It opened with the Azzurri turning on the style and ended with parties from Rome to Rimini.
Even ‘bleedin’ Romford’ staged a celebratory gathering for the lingering Italians among the hordes of disappointed English.
As Euro 2020 bowed out to the sight of ‘Forza Italia’, it was an apt moment to reflect on a month’s worth of Euro 2020 highlights: the highs, the lows, the joys and the woes.
From the emergence of surprise packages (both nations and players) to how domestic leagues could learn (if at all) from the use of VAR throughout the tournament.
From those who defied the SBOTOP Euro 2020 betting odds to the format of the competition.
Did it work? Not according to this observer who feels the event should be staged in one country and that the fact the majority of third-placed teams in the group were given second chances was laughable and led to a dip in quality.
In other words, too much clemency in the group stages.
But that is not why I am here. At least, not today.
I am here to reflect on the biggest disappointments of Euro 2020.
As teams go, world champions France are the obvious pick.
A fortnight on, it is still hard to grasp how a squad with all the ingredients (talent, character and experience) could crash out – especially with the quality they have and a 3-1 lead against Switzerland going into the closing stages of their last-16 tie.
Yet I am talking about the individuals that underwhelmed and so, alongside Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps, here are my stars who failed to deliver.
Those key players with the burden of expectations who simply failed to turn up.
Gareth Bale (Wales)
This may seem harsh to some but, after the highs of Euro 2016, a lot was expected from Wales and Bale.
In truth, their squad lacked the overall talent of five years ago but, guided by Ryan Giggs and ably assisted by caretaker boss Robert Page, they qualified to bring hopes they would again display their true potential.
This time, talisman Bale could not deliver, especially when they came up against Denmark – he had very little help too.
It was a game that Wales could have won (probably would have done a few years back), but individual performances let them down with Bale anonymous and wasteful in possession.
Perhaps the uncertainty over his club future did not help.
He will reportedly play out the remaining year of his contract at Real Madrid before retiring from club football next summer.
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
If Bale figured sporadically last season on-loan at Spurs, another Premier League star at least had an excuse for being below-par.
For the fact Fernandes had played more than 60 matches for club and country in a little over a year finally took its toll. Indeed, the European Champions dropped him to the bench for their final two games of the tournament.
It had started promisingly enough as the Manchester United man played an important role in the Selecao’s 3-0 opening success against Hungary.
After a 4-2 defeat to Germany, manager Fernando Santos went searching for a more rigid and defensive midfield structure and Fernandes found himself among the substitutes, meaning he had little time to show he could be as key a figure as he is at Old Trafford.
Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands)
There is no doubt the Juventus defender, a prodigy of the Ajax academy, has an exciting future ahead of him.
However, a single moment can ruin a player’s entire tournament and that happened to de Ligt in his country’s last-16 exit to the Czech Republic.
When he went to ground and effectively scooped the ball out of his opponent’s path with his own hand, the contest was goalless.
The action resulted in a dismissal and Holland went down to 10 men, eventually losing 2-0.
His attitude shone through afterwards as he took full responsibility for their exit.
That character will serve him well in the years ahead.
Burak Yilmazn (Turkey)
As a nation, Turkey never got going and Yilmazn could reflect on the contributions of some of his teammates and wonder why they are not included on this list.
The fact is, though, he was a victim of his own success.
Deputising for first-choice centre-forward Cenk, Yilmaz came into the competition in superb form.
Indeed, due to their performance in qualifying and their general style, many tipped Turkey as dark horses to reach the latter stages of the competition.
They ended up arguably being one of the worst teams, if not the worst.
He may have won the Ligue 1 title with Lille after scoring 16 goals in the top flight, but he struggled hugely on the international stage, like Turkey as a whole.
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