when it came to underdogs this summer (sorry...). The likes of Turkey, Austria and Romania all did excellent jobs of defying expectations at Euro 2024 and deserve an honourable mention at the very least.
Biggest Underachievers: Italy
The holder's tournament didn't exactly get off to the brightest of starts, conceding the European Championship's fastest ever goal to Albania after just 21 seconds following a lapsed throw-in. The omens weren't good, and whilst they would recover from that blow to record a narrow 2-1 win, that was as good as their Euro 2024 was to get. Emerging from an encounter with champions elect Spain with just a 1-0 defeat was no disaster, but the Italians then found themselves on the brink of elimination after going behind once again to Croatia in their final group game. Only a last-minute Mattia Zaccagni equaliser spared the Azurri blushes, before another insipid performance against Switzerland saw them fall to a dour 2-0 defeat. Staring down the barrel of a severely underwhelming title defence, Italy's Wembley triumph three years ago is beginning to look ever more strange in the context of a decade consisting of largely failure.
They weren't the only nation expected to challenge, or at least be competitive at this tournament who failed to fire, however. An ageing Croatia, a tepid Czech Republic and a worryingly jaded looking Belgium side also require stern looks in the mirror following disappointing showings in Germany.
Best Kit: France Away
Les Bleus' attack may have been sub par, but they did at least get one thing right out in Germany - a cracking set of clobber courtesy of Nike. The American giants produced two superb minimalist outfits for France, with the sleek white away number marginally taking the biscuit over its traditional dark blue twin. A supremely classy affair incorporating pinstripes that fade between all three shades of the Tricolor flag, elegant blue collar and sleeve framing and a massive, gleaming cockerel badge. Some kits simply don't mess about in telling you that they mean business. This is one. Simply magnifique, and deserving of much better football than its wearers were able to deliver.
Worst Kit: Spain Away
On the flip side, an otherwise imperious Spain weren't immune to off-field gaffes in Germany. In fairness, Adidas' home design for La Roja was a smart and elegant affair befitting of European champions and (thankfully) worn in 6 out of their 7 games. The same couldn't be said of the garish mess of a change outfit, which was mercifully relegated to single appearance - a final group game against Albania where Spain had already qualified. This effort simply contained too many bad ideas at once to get away with. A horrendous colour scheme resembled the livery of a failed yogurt brand from about 1973 - sickly lime green 'complemented' by random red flashes and a lurid grey-turquoise hybrid that seemed about as Spanish as a weekend in Barry Island. And to top it all off, my pet hate, a ghastly miscoloured badge. Spain, you've done most things with style this tournament, please let's forget this monstrosity...
Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments section below...
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