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The summer of 2024 saw the football world descend on Germany for the UEFA European Championship. From shock exits to breakout stars, this summer’s tournament delivered plenty of talking points. Here’s our round up of an unforgettable tournament.
Shock Exits
Euro 2024 delivered a lot of surprises, with several pre-tournament favourites exiting the competition earlier than expected. France’s run came to a shocking end in the quarterfinals, where the nation’s superstar, Kylian Mbappé, struggled to inspire the side in a 2-1 loss to Spain. Similarly, defending Euro champions, Italy, continued their poor post-World Cup form which led to an early group stage exit. Portugal also exited in the round of 16 after a shock defeat to underdogs Georgia, who were one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
Overachievers
Turkey and Georgia stole the hearts of fans with their performances as they thrived in the spotlight. Turkey, under new management, defied expectations by reaching the quarter-finals, with young stars, Arda Güler and Kenan Yildiz, showing maturity beyond their years. Georgia, powered by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the outstanding goalkeeping of Giorgi Mamardashvili, reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Player of the Tournament
Spain’s Rodri is deservedly our pick for Player of the Tournament. The Manchester City midfielder was world class throughout the tournament as he dictated tempo, broke up attacks, and provided a calming presence in every game. Even after a demanding club season, Rodri delivered consistently at Euro 2024 and was instrumental in securing Spain’s fourth European Championship.
Biggest Underperformer
Expectations were high for Real Madrid’s new star signing, Kylian Mbappé, but the French forward had a tournament to forget. A broken nose certainly hampered his performances, but even considering that, his impact was minimal as France looked disjointed and lacked the cutting edge they needed in tight games.
Goal of the Tournament
Lamine Yamal’s stunning goal for Spain against France in the semi-finals is our pick for goal of the tournament. The Spanish wonderkid received the ball on the edge of the box, dropped his shoulder and curled an outstanding shot into the top corner, leaving the French goalkeeper with no chance.
Lamine Yamal with an absolute beauty 🤩
The youngest goalscorer of all time in a European Championship match 🙌#Euro2024 | #ESPFRA pic.twitter.com/fw6ajrQ7ov
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 9, 2024
Rising Star of the Tournament
Spain’s Lamine Yamal is our rising star of Euro 2024. At just 16 years old for most of the tournament, Yamal played with maturity beyond his years, consistently producing in the big moments for his nation. A special mention has to go to Turkey’s Arda Güler, who displayed world class skill and leadership despite his young age, hinting at a bright future for both players in international football.
Euro 2024 may be remembered for Spain’s success, but it also highlighted the continued rise of emerging nations and the unpredictability that makes international tournaments so special. As we look forward to Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, this summer’s competition reminded us why football’s biggest stage remains such a captivating spectacle.
🇪🇸 SPAIN ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS FOR A RECORD FOURTH TIME! 🏆🏆🏆🏆#ESPENG | #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/OkLA2AXPVD
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 14, 2024
With so many impressive performances on the European stage over the summer, youth clubs from across the continent are starting to look ahead to their own travel plans for the new season. With some of the top tournaments in the UK and Europe available to book now, contact us today to see where your team could be jetting off to in 2024/25.
