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The Best Moments of Euro 2024
Blogs

The Best Moments of Euro 2024

14/07/24 12:44

With Euro 2024 set to close another chapter in dramatic fashion tonight when England takes on Spain for European bragging rights, it’s time to look back at how we found ourselves here.

One month ago, the tournament kicked off (we’ll discuss the opening day in depth later), and as we have come to expect, has provided unparalleled drama, introduced us fresh faces and promising names, and generally reminded us of why we love the beautiful game.

Tournament football has the ability to create almost surreal moments, instances with so much story, background, and importance, that whatever the outcome, they are remembered for generations to come.

Maradona’s hand of god, Gazza’s tears, Gordon Banks’ save against Pele, and Lampard’s ghost goal are just a few that have lived on in the memories of many despite the time that has elapsed since, their importance recognised even by later generations.

This tournament has been no different, serving up some brilliant storyline’s, and keeping viewers on the edge of their seats throughout. The Euros always promises drama, so without further preamble, let's take a look at some of the best (and in some cases worst) moments of Euro 2024.

- Record Breaking Albania

Albania have not typically been viewed as a footballing country over the years, only qualifying for their first ever Euros in 2016 in France. Missing out on Euro 2020, they returned to the major international stage this year, and despite picking up just one point in the group stage, they were one of, if not the most entertaining team to watch early in the tournament.

Their first game came on just the second day, when they were pitted against holders Italy in Group B. With expectations low, the Albanians had little to no pressure on them, allowing them to play freely. It didn’t take long for them to reap the reward.

Stealing the ball from an Italian throw-in, Nedim Bajrami beat center back Allessandro Bastoni and rifled a brilliant finish into the near top corner. It had taken Albania just 23 seconds to shock European football.

Though they would eventually go on to lose 2-1, they had pushed the reigning European Champions to the very brink, and almost found a stoppage time equalizer right at the death.

They would also bring drama in their next game, a draw 2-2 to Croatia, where they did convert a 90+5 minute equalizer, another unreal moment. It gave them a glimmer of hope of qualifying, but only if they beat a free flowing Spain side in their final group game.

They did end up losing, and were subsequently sent home early, but the Albanians brought the party with them, and while they’re stint at the tournament was short, it was also most certainly sweet.

- Group E

One of the most remarkable groups ever seen in international football, Group E was made up of Slovenia, Belgium, Romania and Ukraine. After two games, all four teams were level on three points apiece, with every team knowing that a win in their final group game would see them qualify.

Miraculously, none of them could find that crucial winner, and for the first time in Euros history, all four teams in a group had finished on four points. It seemed cruel really that one nation had to go, the unlucky side being Ukraine, who drew with Belgium in their final game despite having multiple late chances to win it.

Romania were the surprise package of the group, thrashing Ukraine 3-0 in their opener with the help of a Nicolae Stanciu screamer, before losing to Belgium in a hard fought contest. Their draw to Slovakia was enough to seal the top spot as although they finished level with Belgium, and had lost to them, they had achieved their one win by a greater margin, and so finished above them.

While all three Group E teams were knocked out in the round of 16 (Slovakia by England, Belgium by France, and Romania by the Netherlands), it was a group where anything could have happened down to the final kick of a ball, and it is unlikely we will see such a close group with so many different permutations in play for some time.

- Mattia Zaccagni’s dramatic equalizer

Italy were one of the more disappointing teams at this summer's competition. Marginally beating Albania in their opening game, they were then totally dominated by Spain, though the 1-0 scoreline doesn’t reflect that fact.

They faced Croatia in their final group game, who needed a win to qualify after only managing a draw against the albanians. Italy meanwhile knew they only needed a point, and for much of the match it seemed they were playing for a draw.

Bastoni had come close with a header in the first half, which was brilliantly saved by Dominic Livakovic, while the Croats had forced Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into a couple of interventions up the other end, but a mostly tepid game went into halftime goalless.

The second half played out totally differently. Nine minutes into the second period, an Andrej Kramaric attempt was inadvertently stopped by Davide Frattesi, giving Luka Modric the chance to give his nation the lead from the penalty spot. However, Donnarumma had other ideas, and pushed Modric’s attempt to safety.

The Italian defense were still internally celebrating the penalty save when 30 seconds later the ball was whipped onto the head of Ante Budimir, whose downward header was brilliantly pushed out by Donnarumma, but only to the feet or luka Modric once again, who redeemed himself with an emphatic finish, while in the process, creating history in becoming the oldest ever goalscorer at the Euros.

