Portugal’s incredible 1-0 victory over France has ended the latest instalment of Europe’s immensely popular football competition.
Was the UEFA Euro 2016 the home of one of the best underdog stories in its history, or was it simply good enough to bridge the gap between the club seasons? With over two million people attending the games in France and countless TV viewers around the world, there is no doubt that international football has yet again captured the hearts of sports lovers across the globe, but how does this iteration stack up against the tournaments before it?
Euro 2016 was a landmark in the continent’s football, with a number of changes that set it apart from its predecessors. Not only was the competition expanded to contain 24 teams instead of the usual 16, but a number of new rules were introduced – including the new kick-off style that one may have noticed being used throughout the competition. Needless to say, these small changes were not what made this competition so thrilling, but it is worth mentioning the possible impact that this could have on the future.
One of the things that made Euro 2016 interesting was to finally see a change in the dominance of the ‘big’ nations. The last time a team other than Spain won the Euro was in 2004 when Greece shocked Europe to take the crown, since then it has been heaven for La Furia Roja, as they dominated Europe and the world. Their demolition of Italy in Euro 2012 was interesting enough, but not truly exciting for non-Spanish audiences. Euro 2016 provided a breath of fresh air, as the usual giants like Spain and Germany were brought crashing back to reality, knocked out of the competition in the Round of 16 and semi-final respectively.
One of the most incredible Euros came in 2004 when Greece won the competition, and this time the story of the underdog was brought back. Iceland captured the hearts of many as they took down England in the Round of 16 and continued to celebrate after the final whistle even when they were sent home by France. Wales as well proved to be a soft spot for most viewers, besting Belgium and their incredible squad as they reached the final four. But the true underdog story was that of Portugal. Most viewers and pundits did not expect anything from A Selecao and their average performances brought only criticism, yet somehow they managed to squeeze their way into the final and seal an incredible victory over France. It was all these underdog stories that made Euro 2016 a unique competition and one that these nations will remember for a long time.
Conversely, Euro 2016 could be viewed as a bit of a let-down. The group stage phase was rather dull as most teams struggled to find their scoring touch. Even the seemingly reliable ‘big’ nations had underwhelming performances and no side truly left their mark on the competition. Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and France all had average results throughout the competition, which made for dull viewing as opposed to prior years where they usually electrified Europe with incredible showings.
Even with all the negative aspects of Euro 2016, there is little doubt that Portugal have shocked the world and at the same time earned respect with their unexpected victory.
Whether it was for Portugal’s amazing story or simply for the catchy ‘Will Grigg is on fire’ tune, this tournament will most certainly be remembered by its fans for a long time. Even without many goals, the underdog stories and unexpected results made Euro 2016 one of the most intriguing instalments of the competition since Greece’s victory in 2004.
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