Euro 2024 Highlights Relive the thrills, upsets, and French triumph in Germany. From group stage shocks to Mbappé’s final heroics, experience the tournament’s unforgettable moments and star performances
Euro 2024 Highlights: French Triumph and Emotional Rollercoaster
What a month it’s been! Euro 2024 in Germany has left football fans across the continent breathless, exhilarated, and probably a bit hoarse from all the shouting. From the first whistle to the last, this tournament delivered drama by the bucketload, cementing its place in football history as one of the most exciting and unpredictable championships in recent memory.
The Group Stage: Surprises, Shocks, and Near-Misses
Remember how it all started? The group stage threw up more surprises than a magician’s hat. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and relive some of those early shocks and nail-biting finishes.
Group A kicked things off with a bang. Hosts Germany, determined to banish the ghosts of their 2022 World Cup disappointment, came out firing on all cylinders. They steamrolled Scotland 3-0 in the opening match, with Jamal Musiala announcing himself on the big stage with a goal that had jaws dropping across Europe. A curling effort from outside the box that bent around the keeper like it was remote-controlled – pure magic!
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Germans. Their final group game against Switzerland turned into a real dogfight. The Swiss, needing a result to progress, threw everything but the kitchen sink at the German goal. In the end, a 1-1 draw saw both teams through, but it was a wake-up call for the hosts. Football’s a funny old game, isn’t it?
Group B saw Belgium’s “Golden Generation” determined to shake off their underachiever tag. Kevin De Bruyne, seemingly on a one-man mission to drag his team to glory, orchestrated a series of performances that had pundits purring. Their 4-0 dismantling of Slovakia was a masterclass in attacking football. But the real drama came in the battle for second place. Romania and Slovakia’s final group game was a rollercoaster that would make even the most hardened thrill-seeker queasy. A 2-2 draw, with Romania equalizing in the 94th minute, saw them squeak through on goal difference. You couldn’t have written a script like that!
Now, let’s talk about Group C. Poor Italy, still nursing their World Cup hangover, nearly stumbled at the first hurdle. Their opening game loss to Albania – yes, you read that right, Albania – had the Italian press sharpening their knives. The reigning champions looked like shadows of their former selves, with the weight of expectation clearly taking its toll. It took a last-gasp winner against North Macedonia (revenge is sweet, eh?) to scrape through to the knockout stages. The relief on Italian faces was palpable – they’d dodged a bullet, but only just.
Group D went largely as expected, with France topping the table. But the real eyebrow-raiser was plucky Turkey, giving the big boys a run for their money. Their swashbuckling style, led by the mercurial Arda Güler, won them plenty of admirers. Their 2-1 victory over the Netherlands was a tactical masterclass, with Güler’s stoppage-time winner sending the Turkish fans into delirium. The Dutch, meanwhile, were left to rue what might have been – another major tournament disappointment for the Oranje.
Group E provided some of the most entertaining football of the first round. A resurgent England team, playing with a freedom we haven’t seen in years, topped the group with some style. Their 3-1 win over Spain was a statement of intent, with Jude Bellingham running the show in midfield. But the real drama came in the battle for second place. Spain and Croatia’s 3-3 draw was six-goal thriller that had neutrals on the edge of their seats. When Ivan Perisic equalized in the 87th minute to keep Croatia’s hopes alive, the roar could be heard all the way back in Zagreb!
And let’s not forget Group F – the so-called “Group of Death”. It lived up to its name alright, with Portugal and Denmark emerging from the scrap by the skin of their teeth. Cristiano Ronaldo, written off by many before the tournament, showed there’s still plenty of life in those 39-year-old legs. His free-kick against the Netherlands was a throwback to his prime – the ball dipping and swerving over the wall like a heat-seeking missile. Portugal topped the group, but Denmark’s progression was a nail-biter. Their final group game against Serbia was do-or-die, and for 85 minutes, it looked like death. But cometh the hour, cometh the man – step forward, Christian Eriksen. His late brace turned the game on its head and sent Denmark through. The scenes in Copenhagen that night were something to behold!
Knockout Rounds: When the Heat Really Turned Up
Then came the knockout rounds, and boy, did they knock our socks off! This is where tournaments are made or broken, where heroes are forged and dreams are shattered. Euro 2024 delivered all that and more.
The Round of 16 set the tone for what was to come. England, riding high on their group stage performances, made short work of Romania. A comfortable 2-0 win, with Harry Kane doing what Harry Kane does best, had English fans daring to dream once again. But we’ve been here before, haven’t we?
