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4 months ago
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Euro 2024 came to a close on Sunday evening, with the tournament ending in heartbreak for England in their defeat by Spain in the final.
Nico Williams' goal was enough for Spain to get the ball rolling, and England fell short in their chance to put things right following the Euro 2020 loss at Wembley through Mikel Oyarzabal.
It was a month of blood, sweat, tears and everything inbetween for fans during the tournament, which started a month ago with Germany getting the better of Scotland.
Now, Spain are European champions and England are forced to go back to the drawing board and go again at the World Cup in two years.
Here, Mail Sport's writers pick their highs and lows from the competition in Germany.
Euro 2024 came to an end on Sunday night, with England again falling short in the final
Ian Herbert
My magic moment
Beautiful Georgia, the lowest-ranked side in the tournament, leading Spain for 21 minutes in Cologne in the last 16. The reaction to the goal from tens of thousands of delirious Georgians, who'd made the stadium a sea of red and white, almost blew the roof off the place. Sublime.
Who I would happily go on holiday with this summer
Austria boss Ralf Rangnick. He takes life a bit too seriously — so we'd get on — and a week in Corfu would give us time to unpack the finer points of the high press, beating the Netherlands, Cristiano Ronaldo's fit of pique at having to be managed by him at Manchester United. And the best place to buy a Tyrolean hat.
Who I would least like to get stuck in a lift with
Scotland manager Steve Clarke. The most unremittingly miserable man at the tournament who somehow forgot that taking your nation to a Euros is supposed to be a golden summer of your career. Cheer up, Steve, it might never happen!
My goal of the tournament
Dani Olmo's opener against Germany in the quarter-final, which was absolute perfection in its creation. Lamine Yamal somehow sensing that Olmo would be arriving at the edge of the box having barely cast a glance, then rolling the ball flat across the grass into his path. And such a sweet strike into the corner.
My laugh out loud moment
The Belgium fans belting out 'Please don't take me home!' as their team played France. They picked it up from Wales fans at Euro 2016.
What I would change for the next Euros
Crack down harder on 'simulation', or whatever word you choose for diving around as if you've broken your leg when there's been the slightest contact. These endless theatrics are tedious. It's called cheating.
Ian Herbert picked out Ralf Rangnick as someone he would happily go on holiday with
He'd least like to be stuck in a lift with 'unremittingly miserable' Scotland boss Steve Clarke
Ian Ladyman
My magic moment
Ollie Watkins' goal against the Netherlands. Not so much for what it meant but just because, sitting in the press box with my colleagues, none of us even flinched. In the space of four weeks in Germany, we had grown used to England doing extraordinary things. Jude Bellingham in Gelsenkirchen. Bukayo Saka in Dusseldorf. Watkins in Dortmund. It's some hat-trick.
Who I would happily go on holiday with this summer
Steve Clarke — well the Scotland manager has had a much longer holiday than everybody else. Come on, it's just a joke…
Who I would least like to get stuck in a lift with
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann. Two minutes without a mirror to look in? Nobody likes to see a grown man panic.
My goal of the tournament
After 97 minutes of Croatia's group game with Italy, the Balkan nation were leading 1-0 and heading into the next stage. But a delicious strike from Mattia Zaccagni brought Italy level and sent Luka Modric and Co home. It was tournament football in a nutshell.
Ian Ladyman picked out Ollie Wakins' late winner against Netherlands as his magic moment
My laugh out loud moment
The guard on the platform at Munich station as I prepared to take my first rail journey to Gelsenkirchen.
'Is my train on time?'
'That's not the best question.'
'Oh?'
'It's better to ask if your train exists…'
(It didn't.)
What I would change for the next Euros
It's simple. The cost. Of everything. Tickets, transport, hotels. Euro 2028 will be in the UK and Ireland and we have a chance to do it better. This tournament has been awash with fans following their teams around Germany and it will be the same in four years. So let's stop taking them for granted and treat them properly.
He picked Mattia Zaccagni's late Italy goal against Croatia as his goal of the tournament
Craig Hope
My magic moment
The semi-final against the Netherlands. One Night in Dortmund. Big game. Big occasion. Big stadium. Big teams. Big players. It did not disappoint and had the most glorious climax. Watkins' goal is one of the most iconic in England's history.
