Euro 2020 came to an end on Sunday when Italy lifted the trophy at Wembley after beating England 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time. The past month has been full of ups and downs, triumphs and disappointments; Our writers watch the tournament.
Did the best team win Euro 2020?
Gabe Marcotti: Based on what we saw on the pitch, during the tournament, yes. This isn't always the case - that's why we shouldn't draw grand conclusions from the knockout tournaments - but that doesn't change the fact that Italy beat the opposition in every game, except in the semifinal against Spain. Given the 180-degree turn in approach and the fact that basically, it's not a super-gifted side, they've also been a tremendous story. They're a side with the courage to try to do the hard thing... and often, believing is half the battle.
Mark Ogden: Agreed, from start to finish, Italy were the team that displayed attacking strength and defensive quality in equal measure. Roberto Mancini's team lacked a truly great side flair or a superstar player, but they were deftly clever, organized, determined and most importantly experienced enough to know how to win. England had their best major tournament in 55 years, but they only really performed in their 4–0 quarterfinal win against Ukraine. Once the dust settles and the feelings fade, people will realize that they have played within themselves in other games.
Julian Lawrence: Yes. The case is made for Spain to play the best football because they came so close to beating Italy in the semi-finals, but overall, Mancini's team deserved their title because they were the best. They beat Belgium, the No. 1 ranked team in the world, they beat Spain and they beat England at Wembley. He played aggressive football with flair, energy and a clear identity. He also defended well alongside the legends Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini and reminded everyone why Italy has always been a country of great defenders. The team showed character and courage throughout the tournament as well.
Rob Dawson: Yes. Mancini has replaced Italy with a side that did not reach European champions in the last World Cup. They came into Euro 2020 with an impressive win and rode the wave throughout the tournament. He defended well, playing some exciting attacking football. He suffered major injuries while beating the best in the knockout round: Belgium, Spain and England. Lifting the trophy was well deserved.
Tom Hamilton: Absolutely. Italy's 34-match unbeaten run was remarkable, and Mancini thoroughly judged his selection and strategy. They were fantastic the whole time and were the better team in the final.
James Olley: It's hard to argue with most of the above. I think Italy was lucky to beat Austria in the round of 16 and Spain was the better team in their semi-finals, but the tournament format has some teams dominating every game. Italy finally had a better combination of street smarts and intelligence. England ran them from close, but the second-youngest team of the tournament lacked restraint when they went 1–0 up in the final.
What's your biggest 'what if' from the tournament?
Lawrence: What if Euro 2020 actually happened in 2020? It would have been so different. It is too early for Italy to win. The Belgians would have been perfectly fit from the start, including Kevin de Bruyne, Axel Witsel and perhaps Eden Hazard. Germany would have been in even more turmoil. We would have seen more of France winning the 2018 World Cup than it did in 2021. We would not have seen players like Karim Benzema, Pedri, Calvin Phillips, Luke Shaw or even Aymeric Laporte. On the other hand, Virgil van Dijk would have been like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Anu Fati and Sergio Ramos.
Ogden: What if Gareth Southgate was more like Pep Guardiola than Jose Mourinho? England's attacking talent was poorly employed throughout the tournament, with Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish all giving fleeting opportunities to make a difference. It was as if Southgate did not trust his flamboyant players, preferring to play it safe rather than push for victory. If he had used Sancho and Rashford 10 minutes earlier in the final against Italy, his pace could have succeeded. But instead, he kept the handbrake on and settled for a penalty. and lost.
Ole: It's not hard to imagine what would have happened if England had won... considering the 55-year wait. No more years hurt. Complete change in the sports psyche of the country. Arise, Sir Gareth (though it may still happen). Mark has a point that Southgate's caution made England more conservative, but this was founded in the belief that England still did not hold the ball well under the highest pressure. The final proved that is still the case, so what if England had a Modric, a Frankie de Jong or a Marco Verratti in midfield? It is a player that the country is still struggling to develop. Perhaps 18-year-old Jude Bellingham will respond in time.
HAMILTON: It has to be around those late replacements for England in the final. What if Southgate had brought in Rashford and Sancho a little earlier, so they could have played their way up before taking a penalty? Southgate judged the tournament brilliantly, but was reluctant to make those attacking replacements in the first match. Who knows if it will matter, but it will be a long question.
Dawson: What if France hadn't bottled up their round-of-16 game to lose to Switzerland? Talent-wise, they had the best squad at Euro 2020 and they shone in what they were capable of. After recovering from a terrible first 45 minutes against the Swiss, they were cruising 3-1 with 10 minutes to go. Then disaster and finally, running out of punishment. Having qualified for the knockout round as the winner of the toughest group, they should have gone far beyond the round of 16. His exit opened the entire tournament.
