Euro 2024 Highlights: Spain's Victory, Yamal Shines Amidst France And Ronaldo's Struggles

Spain triumphed in the Euro 2024 final, defeating England 2-1 in Berlin. Mikel Oyarzabal netted the decisive goal, securing Spain's fourth Euro title. Under Luis de la Fuente’s guidance, Spain evolved from a possession-heavy style to incorporating direct play, a significant shift from their 2022 World Cup performance.

Notable players like Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, and Dani Olmo were instrumental in Spain's success. Olmo shared the Golden Boot with three goals. The defense also excelled, with Marc Cucurella's performances validating his selection over Alejandro Grimaldo.

Lamine Yamal stood out remarkably. At just 17, the Barcelona winger became the youngest player to feature and score in a Euros or World Cup final, surpassing Pele's 1958 record. Yamal scored a crucial equalizer against France and provided four assists, setting a new European Championship record.

Germany’s Niclas Fullkrug made a significant impact as a substitute, scoring vital goals and achieving the best minutes-per-goal ratio among multi-goal scorers in the tournament. Georgia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili also shone despite conceding eight goals; he prevented 4.67 goals according to Opta’s xGoT model with 30 crucial saves.

Turkey showcased their potential under Vincenzo Montella. Young talents like Kenan Yildiz and Arda Guler impressed, with Guler becoming one of the few teenagers to score and assist in a single Euros. Despite being eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, Turkey earned praise for their bold playing style.

Disappointments and Underperformances

France fell short of expectations under Didier Deschamps. They struggled to score until the semi-finals, relying on own goals and penalties. Kylian Mbappe’s injury in the opening game disrupted their rhythm, leading to an eventual loss to Spain despite a high expected goals (xG) statistic.

Italy had a disappointing campaign while defending their title, barely advancing past the group stage before losing to Switzerland in the last 16. Cristiano Ronaldo also had an underwhelming tournament, failing to score despite numerous opportunities, likely marking his final Euros appearance.

England's Harry Kane shared the Golden Boot but had minimal impact in crucial matches. Scotland and Belgium both underperformed significantly; Scotland managed only 17 shots with the lowest xG in the competition, while Romelu Lukaku’s inability to score led to Belgium’s early exit.

This victory further solidifies Spain's footballing legacy as they continue to build on their rich history of success in international tournaments.