Italy now suddenly found themselves on the brink of elimination, and upped the tempo. Bastoni missed another header from a set piece, this time nodding over, and the Italians saw a myriad of shots brilliantly blocked by a committed Croatian defense. 10 minutes from time, Italy had made all of their changes, including replacing Matteo Darmian with Roma winger Mattia Zaccagni, and could now only watch and pray.

But nothing opened up for the Italians, and they quickly found themselves in the 97th minute of time still requiring a leveler. Up steps Riccardo Calafiori, who, running out of defense, beat two men and played a defense splitting pass into Zaccagni in space on the left side of the box.

With no pause for thought, Zaccagni hit the ball first time. The ball seemed to travel through the air forever, curling and swerving as it did so. When it finally nestled in the very top corner of Livakovic’s goal, the Italian celebrations were wild.

The subs were on the pitch, Calafiori was shedding tears of joy, and Italy had somehow scraped through into the knockout stages. Though they would be eliminated in their very next game against Switzerland, that Zaccagni goal will be remembered for years to come, along with the ecstasy and relief that came with it.

- Austria top group D

Predicting this group seemed to be fairly straightforward: Pre tournament favorites France and dark horse the Netherlands to go through as the top two, with one of Poland and Austria likely to go through as one of the best third placed teams.

Things seemed to be going to plan on matchday one, where France beat Austria 1-0 via an own goal, while the Netherlands staged a 2-1 comeback win over Poland. However, gameweek two is where things became interesting. Netherlands and France played out a 0-0 draw (in which a Dutch Xavi Simons goal was controversially disallowed), while Ralf Rangnick’s Austria started to play some of their best football, beating Poland 3-1, and subsequently knocking them out.

Heading into the final gameweek, France and the Netherlands were level on four points, while Austria were right behind on three. France were set to face an already eliminated Poland, but with the added caveat that the Poles had Robert Lewandowski starting his first game of the tournament, having been injured for the opening phases.

Despite dominating the game and taking the lead through a Kylian Mbappe penalty, France couldn’t hold on, and a retaken Lewandowski penalty at the other end ensured that Poland at least came away with a point.

With France finishing on five points, both the Netherlands and Austria had the chance to top the group, and both sides most certainly played for it.

In an intense, high-tempo affair, Austria took the lead in the 6th minute through a Donyell Malen own goal, before the Dutch responded just two minutes after half time through Cody Gakpo. A coolly taken Romano Schmid finish gifted Austria the lead again, before 15 minutes later Memphis Depay brilliantly volleyed the Netherlands level once again.

But Austria were simply not to be denied, and the winner came with 10 minutes to go, through Champions League finalist and Borussia dortmund player Marcel Sabitzer, who lifted a superb finish into the roof of the net to win the Austrians all three points, topping what was labeled “the group of death” in the process.

Though they were sent home by a stubborn, well organized Turkey side in the round of 16, the Austrians can class the tournament as a success. It’s not often the 25th ranked team in the world steals top spot over two of the best nations in world football, with the Netherlands ranked seventh, and France the second best team in the world, trumped only by Argentina.

- Opening Game

I told you we’d return to the very start of the tournament. Hosts Germany had been drawn A along with Hungary, Switzerland and Scotland, and their first game would be held in Munich against the Scots. Germany were the overwhelming favorites, but fans knew the Scots had more than a bit of character about them, and many were of the opinion that this would be a hotly contested game.

The game started evenly, and Keiran Tierney celebrating a goal kick in the third minute showed that the Scots, on the surface at least, were up for it. However, the German footballing machine kicked into gear, and on the ten minute mark, Florian Wirtz put the Bavarians in front.

Jamal Musiala doubled the lead shortly after, before a reckless foul in the box saw Scotland’s Ryan Porteous sent off, and Kai Havertz converted the consequent penalty for a 3-0 scoreline at the break.

Germany came out looking just as dangerous as in the first half, and Niclas Fullkrug made it 4-0 just after the hour mark. Scotland, who had just one shot over the course of the game, did get a consolation through the unfortunate Antonia Rudiger, who somehow contrived to head the ball into his own net, but Emre Can avenged him in added time, scoring a fine, low, curling effort from distance to finish the drubbing.

Scotland one, Germany five. Now that is the way to kick off your home tournament. Germany looked unstoppable until the quarter final stage, where they perhaps unluckily came up against newly emerged favorites Spain, and were eliminated in a 50/50 battle that could have gone either way.

