UEFA Euro 2024: Biggests hits and misses from this Euro campaign

New Delhi: The 2024 Euro camapaign finally comes to an end after a month of exciting football matches where we witnessed some great goals, fantastic saves, breathtaking rivalries and above all, the best os European football. It was Luis de la Fuente’s young Spanish side who marked a historic Euro triumph, where they lifted the trophy with a hundred percent win record throughout the campaign. Besides, Spain also became the only team to win their fourth Euro title.

This year’s Euro campaign produced some of the best European talents, while certain veterans also made their impact. However, there were also some disappointing performances from this campaign as the fans had big expectations from some of football’s biggest names, but they just couldn’t settle in and play their best football on the pitch. Let’s have a look at some of the biggest hits and misses from this Euro campaign.

Top hits from Euro 2024

Lamine Yamal

pic.twitter.com/e7poT1Jfu0

— Lamine Yamal 🇪🇸 (@LamineeYamal) July 15, 2024

The 17-year-old Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal was named the young player of the campaign and it was a well deserved award after Yamal’s brilliant performances throughout the Euro 2024 campaign. The FC Barcelona winger produced some moments of pure class and played a key role in Spain’s relentless attack. Yamal broke a numerous records at the age of 16, while becoming the youngest player to score a goal in UEFA Euro campaign. Besides, he also had four assists to his name that also suggested that he became the youngest player in the history of Euro championship to provide an assist.

The teenager had an exceptional campaign as he was amongst the best performers from Euro 2024.Yamal showed some great maturity on the pitch as it never looked like it’s his first major tournament for the Spanish side. It was his flair, speed, and ability to beat the defenders that made him a massive threat to the opposition and De la Fuente utilised his abilities in the best way possible. As the talented winger turned 17 this month, he certainly has a big future ahead if continues to play like he did.

Georgia’s dream run

The debutants Georgia had a magical run this campaign where they reached the round of 16, but it was the Spanish side who ended their dream run. A team that has won hearts all around the globe, Georgia were brave throughout the campaign and never stopped believing. Their main highlight of the campaign was a 2-0 win against the 2016 Euro champions Portugal where they refused to give up with their qualification hanging in balance. However, they managed to make it out of their group, finishing second, right behind Portugal.

Despite their exit in the round of 16 against the title winners Spain, the players gave their fans a lot to smile about. They defied all odds and had a wonderful campaign which indicates their growth and their future performances in major tournaments.

Luis de la Fuente proves his doubters wrong

Before the campaign took off, there were doubts creeping in regarding Spain’s tournament after they stuck with the decision of keeping Luis de la Fuente as the team’s head coach. However, the former Spain U-21 coach Luis de la Fuente completely revolutionalised the Spanish swuad as he proved his doubters wrong by going all the way to win the 2024 Euro title. He was very much familiar with most of the players in the squad as he included certain players who were a part of his 2019 UEFA U-21 championship winning side.

However, he was the master tactician behind Spain’s historic Euro triumph where they went on to win each of their matches, keeping a hundred percent win record to lift the trophy. Besides, Luis de la Fuente made the best out of his young players as well as the experienced veterans on the pitch to play an attractive brand of football.

Turkey’s brilliant Euro 2024 run

Another team that had a wonderful Euro run was Vincenzo Montella’s Turkish side. Before the competition began, there was little cause for optimism in the Turkish side. The semi-finalists of Euro 2008 had not progressed past the group stage in their preceding two competitions and have not earned a World Cup berth since placing third in 2002. The brilliant Turkish side reached the quarter finals after they were ble to edge past a very confident and dangerous Raulf Ragnick’s Austria in the round of 16.

Their last-16 retribution was all the more delicious because they also lost all four of their friendlies this season, including a 6-1 thumping at the hands of Austria, which Montella referred to as a stain on his career. They were a formidable opponent because, according to Dutch manager Ronald Koeman, they played with a desire and heart. However, their fabulous journey ended when Koeman’s Dutch side defeated them 2-1 in the quarter finals to break the Turkish hearts. Despite the exit, this Turkish side earned the world wide respect and showed signs of what’s to come in the future international tournament.

Top misses from Euro 2024

A horror campaign for Mbappe and Griezmann

France were truly the pre tournament favourites to lift the Euro title with depth in their squad that also included the likes of superstars, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. However, it turned out to be a complete disaster for both the players as Griezmann had no real impact in any of the games that France played. The Atletico Madrid forward is considered to be one of the most technically gifted footballers in the world but he was no where close to the level that he can actually possess this campaign.

After a great season at Atletico Madrid, that re vitalised the Frenchman’s career, fans were expecting him to be the talisman this season. However, with zero goal involvements, Griezmann never looked like the main man for Deschamp’s side. On the other hand, Kylian Mbappe also had an underwhelming season. A majority of the Frenchman’s season was affected due to the mask that had to wear after he fractured his nose in the very first game of the season against Austria.

It appeared that his peripheral vision was getting disrupted due to the mask, which actually affected his game play a lot. Above all, it was a rather underwhelming campaign for the 25-year-old as he only managed to get 2 goal contributions for a disappointing French side this campaign.

Ronaldo failed to score a goal for the first time in a major tournament

Yet another superstar who had a frustrating Euro campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score a goal for the very first time in a major tournament. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United icon had an extremely disappointing campaign for Portugal as he couldn’t make his presence felt in the majority of the season. With just one assist in Euro 2024, this was Ronaldo’s worst ever campaign where he had a record total of 23 shot on target. However, it has nothing to do with the high stature of this great player and what he has achieved in his career.

Disappointment for Belgium and Italy

Two of Europe’s biggest names, Belgium and Italy, both suffered early exits as both the sides were eliminated in the round of 16. Belgium headed into the Euro 2024 campaign with great confidence after they managed to win majority of their qualifying matches. They were also undefeated in their previous 16 matches before the start of Euros. However, they had the worst possible start to the campaign as they lost against Slovakia in their opening game and later on, somehow managed to make it out of their group with a second place finish. Fans were disappointed as they were the clear favourites to top their group, and the players faced a lot of criticism for not winning the group.

However, they were eliminated in the round of 16 where they faced the French side, as they lost the match 1-o. On the other hand, the defending champions Italy were eliminated by a very impressive Swiss side as they lost the game 2-0 in the round of 16. The Italians were amongst the top contenders, pre season, but their lack of urgency and not showing the hunger to score goals affected their campaign as they failed to repeat history this time around.

England fail to end their 58 year trophy drought

Yet again, England were unable to secure their first major trophy since winning the World Cup in 1966 and its first European Championship. In the Covid-postponed 2020 competition in 2021, Gareth Southgate’s team came in second place and ultimately lost to Italy on penalties which means England have lost their second consecutive Euro final. Despite showing some urgency on the pitch, which was missing throughout the campaign for Southgate’s men, the Three Lions were unable to get the job done against a high flying Spanish side. Thus, their 58 year long wait for a trophy goes on.

 Finally the 2024 Euro campaign comes to an end. It was a month full of excitement and we witnessed peak European football. So let’s dive into the biggest hits and misses of 2024 Euro championship.  Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today