sport-vn.com

Euro 2016: The best and worst moments of the tournament

Sport360 staff 12:13 12/07/2016
Sport360 brings you the hits and misses from France.

We’ve picked the winners and losers from eight different categories that sum up an eventful tournament in France.

Do you agree with our selections?

Get in touch and let us know, use #360fans on social media!


Best player – Antoine Griezmann

Six goals – five of which came in the knockouts – Griezmann came to symbolise what Didier Deschamps’ vibrant French side were about… until the final, that is. But his disappointment, and average display, should not cloud what was a fantastic tournament. Was there really any other candidate?

Best coach – Fernando Santos

This wasn’t football we necessarily like, but Santos’ brand of pragmatism was brilliantly effective as Portugal played the villains to perfection, beating not only France but also Wales and Croatia – arguably the three best teams to watch in the competition. How he organised his back-four and midfield in a defensive sense was majestic.

Best game – Portugal 3-3 Hungary

Sheer madness in the final round of games in Group F in which, for 15 second-half minutes, all control and logic was lost. Hungary were supposed to be one of the tournament’s worst sides yet they led this game three times only to be pegged back on each occasion with Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace dragging the Portuguese through.

Best goal – Hal Robson-Kanu v Belgium

A goal that will be talked about in Wales with the same reverence as Marco van Basten’s in the 1988 final. Robson-Kanu brought down Aaron Ramsey’s pass with his back to goal and looked to have run out of space, yet with a Cruyff-turn so unexpected it foxed three defenders, he was in on goal before a calm side-footed finish.

Biggest disappointment – Thomas Muller

Muller’s record in World Cups: 10 goals in 13 matches; his record in European Championships: 0 goals in 11 matches. It is utterly baffling how a goalscorer of his ability just couldn’t find the net in France. He had opportunities – 20 shots in total – but was unable to break his duck. Had he turned up, Germany could well be champions.

Worst team – Russia

From their ‘fans’ in Marseille, to their apologetic politicians and players, Russia were a team which looked old, slow and lacking ideas and endured a truly awful tournament. Their 1-1 draw against England is more than what the Ukraine could manage, but at no stage did they provide any joy or inspiration, on or off the field.

Worst haircut – Ricardo Quaresma

You can admire the gall and creativity, you can appreciate the artistry and the fact a hairdresser has managed to pull it off, but that still doesn’t take away from the fact the Portuguese forward looked ridiculous. Having an olive leaf from Portugal’s coat of arms shaved into your head isn’t patriotic, it’s just being a big show-off.

Worst moment – Joachim Low

As we’re a family newspaper we chose not to publish the incriminating images of the Germany coach digging at his nose, sniffing his own armpits and engaging in a game of pocket billiards. What’s worse is that all these incidents came in different games. Leave yourself alone, Joachim!

Recommended