Euro 2016 Review: 6 Things We've Learnt
As Portugal win the 2016 Euros by beating hosts France 1-0 after extra-time, and gained the global headlines, it's the lessons that don't appear as obvious that I like to look at and in this post I will be detailing the things that have been apparent thanks to 2016 Euros.
6, England are a Joke
I have covered this in my reviews of England's games during the 2016 Euros but it was a massive realisation that despite all the great players that were in the England team, we lost to Iceland 2-1. Many would have thought that England were already a joke under Roy Hodgson but the humiliation of losing to the smallest nation at the Euros in the first knockout round is unbelievable on so many levels and thus England fans have officially (hopefully) given up with England for the foreseeable future.
5, Smaller nations provided passion and dire
In contrast to the failing expectations of England's tournament, two small nations have captured the fans' respect across the continent. Those nations are of course Iceland and Wales. Iceland may have gone out to France in the quarter-finals, losing 5-2, but the connection to their fans is unreal, that Viking clap is awesome, and reminds Premier League fans of the underdog mentality that lead Leicester City to the Premier League title. Wales went even further and were 90 minutes away from the final but lost 2-0 to Portugal in the semi-final. I mean to get to the semi-final of their first tournament in 58 years is an achievement that speaks volumes about the unity within the Welsh national side that England fans can only dream of.
4, It's all about getting through
It's the name of the game in tournament football and there has been one team that has remind everyone that you don't need to play great to get through. That team is of course Portugal. Having drew all three group games, but still managing to knock-out Croatia, Poland and Wales, Portugal have been the nation that neutrals have willed to go out but have won the tournament and subsequently remained fans that it's not all about winning in 90 minutes by a decent goal margin, it's about getting through to the next round.
3, Some nations heavily unperformed
Whilst nations such as Italy, Portugal and Wales have had great tournaments, in regards to their expectations prior to the start of the tournament on 10th June, there have been several nations that have heavily unperformed. The three nations that spring to mind are Germany, Belgium and Spain. Although Germany reached the semi-finals, and lost to France, their performances this tournament haven't been as dominating as they were in the 2014 World Cup (just ask any Brazilian for confirmation of that). They were unlucky to have Mario Gomez be ruled out for the rest of the tournament after their quarter-final game against Italy but they really should have had a back-up striker to take the heat off the 'cursed' Thomas Muller.
Belgium went out to Wales in the quarter-finals and has thus continued their reputation as the World's most underperforming country. They have fantastic individual players, such as Lukaku and Hazard, but they can never link together to fulfil their potential. Spain, the ex-European Champions, were knocked out by dark-horses Italy in the last 16 and it is the second tournament in a row that the former World Champions have been sent home from earlier then they expected. It is yet again a lack of tactical advancement by a nation that you would expect to get to at least the semi-finals and concludes the theme of certain nations heavily underperforming at this Euros.
2, A Contrast of Reviews
In the aftermath of Euro 2016, there will be a lot of posts that will review the tournament as a whole and how it has left European Football before the new season starts again in August. What makes me write this point in my own review of Euro 2016 is BBC commentator John Motson's thoughts on the tournament. He has details that he thinks Wales were the stars of the show and that France are now Europe's best team but he said that the standard of Football was lacking in certain group games and have only been forgotten thanks to the late, late goals that seen fans in scenes of joy or sorrow. Now, I can understand what Motty is saying, and God only knows he has the experience to be able to draw this conclusion from the tournament, but it is clear that there are a contrast of reviews to be written and published, whether they be written to promote a certain nation's performance, undermine the desire and passion of another or to call for the number of teams to be reduced.
1, Antoine Griezmann is the Real Deal
The build-up to the tournament for France saw one of their prolific striker, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, ruled out from selection from the national team due to a court case involving the striker using an alleged sex-tape as leverage over Lyon's Mathieu Valbuena. Ultimately, it seemed that Antoine Griezmann would have to step up to finish off the chances provided by Dimitri Payet and co.
And he bloody did.
The Atletico Madrid striker scored six goals and provided two assists as France finished runner-ups and became my favourite player from the 2016 Euros. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few clubs looking to sign Griezmann after his performances in France this summer. Will he go if he's approached? Who knows but he will have earned the move as he is the second highest goalscorer in European Championship History with his six goals, second only to Michel Platini's nine goals from 1984 in France.
Top Goalscorer: Antoine Griezmann (France) (6 goals).
My Team of the Tournament: 4-3-3 Formation.
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) (Goalkeeper).
Jermone Boateng (Germany). (Centre-Back).
Ashley Williams (Wales). (Right-Back).
Darjio Srna (Croatia). (Left-Back).
Giorgio Chiellini (Italy). (Centre-Back).
Mesut Ozil (Germany). (Midfielder).
Paul Pogba (France). (Midfielder).
Dimitri Payet (France). (Midfielder).
Gareth Bale (Wales). (Right-Wing).
Antoine Griezmann (France). (Striker).
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal). (Left-Wing).
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo lifts Portugal's first-ever major trophy.