Germany’s clash with Croatia was a different story altogether. A pulsating match that ebbed and flowed like a raging river, eventually settled in extra time. When Joshua Kimmich slotted home the winner in the 118th minute, the relief in the stadium was palpable. The hosts had survived – just – but questions were being asked about their ability to go all the way.
But for pure, unadulterated drama, nothing beat France’s clash with Denmark. The Danes, perhaps still riding the emotional wave from their group stage heroics, raced into a shock 2-0 lead. The French looked shellshocked, their dreams of glory evaporating before their eyes. Enter Kylian Mbappé. In a 20-minute spell that will go down in European Championship folklore, the PSG superstar turned the game on its head. Two goals and an assist later, France had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It was a performance that had everyone asking – is there anything this kid can’t do?
The quarterfinals brought more drama, more heartbreak, and more moments of magic. Kevin De Bruyne’s rocket against Portugal will be replayed for years to come. Picking up the ball 30 yards from goal, the Manchester City maestro unleashed a thunderbolt that nearly took the net off. Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa was left grasping at thin air, a mere spectator like the rest of us. It was the only goal of the game, but what a goal it was!
Spain and Germany’s clash was a tactical chess match that went all the way to penalties. When Unai Simón saved Germany’s final spot-kick, the Spanish bench erupted. The Germans, meanwhile, were left to wonder what might have been. Their talented young team had promised so much, but once again, they fell short when it really mattered.
England’s revenge mission against Italy was another nail-biter. The ghosts of the Euro 2020 final loomed large over Wembley, but this time, the Three Lions held their nerve. Jordan Pickford’s save from Jorginho in the shootout exorcised those demons in spectacular fashion. The roar that erupted when Bukayo Saka (yes, the same Bukayo Saka who missed in 2021) slotted home the winning penalty nearly took the roof off the stadium. Football, bloody hell!
France’s quarterfinal against Turkey was a showcase of attacking talent. In a game that flowed from end to end like a basketball match, it was Les Bleus who eventually came out on top. Mbappé was once again the star of the show, but Antoine Griezmann’s performance was a reminder of his enduring class. His chipped finish for France’s third goal was as delicate as a snowflake – the perfect counterpoint to the power and pace on display elsewhere.
Semifinal Spectacles: The Final Four Deliver
And so we came to the semifinals. Four teams, three games away from glory. The tension was palpable, the stakes enormous. But if the players were feeling the pressure, they certainly didn’t show it.
Spain and Belgium served up a classic that will be talked about for years to come. It was a clash of styles – Spain’s tiki-taka possession game against Belgium’s rapid counter-attacks. For 89 minutes, the two teams traded blows like heavyweight boxers. Ferran Torres had given Spain the lead with a goal of breathtaking simplicity, the culmination of a 27-pass move that had the Belgium defense chasing shadows. But the Red Devils weren’t done. Romelu Lukaku, a man mountain of a striker, bullied his way through the Spanish defense to equalize.
Just when we were all settling in for extra time, young Pedri popped up with a volley sweeter than your grandma’s apple pie. The Spanish fans in the stadium went absolutely bonkers – can’t blame them! It was a coming-of-age performance from the Barcelona midfielder, a display that had people mentioning him in the same breath as the great Andres Iniesta. High praise indeed, but on this evidence, not undeserved.
The other semifinal pitched England against France in a battle of the old enemies. The match lived up to its billing and then some. Harry Kane drew first blood for England, a typically clinical finish from the Tottenham man. But France, as they had done all tournament, found a response. Griezmann’s equalizer was a thing of beauty, a curling effort that left Pickford clutching at thin air.
The second half was end-to-end stuff, with both teams creating chances. Pickford’s fingertip save to deny Mbappé was world-class, a reminder of why he’s England’s undisputed number one. But just as the game seemed destined for extra time, Mbappé produced a moment of magic that will be forever etched in French football history.
Picking up the ball on the halfway line, he set off on a run that had England defenders backpedaling in panic. A drop of the shoulder sent John Stones the wrong way, a burst of acceleration took him past Harry Maguire, and suddenly he was one-on-one with Pickford. The finish, when it came, was never in doubt. As the ball nestled in the bottom corner, French fans erupted in joy, while England’s dreams of ending their long wait for a trophy were once again shattered.
The Final: A Fitting Climax to a Fantastic Tournament
And so we came to the final. Spain vs France, in Berlin’s iconic Olympiastadion. A fitting stage for what promised to be an epic encounter.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric. A sea of red and blue, flags waving, voices raised in song. This was what football was all about.
