It was a great European Championship, with many highs as well as some lows. Italy eventually crowned themselves European champions at the expense of England. Voetbalzone lists 25 of the most striking moments of the European Championship.
Andrea Bocelli was present at the opening ceremony of the European Championship, prior to the opening game between the later champions Italy and Turkey.
Danish captain Simon Kjaer already became the hero of this European Championship in the first group match due to his fantastic actions in the heart failure of teammate Christian Eriksen. He immediately applied first aid, had the team form a circle around the midfielder and the medical staff and then comforted Eriksen’s distraught girlfriend, whom he counts among his best friends. Eriksen survived partly thanks to Kjaer and is now making amends under the circumstances.
Denzel Dumfries was one of the few bright spots at the the Dutch squad at the European Championship. The right back was responsible for the winning goal shortly before the opening game with Ukraine (3-2).
There was quite a bit of hilarity about King Willem-Alexander’s dance after Denzel Dumfries’ winning goal during the Dutch’s opening match with Ukraine (3-2).
Cristiano Ronaldo tied the score with Ali Daei in terms of goals (109) during the European Championship. In addition, the Portuguese superstar is the player with the most goals at European Championships and World Cups (20).
Patrik Schick scored against Scotland (0-2) with a fabulous lob from the halfway line. Scottish goalkeeper David Marshall had no chance at all on the Czech striker’s shot.
The Puskas ArenA in Budapest was packed during the European Championship. More than 60,000 spectators saw the Dutch national team go down in the eighth final against the Czech Republic (0-2). Finally a full stadium again!
Goran Pandev was handed a shirt from Georginio Wijnaldum with the total number of international matches (122) prior to the group match between North Macedonia and the the Dutch (0-3). The 37-year-old attacker helped his team to European Championship participation for the first time, scored the first goal and now says goodbye as the record international and top scorer for his country.
Robin Gosens was one of the few bright spots in the disappointing Germany, which was already eliminated in the eighth final. The wingback made a big impression with his unparalleled performance against Portugal (2-4 victory).
Leon Goretzka celebrated the liberating goal against Hungary (2-2) by making a heart towards the Hungarian fans. The Germany midfielder made a statement against the controversial anti-gay law in Hungary.
Cristiano Ronaldo pushed the bottles of Coca-Cola away and emphasized that water was much better. A short time later, Paul Pogba, a practicing Muslim, made sure that a bottle of Heineken was no longer visible.
Russian national coach Stanislav Cherchesov somewhat mocked Cristiano Ronaldo by demonstratively drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola during the press conference.
Budapest colored the the Dutch squad in the eighth final before the game against the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, it was not enough to prevent the early elimination at the European Championship, but the the Dutch march was as beautiful as ever.
Finland’s supporters were proud as a peacock to be present at the European Championship for the first time and could have cheered when their country won against Denmark, but out of respect for Christian Eriksen – who took it to his heart in that game – they decided to refrain from cheering. The party therefore followed with the defeats against Russia and Belgium. The group stage was therefore the final station, but the proud feeling was no less.
Álvaro Morata and his family received death threats after the group stage over the Spanish striker’s criticism towards supporters. The attacker took sporting revenge in the eighth final against Croatia (3-5 win) by signing the crucial 3-4 in extra time.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer was the great hero of Switzerland in the eighth final against reigning world champion France (3-3) by blocking the decisive penalty from Kylian Mbappé. He signed for the stunt of the tournament, together with the brave Swiss who eventually went down combatively against Spain in the quarterfinals.
Pedri made a big impression on Spain’s midfield during the European Championship. The only eighteen-year-old top talent from Barcelona was even compared to Andrés Iniesta by national coach Luis Enrique. After the tournament, he was named Best Young Player of Euro 2020.
There was applause for Leonardo Spinazzola, who was badly injured in the quarterfinal match between Belgium and Italy (1-2) and went off the field on a stretcher. Until the quarter-finals, the Italian back was one of the best players of the European Championship, which was also appreciated by the also clapping fans of the Belgians.
There were tears at Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg after Denmark reached the semi-finals of the European Championship at the expense of the Czech Republic (1-2). The emotions had everything to do with the heart failure of his good friend Christian Eriksen in the opening game against Finland.
Giorgio Chiellini clearly played mind games towards Jordi Alba before the penalty shootout between Italy and Spain. It seemed to help, because the Italians eventually managed to reach the final of the European Championship.
Despair at Manuel Locatelli after his missed penalty against Spain. The midfielder was then comforted by his captain Giorgio Chiellini throughout the penalty shootout.
Björn Kuipers experienced the peak of his career on Sunday evening when he whistled the European Championship final at Wembley. A day later, the top arbitrator was appointed as a national knight by the KNVB.
Leonardo Spinazzola appeared on the Wembley field after the European Championship final, smiling. The unlucky one was given the honor of being the first player to receive the winner’s medal from his Italian teammates. The proof of the team spirit of the Italian team.
Bukayo Saka is inconsolable after his missed penalty, which finally brought England’s European dream to an end. National coach Gareth Southgate took extensive time afterwards to support him and his club Arsenal also stood up for the teenager criticized on social media. “Your personality, your character and your guts make you a hero,” the club concluded about the 19-year-old who has to carry the fate of the nation on his shoulders.
Great party in the capital Rome, among other things, after Italy managed to win the European title via penalties. The team is now 34 games unbeaten in a row and is approaching a world record. Only Spain and Brazil have ever managed to make it to 35 caps in a row without defeat and that certainly does not seem impossible for the strongest team in this European championship.