When football fanatics reflect on the 2024 European Championships, they may look back with a palpable sense of disappointment, as the tournament as a whole did not truly live up to the hype.
Whether it was players simply teetering on the edge of burnout after an unforgiving domestic campaign, managers matching one another tactic-for-tactic or a combination of factors, several teams and indeed performers failed to set the continent alight.
Germany's 5-1 crushing of Scotland in the curtain-raiser may have provided some false hope for what was to come later in the competition, but in the end, the best team won, as Spain edged out two-time runners-up England 2-1 in the Berlin final to be crowned kings of Europe for a record fourth time.
From over 600 players to don their nation's colours at Euro 2024, Sports Mole whittles them down to an 11-man Team of the Tournament, which some honourable mentions along the way.
GOALKEEPER: GIORGI MAMARDASHVILI
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In a league of his own when it comes to saves made at Euro 2024, beleaguered Georgia number one Giorgi Mamardashvili stopped an incredible 30 shots that came his way at Euro 2024, 13 more than joint second-placed goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Bart Verbruggen in that regard.
While the Valencia goalkeeper's efforts were only good enough for one clean sheet, it was against none other than 2016 winners Portugal, and he played a critical role in Georgia's shock last-16 qualification. Let us not forget that this was the Crusaders' major tournament debut too.
Honourable mentions: Mike Maignan (France), Jordan Pickford (England), Mert Gunok (Turkey)
RIGHT-BACK: JULES KOUNDE
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Formerly earning plaudits for his performances as a central defender while at Sevilla, Jules Kounde has never truly settled on the right-hand side in a Barcelona T-shirt, but Didier Deschamps's faith in the 25-year-old was well and truly justified at Euro 2024.
Only Declan Rice made and won more tackles than Kounde, who nullified Jeremy Doku during the last-16 win over Belgium and helped France keep a terrific four clean sheets at the tournament, while shipping a paltry three goals in total.
Honourable mentions: Dani Carvajal (Spain), Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Mert Muldur (Turkey)
CENTRE-BACKS: WILLIAM SALIBA AND MARC GUEHI
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Two Premier League standouts who may not have even anticipated starting at Euro 2024 a few months back, William Saliba and Marc Guehi vindicated their manager's selections and then some.
The former has never been a favourite of Deschamps, but he barely put a foot wrong in Germany - akin to his steadfast Arsenal displays - and his pass completion rate of 96.1% was the best out of any player in the tournament. Defending looks effortless when it is done by Saliba.
Meanwhile, many an England fan reacted with dismay when Harry Maguire was ruled out of the tournament, but Guehi stepped into the Manchester United man's shoes expertly and was by far and away one of the Three Lions' best players at the competition.
The Crystal Palace defender made the joint-second most blocks in the whole competition, while also providing the most pivotal of assists, flicking the ball on for Jude Bellingham's Slovakia spectacular in the last 16.
Honourable mentions: Antonio Rudiger (Germany), Aymeric Laporte (Spain), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Jaka Bijol (Slovenia), Pepe (Portugal)
LEFT-BACK: MARC CUCURELLA
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Chelsea's Marc Cucurella was not even close to being the best Spanish left-back in domestic competition in 2023-24 - that honour went to Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo - and the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion man was singled out as a possible weak link before the tournament began.
Gary Neville in particular was made to eat his words by 10pm on July 14, though, as Cucurella capped off a brilliant individual tournament with a crisp assist for Mikel Oyarzabal's winner in the final.
Honourable mentions: Ferdi Kadioglu (Turkey), Theo Hernandez (France), Nuno Mendes (Portugal)
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: RODRI AND FABIAN RUIZ
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Carrying on the Spanish legacy of producing the classiest engine room enforcers Europe has to offer - see Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso - two midfield metronomes at Luis de la Fuente's disposal were arguably the two finest performers of the whole tournament.
While Rodri was cruelly forced off after just 45 minutes in the final, he still made his presence felt in Berlin - especially defensively - and was deservedly named the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament, while also chipping in with a goal against Georgia in the last 16. Ballon d'Or pending?
Paris Saint-Germain lynchpin Fabian Ruiz may not have hit the same heights as his compatriot for the Ligue 1 champions, but the 28-year-old also made the Roja midfield tick throughout the Euros, contributing two goals of his own in addition to two assists.
No player recorded more goal-creating actions than Ruiz at the competition - five, level with compatriot Dani Olmo - and the PSG star was central to so many of Spain's successful attacking sequences.
Honourable mentions: Toni Kroos (Germany), N'Golo Kante (France), Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)
RIGHT WING: LAMINE YAMAL
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While some may celebrate turning 17 with their first driving lesson, Barcelona phenom Lamine Yamal commemorated his birthday with a first major tournament medal around his neck and a Best Young Player at Euro 2024 trophy.
Little more needs to be said about the player who provided the most assists at the tournament (four) while also becoming the youngest scorer in the history of the Euros with an absolute scorcher against France in the semi-finals. If we are lucky, we may be witnessing Yamal greatness for another two decades to come.
Honourable mentions: Bukayo Saka (England), Florian Wirtz (Germany), Ivan Schranz (Slovakia)
ATTACKING MIDFIELD: DANI OLMO
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Taking home one-sixth of the Golden Boot with a terrific three goals to his name, Dani Olmo had been proving his worth as a super sub even before Pedri's tournament-ending injury, which allowed the RB Leipzig man to strut his stuff from the first whistle in the semi-finals and final.
What followed were two title-winning contributions from Olmo, whose delightful touch and deflected finish saw off the French, before he conjured up perhaps the most extraordinary defensive moment of them all, heading Guehi's effort off the line with 90 minutes gone in the final. Olmo celebrated that clearance as if he had scored himself, and with good reason too.
Honourable mentions: Xavi Simons (Netherlands), Jamal Musiala (Germany), Arda Guler (Turkey)
LEFT WING: NICO WILLIAMS
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The second of two Spanish wing wizards to light up stadiums across Germany this summer, 22-year-old Nico Williams only enjoyed a small portion of the spotlight that he shared with Yamal, but the brilliance of the Athletic Bilbao starlet still shone incredibly bright.
Always a vivacious force on the left-hand side, Williams ended the competition with two goals - including an incredibly composed opener in the final - and one assist, leading to a surfeit of top European clubs queuing up to offer him lucrative contracts.
Honourable mentions: Lukas Haraslin (Slovakia)
CENTRE FORWARD: CODY GAKPO
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Perhaps a controversial choice, especially as Cody Gakpo thrived on the left of the Netherlands' system, but there was simply no leaving out the scintillating Spanish trio behind him.
As a result, the Liverpool man is shoe-horned into our number nine slot - as he has been on occasion at Anfield - thanks to another standout major tournament campaign, where he was one of six players to take a chunk of the Golden Boot with three efforts to his name.
Furthermore, all of Gakpo's strikes came from open play, and the ex-PSV Eindhoven man also ranked in the top 10 of players for chances created, showcasing just what he is capable in the right system and position.
Honourable mentions: Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Niclas Fullkrug (Germany)
SPORTS MOLE'S EURO 2024 TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
Sports Mole's Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Kounde, Saliba, Guehi, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Gakpo
Ben Knapton