Marcotti: Given that Denmark had reached the semi-finals and were only beaten by England's questionable penalties in extra time, I can't help but wonder: "What if Christian Eriksson wasn't unwell?" Yeah, I know it's obviously far more important that he's still with us and I'm sure some would argue that the horrors he went through inspired him... but purely because of football. From the point of view, it hangs in the air.
Who was the best player of the tournament?
Marcotti: Very torn in here. Feel like I should pick one of the Italians, but it was such a team performance, such a case that the whole was more than the sum of the parts, that I really struggle to pick a single player. Gianluigi Donnarumma, whatever he has been at club level and leaving AC Milan free for PSG this summer, saves them all in games and penalties. Chiellini's smile, leadership and experience. Bonucci's passing, patience and the way he got better as the tournament progressed (and the way he shouted "It's going to Rome" at the cameras). Left-back Leonardo Spinazola was arguably Italy's best player through the quarter-finals before his injury. Jorginho, positively metronomic and ice-cool in midfield, despite all the hate. Federico Chiesa for his brilliant run and big finish. I stop now because I feel like mentioning them all.
Ollie: I'm torn like Gab, but I'm tempted to go with Donnarumma. I had Raheem Sterling set for it before the final, but after an excellent tournament, Sunday was probably his worst game. This was in part due to Bonucci and Chiellini doing what they do, but Donnarumma is so much behind them. Spinazola would have had an outcry if injury had not robbed him of the chance to continue his excellent form, while Pedri is an extremely exciting prospect for Spain.
Lawrence: At 34, it's been a great tournament for Bonucci. He was in the final against England with the equalizing goal keeping Italy in check, while he also scored his own penalty in shootouts in both the final and the semi-finals. The defender for an inexperienced Italy side was a wonderful leader with Chiellini and Mancini's relay on the pitch. Italy defended so well against Belgium or Spain, mostly thanks to him and would not have won Euro 2020 without him.
Ogden: I'm here with Gabe and Jules because this has been a tournament defined by defensive players. This is very unusual in the modern game, where there is so much focus on goal scorers and creative stars. Bonucci and Chiellini have reminded us all of the art of great defense, while Luke Shaw is a revelation for England on the left. Simon Cajer's lead and back hardness stood out for Denmark, and Spain suddenly became a better team after Sergio Busquets returned to midfield. For England, Declan Rice and Calvin Phillips were also excellent, and Sterling had a great tournament until the final, while Italy's Chiesa got better with each game. And a shout out to Goran Pandav, who at age 37 made the most of every minute of the tournament with North Macedonia.
Hamilton: Pedri was an absolute delight for Spain, as were Stirling, Shaw, Rice and Phillips for England. But it has to be one of the winners and (as did Gab) you can include most of them, but Spinazola, Donnarumma and Chiellini were consistently excellent.
Dawson: I'd say Shaw. Defensively solid and versatile, while becoming one of England's leading attacking threats, the left-back has faced criticism at first, but his goal in the final was astonishing.
HAMILTON: Patrick Schick's goal from 54 yards for the Czech Republic against Scotland - the longest goal in a Euro or World Cup since 1980 - was remarkable, but I like Karim Benzema's first against Switzerland and the way he did the ball. and then snatched it away, I loved it. The previous goalkeeper Yann Sommer was Dennis Bergkamp-esque.
Marcotti: I have to go with Schick, simply because it borders on real and we'll see it in Target highlights for years to come. Also shout out to Paul Pogba of France for his effort against Switzerland; We've seen her do it before and we'll see her do it again, but that celebration, that sense of drama, makes it stand out for me.
Dawson: Yes, that was the lesson: vision, invention and skill all wrapped up in one goal.
Ollie: I like the team's goals, but I don't think you can overtake Schick. It's one thing to try to score from there, but the technique was brilliant. It didn't swam towards goal, but curved along a remarkable curve that you only really appreciate when you look at the angle behind David Marshall's goal.
LAWRENCE: Schick's amazing strike is right there because it was a piece of genius inspiration. Luka Modric's brilliant shot on the outside of his right foot against Scotland is not down though. Also a mention for Italy's Lorenzo Insigne vs Belgium and Pogba vs Switzerland. And because we are purists at ESPN, we also need to give some love to the handsome assistants: De Bruyne for Belgium against Denmark, Joachim Mahle for Denmark against the Czech Republic, Andrey Yarmolenko of Ukraine against Sweden, or Pogba and Harry Kane's secondary assists against Italy and Denmark.
Ogden: I was at Hampden Park for Modric's surprise goal and it was a real "out of your seat" moment, but nothing topped Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in Portugal's 4-2 loss against Germany. At the age of 36, with almost 20 years of elite football at his feet, he was still able to get away from a corner of Germany and hit 90 yards to score a goal in 14.2 seconds after his clearance. was. If any goal could sum up Ronaldo's determination and appetite, it was him. And he eventually ended up as the Golden Boot winner of the tournament.