Spain, true to form, started brightly. Their possession game had served them well throughout the tournament, and they clearly weren’t about to change now. For the first twenty minutes, France could barely get a touch of the ball. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse.
The pressure told in the 23rd minute. A flowing move, involving no fewer than 18 passes, cut through the French defense like a hot knife through butter. When the ball finally reached Mikel Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad man made no mistake, slotting home to give Spain the lead. The Spanish fans erupted, sensing that this could be their night.
But if we’ve learned anything from this French team, it’s that they’re never beaten. Slowly but surely, they worked their way back into the game. Mbappé, quiet by his standards in the first half, began to find pockets of space. Griezmann’s movement was causing problems for the Spanish defense.
The equalizer, when it came, was a thing of beauty. Paul Pogba, much maligned but undeniably talented, split the Spanish defense with a pass of unerring accuracy. Griezmann, timing his run to perfection, found himself one-on-one with Unai Simón. The finish was clinical, sending the French fans into raptures.
From that point on, it was anybody’s game. Both teams had chances. Pedri, Spain’s young star, saw a long-range effort crash back off the crossbar. At the other end, Simón produced a save of the highest quality to deny Olivier Giroud.
As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, legs began to tire. The weight of expectation, the pressure of the occasion, it was all beginning to tell. But great players produce great moments when it matters most, and Kylian Mbappé is undoubtedly a great player.
With just three minutes left on the clock, he received the ball on the left wing. What followed was a moment of individual brilliance that will be replayed for years to come. A stepover took him past one defender, a burst of pace took him past another. Cutting inside onto his right foot, he shaped to shoot. The Spanish defense, anticipating the danger, moved to block. But Mbappé had other ideas. A subtle shift of weight, a drop of the shoulder, and suddenly he was on his left foot. The shot, when it came, was unstoppable. Curling away from Simón’s despairing dive, it nestled in the top corner.
The stadium erupted. French players piled onto Mbappé, burying him under a mountain of blue shirts. On the touchline, Didier Deschamps, normally so composed, was leaping like a man possessed.
Spain threw everything forward in the dying minutes. Simón, the goalkeeper, even came up for a corner in stoppage time. But it was to no avail. When the final whistle blew, it was France who were crowned champions of Europe.
The scenes at the final whistle were a mixture of jubilation and heartbreak. French players sank to their knees, overcome with emotion. The Spanish, so close yet so far, consoled each other even as tears flowed freely.
As Hugo Lloris lifted the trophy into the Berlin night sky, fireworks illuminating the stadium, it was hard not to reflect on what a tournament it had been. From the shocks of the group stage to the drama of the knockout rounds, Euro 2024 had delivered on every level.
Stars of the Show
While Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot with seven goals, other players left their mark on the tournament. Spain’s Pedri earned the Young Player award, his performances belying his tender years. Kevin De Bruyne, despite Belgium’s semifinal exit, showcased why he’s considered one of the best midfielders in the world.
Harry Kane led from the front for England, his goals and leadership so nearly taking them all the way. Cristiano Ronaldo, written off by many before the tournament, proved there’s life in the old dog yet. His free-kick against the Netherlands was a reminder of his enduring class.
In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma was a bright spot in Italy’s otherwise disappointing title defense. His point-blank save from Marko Arnautovic in the Round of 16 was a moment of pure instinct and athleticism.
Looking to the Future
As the dust settles on Euro 2024, thoughts inevitably turn to what comes next. France’s victory cements their status as Europe’s dominant force, but the emergence of young talents across the continent suggests the future of European football is bright and fiercely competitive.
Spain’s blend of youth and experience bodes well for their future prospects. England, so close once again, will be hoping this latest heartbreak fuels them to go one better next time. Germany, disappointing on home soil, will be looking to rebuild and recapture their former glories.
But for now, it’s time to savor the memories of a truly spectacular tournament. The goals, the saves, the drama – Euro 2024 had it all. From Mbappé’s magic to Pedri’s coming-of-age performance, from De Bruyne’s wondergoal to the goalkeeping heroics, we’ve been treated to a feast of football that’ll keep us full until the next major tournament.
As we bid farewell to Euro 2024, one thing’s for sure – it’s reminded us all why we fell in love with football in the first place. The passion, the skill, the sheer unpredictability of it all. In an increasingly divided world, football once again proved its power to unite, to inspire, to bring joy to millions.
The beautiful game, indeed. Roll on World Cup 2026!
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