By

Eniola Olatunji

The 17th European Champion Cup held in 10 cities of Germany with 51 matches played; 117 goals scored (an average of 2.29 goals per match) and a total 2,681,288 attendances.  The attendances broke the 2016 record of 2,427,303. There Spain won her 4th title and England was Runners-up back to back.

There were 19 Referees; 20 Video Assistant Referees (VAR) and 12 Support Officials as 4th Officials and Reserve Assist Refs who handled the matches. The finals took place at the 71,000 capacity Olympic Stadium, Berlin on Sunday.

There were six joint top scorers in Georges Mikautadze of Georgia; Jamal Musiala of Germany, Cody Gako of Netherlands, Ivan Schranz of Slovakia, Danni Olmo of Spain and now Harry Kane of England all having three goals each who won the Golden Boot meant for highest goal scorer. There were 10 OWN GOALS, two of which were from Turkey. The greatest top scorer in a single tournament has been Michel Platini of France who scored 9 goals when France hosted in 1984. Next was also a French man, Antoine Griezmann with 6 goals when France also won and hosted in 2016.

Also decorated was 35 year old French Ref Francois Letexier who was decorated along with his lines men Cyril Mujnier and Mahdi Rahmouni both of France as well as Jerome Brisard also of France who led the VAR team that handled the final match.

Defender, Rodri Hernandez surprisingly won the PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT AWARD. Spanish wonder boy won the Young Player of the Tournament for U21 Players. 16 year old Barca teenager, Lamine Yamal dazzled with leg work before scoring the equalizer in the 21st minute off a Morata assist in the semifinal against France. At that age (16 yeaars and 362 days), Yamal became the youngest goal scorer at a major tournament world cup or Euros, a record previously held by the late soccer legend, Edson Narento De Nascimento known as Pele (then 17 years 239 days) against Wales at the 1958 world cup. Yamal became 17 years old on the eve of the Euro Cup Final, July 13. He scored a goal and had 4 assists.

The list of the BAD BOYS who either got a straight red card or two yellow cards obtained in two matches is long. Only the Manager of Slovania, Matjaz Kek bagged a straight red among officials in the match against Portugal and will serve his punishment outside the tournament.
 
From debutante Georgia are Giorgi Loria and Anzor Mekvabish; From Scotland are Ryan Porteons; From Albania are Mirland Daku who chanted National freedom songs in the match against Croatia on 10th June; From Belgium are Dodi Lukebakio, Spain has Rodri, Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal who had two yellows in one match; from Portugal is Rafael Leao and from hosts Germany is Jonathan Tah and from France is Andrien Rabiot.

From Turkey were seven players AbdulKerim Berdakci, Sauret Akaydin, Hakan Calhanogi, Orkuri Kokcu, Ismail Yuksale, Meri Demiral and Bertug Yildirim who got a straight red against Netherlands; Italy had Riccardo Calafion; Switzerland had Silvan Widmer; England had Marc Guehi; Austria had Patrik Wimmer; Slovania had Erik Janza; Denmark had  Mortem Hjulmand and Romania had Nicusor Bancu.

Some of the popular countries that have never qualified for the final tournament are Israel, Kazakstan, Estonia, Gilbraltar and Kosovo. 

Spain is the only country to have won all their group and knockout games (2008 & 2024) France too in 1984 and Italy in 2020. Spain’s 15 goals is the current record most goals scored at one tournament. France had 14 goals in 1984.

Lamine Yamal (16 years 338 days) broke the record of Poland’s keeper, Kacper Kozlowski (17 years 246 days) as youngest player in 2021. Yamal also became the youngest goal scorer against France breaking the record of Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen which he also got against France in 2004.

Portugal’s Pepe was the oldest player at 41years 130 days beating Gabor Kiraly of Hungary Goalkeeper who was 40 years and 86 days to face Belgioum in 2016. Lothar Mattaus of Germany was 39 years 91 days in 2000. Christian Ronaldo was in his 6th tournament yet to be rivaled. 

The final Group F game between Czech and Turkey had a nasty record for the most number of cards shown in a single match with 19 cards of 17 yellows and 2 reds; Czhech got 7 and Turkey 12 which surpasses 10 cards shown in the 2016 Euro final between Portugal and France. Spain has the highest yellow cards in Germany 2024 with 15 flashes; Germany had 13; Austria 12; England, Netherlands and Slovania had 11 each. Four teams received least yellow of 7 namely Belgium, Croatia, Albania and Czeh. 

Each of the 24 teams got 9.5m Euro for appearance fee; Every win at the Group Stage attracted 1m Euro and a draw 0.5m; Each team that got into the Round of 16 received 1.5m Euro; Each team at the quarterfinal stage got 2.5m; each of the four semifinalists had 4m; England the Runners-up pocketed 5m and champions Spain had 8m.