Spain are European champions after beating England 2-1 in the final. With the festival of football now over, it is time to look back at some of the top performers over the last month.
Here is NetBet‘s Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament…
Formation (4-1-2-3)
Goalkeeper: Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)
Usually it would be weird to include a goalkeeper who went out in the last 16 and conceded four goals in that final appearance at the tournament.
But when it comes to Mamardashvili, the normal parameters do not apply.
The Valencia stopper was quite simply incredible at Euro 2024 and was arguably the key reason why Georgia made it out of their group.
A big summer move is firmly on the cards.
Right-Back: Jules Kounde (France)
A world-class centre-back who has transformed into a world-class right-back for club and country.
Kounde was superb for France, locking up some of the best wingers in the world and showcasing his quality in the final third.
The Barcelona star and William Saliba are the present and future of the Les Bleus back line.
Centre-Back: Manuel Akanji (Switzerland)
Please, forget the penalty miss against England. Any player can miss a penalty but few defenders in the world could perform as brilliantly as Akanji did at Euro 2024.
He was Switzerland’s rock at the back, with his best and most commanding display coming in the dominant 2-0 victory over Italy in the last 16.
Akanji also regularly displayed his sensational passing range and after watching him in a Swiss jersey, it is easy to see why Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola trusts him so much.
Centre-Back: Marc Guehi (England)
Arguably England’s standout performer across the whole tournament,
Guehi’s assured displays made sure the absence of Harry Maguire was not felt at all and the Crystal Palace ace has surely secured his starting spot for the future.
And at the age of 24, Guehi is only going to get better and better.
Left-Back: Marc Cucurella (Spain)
We did not think we would be including Cucurella in a Team of the Tournament before a ball was kicked.
But the Chelsea full-back has silenced all his critics at Euro 2024 with some brilliant performances, particularly in the final.
Defensively, he excelled and shut down a number of quality wingers, while he also offered a big threat going forward and when inverting into midfield.
Cucurella might just have a big future at Stamford Bridge ahead of him.
Centre Midfield: Rodri (Spain)
The best midfielder on the planet – and to be honest, it is not even close.
Rodri is the heartbeat of this brilliant Spain side and it is scary to think he has only just turned 28.
A true midfield general who seems to always be a class above everyone else on the pitch and it was a real shame he had to be subbed off at half-time in the final through injury.
After scooping the Player of the Tournament gong, he should be firmly in contention for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Attacking Midfield: Dani Olmo (Spain)
It was a toss up between Olmo and Fabian Ruiz for this spot – and the former just got the nod.
Olmo’s entrance in the quarter-final against Germany for the injured Pedri changed the game as he left the park with a goal and assist in the 2-1 victory.
The silky playmaker then scored again in the semis against France, before playing a crucial role in the final triumph.
One of the most underrated players in the world right now.
Attacking Midfield: Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Germany may have exited at the quarter-finals but does not mean Musiala was not one of the stars of the show.
The Bayern Munich playmaker was exceptional in his five tournament appearances, registering three goals – including the crucial second in the last-16 victory over Denmark.
A stern reminder that Musiala is already among the world’s best footballers.
Right Wing: Lamine Yamal (Spain)
What Yamal has achieved at the age of 17 is quite simply astonishing.
Has a footballer ever performed as well at his age in modern history? Probably not.
A lightning-quick technician with a wicked left peg and a turn of pace to die for, his semi-final goal against France will go down in footballing folklore.
The deserved winner of the Young Player of the Tournament award and perhaps the best young talent we have seen for quite some time.
Left Wing: Nico Williams (Spain)
Williams was quite simply extraordinary at Euro 2024 and it seems certain that Europe’s elite will be fighting to sign him this summer.
A born dribbler with pace befitting of an Olympic sprinter, the Athletic Bilbao ace tormented full-backs throughout the tournament.
It was also Williams who struck the first blow against England in the final, coolly finishing into the far corner just after the interval.
His wing partnership with Yamal is one that looks like it will terrify opposing sides for many years to come.
Striker: Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
Euro 2024 was not really a tournament in which strikers shone, with no player scoring more than three goals.
Gakpo bagged that number for the Netherlands as they reached the semis and his energetic displays will certainly have piqued the interest of new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
While Gakpo was deployed on the left, he often drifted into the middle to wreak havoc – and he could certainly play a similar role at Anfield next season.
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