So that was Euro 2024!
In many ways it was over as quickly as it began as the last month flew by.
But where do you start?
Well my tip to the win the tournament, Germany, fell at the quarter-final stage, so the motto of that story is always trust the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds – I didn’t on this occasion!
Meanwhile, two nations I felt would not quite have enough, Spain and England, contested the final with La Roja crowned champions of Europe in glorious fashion.
Who created the Euro 2024 highlights which caught your eye?
Was it Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa who saved three penalty kicks in a row in their last-16 shoot-out victory over Slovenia?
Was it that Jude Bellingham overhead kick which rescued England from the jaws of ignominy against Slovakia?
Was it the performances of a 16 year-old by the name of Lamine Yamal who, on June 15, became the youngest player to ever take to the field at a European Championship, and by July 14 (the day after his 17th birthday) had made the footballing world sit up and take notice.
And what was your favourite goal of the tournament? How about Mert Muldar for Turkey v Georgia, Arda Guler’s strike in the same game, captain Nicolae Stanciu’s opener for Romania as they swept aside Ukraine, the Bellingham moment and, of course, Yamal v France in the semi-final.
Incidentally, the Golden Boot barely passed without mention given six players shared the honour on three goals each – amongst them England captain Harry Kane.
Back to the main accolades and, when you’re following such an esteemed list of former winners of players of the tournament, who am I to disagree with the recipients.
To give you an indication, the player of the tournament award was first given in 1996, when Germany’s Matthias Sammer won, followed by French hero Zinedine Zidane in 2000 and Greece captain Theo Zagorakis in 2004.
Andres Iniesta and Xavi were rewarded in Spain’s era of dominance in 2008 and 2012, 2016 saw Antoine Griezmann prevail and at Euro 2020, it was Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
There was also the young player of the tournament, awarded for the third time, with players born in 2002 or later, all eligible – Renato Sanches (2016) and Pedri (2020) won the first two awards.
Going into the final in Berlin, Yamal was always the likely winner of the official gong with Rodri a slight favourite for the senior award – and so it proved.
In Rodri, Spain had arguably the world’s best defensive midfielder for the past few years, let alone at this tournament.
In Yamal, they had a schoolboy who can’t drink, can’t drive, but had led Spain to the Euros.
Born in Spain to Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean parents, this is a player who revealed that he would still be doing his school homework during the month-long tournament.
Fully deserved, the best nation won Euro 2024 and the best players won the individual titles.
This was a victory for bravery, for courage, for attacking football, combined with discipline.
Spain won all seven matches at Euro 2024, becoming the first European nation to win seven matches at a major international tournament (European Championships/World Cup) and just the second overall, along with Brazil at the 2002 World Cup.
They weren’t just any opponents, five of those victories were against Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England.
A word also for Luis de la Fuente who guided Spain to European Under-19 Championship glory, the European Under-21 championship and a silver medal in the 2020 Olympics.
As a result, he knew what impact young players can make but it was still a big statement to start a 16 year-old, one that paid dividends.
Spanish stars have sealed the month-long summer spectacle and there can be no arguing their successes aren’t fully merited.
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