Which was the most memorable moment?
Marcotti: There's one that overshadows everything, because it's beyond play: seeing a picture of Ericsson after his fall on a stretcher, with his arm above his head. He told you that he was with us even at that moment. Until that time, we could only pray. For me, personally, it was watching the head of Italy's team delegation, Gianluca Vialli, stand quietly in the middle of the pitch for a minute before the final kick, soaking everyone up. What he's going through after a battle with pancreatic cancer, just being able to see in person that Wembley was huge.
Ogden: Sorry to end what turned out to be a great tournament, but the prematch scenes at Wembley on Sunday will stain the memory of Euro 2020. It was English football at its worst and a reminder that, no matter how much progress was made on the pitch by the team, the same mindless idiots who have embarrassed England at the World Cup and Euros for decades, behaved and acted like an unwanted guest at a party. continue to do. Fan disorder and violence played out on TV screens around the world and would likely destroy any hope of a joint British and Irish bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Why would any country vote to host it in a country where fans can storm the stadium gate hours before a big final?
Ole: Mark is right that the blame would be for those unmodified scenes at Wembley. A nerdy minority – but perhaps a bigger one than many would like to admit – tried to undermine a country that has so far held together after widening divisions over the past few years. As damaged barriers and turnstiles are repaired, broken glass is cleaned up, it is sad to realize that some progress has been undone. Far from it all, it was a heartwarming moment for the Danish player to kneel while applauding England, and I can only echo Gab's words on Ericsson.
LAURENS: The shock and sadness of the day of Ericsson's fall will always be with us, but it was incredible to see Denmark beat Russia 4-1 a few days later in the Round of 16. Bukayo Saka's tears in the final will never be forgotten after missing the last penalty for England. Spain vs Italy in the semi-finals was the game of the tournament. And last but not least, Adrian Rabiot's mother asked Kylian Mbappe's father to sort out her son because he was too arrogant after missing a penalty for France against Switzerland.
Dawson: Switzerland's comeback against France. Football is at its best when it is inexplicable, and that's where it was.
HAMILTON: Denmark's 4-1 win over Russia was an incredible match and a moment of heartfelt unity after whatever they were doing. Before Scotland vs Czech Republic "Yes sir, I can boogie!" was amazing too. There were only 9,000 or so fans at Hampden Park, but they made some serious noise.
When I look back at Euro 2020, I'll think about...
Lawrence: The Resurgence of Italy; The Curse of England; Pedri's genius; Benzema's return; Germany coach Joachim Low passes away; Denmark races in the semi-finals; the arrogance of France; Frank de Boer's failure for the Netherlands; improper format; COVID-19 restrictions; the goal of the lesson; Bonucci/Chiellini's defense; Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka's own goal for Slovakia against Spain; And Rabiot's mom, of course.
Ogden: Chiellini's smile and apparent joy at captaining Italy in glory; The joy of noisy stadiums again in the wake of the pandemic; Penalty miss (Gareth Bale, Alvaro Morata, Saka, Sancho, Rashford); the lack of a central hub and environment that comes with a host nation; Scotland fans crowd in London before the group game against England at Wembley. And the final broadcast of "Footballs Coming Home" from the Euro '96 anthem "Three Lions" - sure, it has to be retired now?! Everyone is using it to make fun of England (see Bonucci's "It's Coming to Rome" celebration), so let's put it back in the box and look to the future instead.
Ollie: Noise. It's been such a long time without crowds, but regardless of the pandemic, I've never heard Wembley louder than in those games against Germany, Denmark and Italy. Germany's game felt like a real success for England, finally beating an elite nation - not the strongest embodiment - in a tournament knockout game. And although I'm sure it won't get me any popularity contests, I really liked the official song from U2.
Hamilton: The strength and unity of the Denmark team. The way he rallied around Ericsson while being treated on the Copenhagen pitch, and then played for a 1-0 loss against Finland, was incredible. Their run in the semifinals was worthy, so you have to give credit and praise to that wonderful group of players and their brilliant manager, Kasper Hjulmand.
Dawson: England. Winning a big tournament seems so many years away, but Southgate and his players have given supporters hope that it is possible. It may turn out that Euro 2020 was their best chance, but for now, the build-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be full of optimism. He deserves a lot of credit for what Southgate has achieved, even if he came up short this time around.
Marcotti: Aside from the events, the goals and the moments, I would think about how hopefully this signals the gradual movement of football (and of the world) back to normal. And how the tournament unfolded with relatively little acrimony and controversy, with a winning side that took the game to the opposition and believed. It felt right that positivity should be rewarded.