The German fans however will likely attest that the game against Scotland was their finest hour at the tournament, dominating from the outset, and they will take some pride from the fact that the team that eliminated them was on balance, the only side playing better than them at the tournament.

- Ronaldo’s penalty miss

Picture it: A Euro round of 16 game, poised at 0-0 in extra time. A huge opportunity for one side or another to go on a deep run and make their mark at the tournament. Suddenly, you are awarded a penalty right before the midway point of extra time. Naturally, you hand the penalty over to the designated taker. It’s certainly helpful if he is considered one of the best of all time, and never seems to miss from the spot.

This is exactly the scenario that Portugal found themselves in against Slovenia. After Diogo Jota was tripped in the box, Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to the penalty spot, looking like the calmest man in the stadium.

He faced off against Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, a shot stopper he had taken on many times before in his days with Real Madrid. All expectation was on Ronaldo to score, having been quiet up until that point.

He stepped forward, with his usual self confidence, absolutely pelted the ball right towards the corner. But Oblak, considered one of the best keepers in the world, guessed right, and managed to somehow push the ball onto the post, conceding a corner. World football was shocked. Ronaldo, for the first time any of us could remember, had missed an in game penalty on the big stage.

The man himself was certainly shocked. When the first period of extra time ended, and the teams gathered on the pitch for brief team talks, there was an all too clear broadcast of the Portugal group, and at the center of it, Ronaldo was crying.

It wasn’t just the odd tear rolling down his face either; he was weeping, failing to contain his feelings of failure. At his last Euros for his nation, he had let them down. The man who never misses, had missed.

Slovenia were oh so close to punishing him. Deep into the second period, Benjamin Sesko robbed Pepe and was bearing down on goal with just the keeper between him and the net. Cries echoed around the stadium and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa spread himself wide and somehow smothered the attempt, a save which likely kept them his country in the Euros.

A shootout was eventually required, and Ronaldo, credit to him, was the first to step up for the Portuguese. Faced off against Oblak just 15 minutes after being denied, even his cast iron stomach would have been doing backflips. This time however, we went to the opposite corner, converting with his usual self assuredness, redeeming himself. Immediately, he apologized to the Portugal support behind the goal, as if to say “won’t happen again.”

Diogo Costa saved all three Slovenian penalties in a remarkable performance that sent Portugal to the next round, so Ronaldo’s penalty miss was not as costly as it first appeared. However, the images of the great man crying uncontrollably will live long in the memory. It showed that at least he is human.

- Georgia leading Spain

Georgia was the feel-good story of these Euros. Playing in their first major tournament, they feel to a 3-1 defeat in their first game after a ballsy performance against Turkey, before somehow managing a draw against a dominant Czech Republic.

Needing a win against group favorites Portugal to qualify, it seemed as if Georgia’s tournament would come to an end all too soon. But it wasn’t to be the case. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia gave Georgia the lead in nigh on 90 seconds, and when striker Georges Mikautadze doubled their lead with a 57th minute penalty, Georgia had sealed their path to the knockout stages.

This in itself was an absolute miracle, considering they came fourth in their qualifying group and had to go through various play-offs to reach the tournament.

However, their draw was exceptionally unkind, pitting them against Spain, who had looked imperious throughout their tournament so far. Georgia knew this would be the end of the road for them, but they made sure they went down swinging.

Incredibly, they led after 18 minutes. Omar Kakabadze whipped in a wicked ball from the right flank, which bounced awkwardly before hitting Le Normand and ricochetting into the net. Minnows Georgia led giants Spain, and people quickly started to pay attention. For much of the rest of the half, they defended brilliantly, preventing Spain from getting into their stride and trying to counter attack where necessary.

This was unprecedented. Could there really be such a monumental shock on the cards? With the way Georgia seemed to be defending, you wouldn’t put it past the realms of possibility. Fans from all over the world were supporting Georgia in that moment, willing them to cause one of the biggest shocks in tournament football history.

Unfortunately, Spain started to play like Spain again, and just before half time, the man for the big moments, Rodri, came up with a superb drive that found the bottom corner to equalize. In the second half, one quickly became two through Fabian Ruiz, before double to become four by the 83rd minute.

Spain had survived an early scare, and advanced to the quarter finals where they would face Germany in a highly anticipated match.

However, Georgia were the moral victors. They had played their hearts out, and given Spain more than a few things to worry about. They had picked up their first tournament victory and played the first tournament knockout game all within a week of each other, and in the process, had gathered a legion of admirers.

Needless to say, many will be watching Georgia with great interest over the coming few years.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Harry Pascoe

Lead Writer

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