Who I would happily go on holiday with this summer
Willy Sagnol. I had the pleasure of speaking to the Georgia boss on the phone ahead of their last-16 tie with Spain, and what a lovely chap he was. His English is like that of a country squire. Even when describing his use of the word 't***' — to hit back at critics — it was all rather charming.
Who I would least like to get stuck in a lift with
Jude Bellingham. He doesn't talk to the written press, sadly. It would just be a bit awkward. And quiet.
Goal of the tournament
Bellingham's overhead kick. How can it not be? The significance of the goal increased with each passing round. It would be a wonderful goal, anyway, but for it to change the course of a country's footballing destiny makes it one of the greatest of all time, never mind this tournament.
My laugh out loud moment
I was in my local craft ale bar one evening chatting with the owner, an East German, and his friend, a West German. I asked if there was still any division or a difference in identity between East and West. The West German said: 'No, not at all, we are all one now.' To which the East German, laced with sarcasm, replied: 'It is good that you have answered for me.' They still retain their own identity in the east, it would appear.
What I would change for the next Euros
Make sure the British rail network works. The German equivalent has been an embarrassment for the country. I will never forget the meaning of verzogerung (delay).
Craig Hope wrote that it would be 'a bit awkward' to be stuck in a lift with Jude Bellingham
The midfielder's late overhead kick against Slovakia, however, was his goal of the tournament
Matt Barlow
My magic moment
The assault on the senses that was Turkey 3 Georgia 1. Biblical downpour, breathless football, spectacular goals, relentless din, tricky spellings. Ultimate atmosphere deep into the Dortmund night with a blaring cacophony of car horns.
Who I would happily go on holiday with this summer
Gareth Southgate. Nothing left to chance. Travel insurance, check. Airport parking, check. Lightweight summer knitwear, check. Flight numbers and time differences printed on water bottles. Pickle juice chasers. What fun.
Who I would least like to get stuck in a lift with
Cristiano Ronaldo. Melodramatic tutting and sighing. Stamping feet. Exaggerated gestures of innocence and profound disappointment. An angry glare in search of someone to blame. Probably some tears. And that's just me!
Matt Barlow picked Cristiano Ronaldo (R) as the player he'd least like to be stuck in a lift with
Goal of the tournament
Yamal against France in the semis. Not simply a wonderful curling strike from distance at a vital moment in a huge game, but one of instantly iconic status to confirm the arrival of a special talent on the international stage.
My laugh out loud moment
John McGinn's Bavarian jig. Nowhere but down from there for Scotland, unfortunately.
What I would change for the next Euros
I'd eat fewer sausages, drink less beer and probably not pack so many jumpers. Three things there.
Lamine Yamal's goal against France in the semi-final was his goal of the tournament
Sami Mokbel
My magic moment
There's been a few. The first time trying the chicken teriyaki at the Japanese restaurant near our base in Erfurt. Or squarely facing up to the risk of explaining to the barber how I wanted my hair despite my lack of German and his lack of English (my colleague Craig Hope refused to take that risk and looks like he's been dragged through a hedge backwards as a result).
But it has to be England's penalty shootout win over Switzerland. Five lads of black heritage executing for their country. Magic.
The person I'd happily go on holiday with this summer
Eberechi Eze. I enjoyed his company here in Germany. Cool guy, spoke well and all with a smile. The fact he plays for Crystal Palace has nothing to do with it, of course…
Who I would least like to get stuck in a lift with
Gareth Southgate. The guy is so engaging that I'd never let him out and we'd just end up going up and down in the elevator.
Sami Mokbel wouldn't like to be stuck in a lift with Gareth Southgate - but for positive reasons
Goal of the tournament
Easy. Bellingham's overhead kick. The execution. The significance. A proper off-your-seat moment. Watkins' semi-final goal was iconic and euphoric in equal measure. But the manner of Bellingham's goal. Wow.
My laugh out loud moment
The notion of German efficiency. An outdated concept. Anyone who has had to use the Deutsche Bahn railway system during the tournament will concur. I'll never moan again about those 12-minute delays back in Blighty.
What I would change for the next Euros
To work out a format that adds greater jeopardy to the group stage. It can't be right that just one victory virtually sees you through to the next round.
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