This summer’s European Championship has already been one to remember, providing so many moments that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
With the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final still to come, there’s a lot of time left for yet more to happen, but the group stages and the first knockout round have already made an impression. From the terrifying scare brought on by Christian Eriksen’s collapse to the high of seeing him recover, not much that has happened this summer will be brushed aside as forgettable.
Not even the champions can win
Portugal and France both came into the summer as champions – of Europe and the world, respectively – but both have already crashed out at the first knockout round. Portugal couldn’t overcome Belgium, while France were sent packing by Switzerland on penalties despite leading 3-1 late on.
Spain are exciting again
La Roja faced a lot of criticism early on and really struggled to score, but then hit five against Slovakia and five more against Croatia after extra time. Having disappointed at the last European Championship in France and at the World Cups in Russia and Brazil, it’s about time that Spain looked promising again.
The European Championship’s longest-range goal
Patrik Schick wrote history in his Euro 2020 bow, scoring a phenomenal strike from 45 metres and 44 centimetres against Scotland. There have been a number of great goals this summer, but the Czech forward’s might just have been the pick of the bunch.
Fans’ return
After over a year of empty, lonely and lifeless stadiums, football is back in the hands of fans. Copenhagen and the Puskas Arena have best shown how much more fun football is with full stands.
Goals guaranteed
Two of the European Championship’s highest-scoring days have come this summer, the 14 scored on Monday being the most recent. In fact, there have already been more goals this summer than in the entirety of Euro 2016. In 42 games there have been 118 goals and only two 0-0s, those being Spain against Sweden and England against Scotland.
More own goals than ever
Merih Demiral scored into his own goal on the opening night and there have already been nine own goals. More than ever, teams are finding their enemies in their own dressing rooms.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the record goalscorer
Bowing out with five goals to his name, Cristiano Ronaldo climbed atop the European Championship’s all-time scoring charts with 14 goals. Plus, his 20 in Euros and World Cups make him the player with the most goals in those two tournaments combined and he’s now level with Ali Daei on 109 goals as international football’s al-time record holder.
Family ties
Federico and Enrico Chiesa have become the first ever father and son – of any nationality – to have scored in the European Championship. Enrico did so in 1996 and Federico this summer, 25 years later. Furthermore, Thorgan and Eden Hazard are joining a mythical list of brothers – alongside the Laudrups and the De Boers – having played for their national team together.
The small sides’ rebellion
Hungary, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and even Ukraine have done well so far, with the latter three all making it to the quarter-finals.
Excellent officiating
After 44 games there hasn’t been much refereeing controversy. Only Antonio Mateu Lahoz’s performance in France vs Portugal, awarding three penalties, raised eyebrows. Even then, though, with two of the penalties clear, there weren’t too many questions about his overall performance.
