The UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final between Spain and France saw Spain emerge victorious, with forward Lamine Yamal being the star of the tournament. Yamal, who made history as the youngest-ever scorer at a men’s European Championship at just 17 years old, scored a stunning goal in the semifinals. Other young talents that shone in the tournament include 21-year-old German players Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, as well as Xavi Simons of the Netherlands.
However, the tournament also had its share of misfiring superstars, with big names like Cristiano Ronaldo failing to make an impact. Ronaldo, who could have become the oldest-ever scorer in the European Championship at 39, finished the tournament without scoring any goals. Kylian Mbappé’s tournament was marred by a broken nose and France’s loss in the semifinals, while Harry Kane and Kevin de Bruyne also struggled to shine.
Fans at Euro 2024 made their presence known with colorful fan marches to the stadiums, enhancing the atmosphere in the host cities. Despite a few minor clashes involving fans from different countries, the overall atmosphere was good-natured. However, transportation issues plagued the tournament, with overloaded trains causing problems for fans and even the Dutch team having to arrange a last-minute charter flight to a game.
Controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was also a talking point at Euro 2024, with several crucial calls overshadowing key games. Coaches and players expressed their frustration with VAR, with some arguing that it was disrupting the flow of the game. VAR decisions, including disallowed goals and penalty calls, sparked debates among fans and experts alike.
Despite the presence of smaller soccer nations in the tournament, there were no easy opponents at Euro 2024. No team lost all its games, a rare occurrence in the history of the European Championship. Some smaller teams, such as Georgia and Albania, put up a strong fight against bigger opponents, with Georgia even beating Portugal in a fearless debut campaign. Slovenia also impressed, remaining unbeaten in regular play before being eliminated in a penalty shootout.
