It’s true what they say about time flying when you’re having fun, it feels like only yesterday Scotland were being thrashed by Germany in the tournament opener.
Since then, there’s been much more nail-biting clashes, superb saves and breath-taking goals. It was hard to narrow this down but as we build up to the final, we took a look back at the top 10 moments so far.
10. We’re still thinking about Group E
Before a tournament begins, you can guess who might go through from each group and usually there is a clear favourite as to who will win that group.
Group E was no different, it felt like a sure thing that Belgium would come out on top with the other three battling it out for the remaining qualification spots but the group turned out to be full of surprises.
Not only did Belgium fail to win the group, all four teams finished on four points making it the first European Championships where all teams in a group had the same amount of points. Unfortunately it was Ukraine who missed out on goal difference.
9. The Dutch fans dancing
There’s been some great fan moments throughout this tournament. Thankfully there’s been little trouble throughout and the banter displayed on cardboard signs between the sets of supporters has had us howling at times.
I’ve heard “Our keeper is better than yours” at football matches before but fans got creative for the Euros with signs that read: “Fondue better than Goulash” and “Alps better than Loch Ness”. We even chuckled when the Swiss called England’s Three Lions, three kittens!
But the fans we have loved watching the most were the Dutch supporters. Links Rechts by Snollebollekes became the unofficial anthem of the Netherlands and videos of thousands of fans dancing along to the song’s simple instructions have gone viral. It boosted their team too who did their own version on the pitch after beating Turkey.
8. The fastest goal in Euros history
Albania shocked Europe when they created history against reigning European Champions Italy in the group stages of the tournament.
Just 22 seconds in, Nedim Bajrami intercepted a throw-in from Federico Dimarco and fired the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Italy came back into the game scoring twice to win the game but Bajrami will always have a place in the record books after scoring the fastest goal in Euros history.
7. Vitinha ‘books’ Michael Oliver
Portugal took on France in the quarter-final of Euro 2024 and although it didn’t quite end the way Portugal’s Vitinha would have liked, he probably got some satisfaction from being able to get his own back on referee Michael Oliver.
When Oliver’s yellow card fell out of his pocket, the Portuguese midfielder retrieved it for him, cheekily holding it up in front of him as he handed it back.
The English officials took some heat for their slow VAR reviews during the tournament and sometimes questionable decisions so Vitinha just did what the rest of us had always dreamed of doing.
6. Diogo Costa saves three penalties
Though Portugal’s star-man Cristiano Ronaldo failed to impress, at the other end of the pitch, his teammate Diogo Costa was proving to be a hero for them.
In their round-of-16 game against Slovenia, the goalkeeper saved three penalties in a row to set up a quarter-final tie with France.
5. Georgia’s energetic debut
Georgia threw street parties when they qualified for Euro 2024, their first major tournament. Everyone loves cheering for the underdog and this group of players gave you reasons to get excited.
Finding themselves in a group alongside Turkey, Czech Republic and Portugal, it’s fair to say they didn’t expect to go very far but after drawing 1-1 with Czech Republic they headed into their final group game against Portugal with a glimmer of hope.
To everyone’s surprise, they beat Roberto Martinez’s men 2-0 to progress to the knock out stages of the tournament, sparking wild celebrations.
4. Ronaldo’s reaction to young pitch invader
We shouldn’t encourage pitch invaders, but it was a wholesome moment when one young boy made his way onto the pitch in Portugal’s game against Turkey to take a selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whilst many players may have been frustrated by the stoppage in play, Ronaldo put his arm round the 10-year-old and smiled for the camera as he snapped the selfie. The young lad was reportedly let off with a warning by UEFA.
3. Mert Gunok’s Gordon Banks moment
Turkey were clinging on 2-1 in their last-16 match against Austria when in the 94th minute Christoph Baumgartner rose to meet Alexander Prass’ cross. He got a good connection and headed it goalwards which looked certain to nestle in the corner.
However, Mert Gunok leapt at full stretch tipped the ball past the post in what was certainly the save of the tournament but potentially one the greatest saves in football history.
Many are likening the magnificent save to that of England’s Gordon Banks save against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup.
2. The wonderkid’s wonder strike
Lamine Yamal captured the world’s attention when he became the youngest player to start at a European Championships at the age of 16 years 338 days.
He went on to become the youngest player to provide an assist at the Euros as he set up Dani Carvajal’s goal in Spain’s opening game against Croatia but everyone was willing him to score.
It took until their semi-final game against France for the young winger to get his first Euros goal but it was well worth the wait! His curling strike from outside the penalty area found the top corner as he once again wrote his name in the footballing record books.
1. Bellingham’s bicycle kick
Well, England have been labelled boring and jammy throughout this tournament as they found themselves on the brink of elimination several times throughout the knock out stages.
However, there was nothing boring or jammy about Jude Bellingham’s 95th minute bicycle kick goal which took their last-16 game against Slovakia to extra-time.
It’s being described as the moment that defined the tournament for England and should they go on and win the final against Spain, it will certainly be the remembered as one of the greatest goals ever scored by an England player.
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