Berlin: The 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship is as big as it gets for football fans who watch their favourite national teams lock horns with each other in one of the world’s biggest competitions after the FIFA World Cup. This edition of the competition also features multiple storylines and plots that enthusiasts and supporters were looking forward to.

Defying the odds and ageing like fine wine, all eyes were on Portugal’s very own Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately, the number 7, considered the best in the world, had to crash out of the tournament, defeated by France. Football’s leading scorer and his country’s saviour, the 38-year-old, took part in his fifth edition of the championship. With a heavily stacked squad and an experienced manager, the team hoped to repeat their 2016 success and take the trophy home.

The Les Bleus were easily one of the tournament’s heavyweights, with a squad comprising Europe’s finest. Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Olivier Giroud, and Ferland Mendy were some of the few names to wreak havoc against their competition. Ahead of the tournament, the 25-year-old Mbappe, who recently made his dream move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, claimed that the championship was much more complicated than the World Cup. With their last Euros victory coming in 2000, the French National team had just one mission: to bring the championship back to Paris. But, they, too, crashed out of the tournament at the hands of Spain with a magical performance from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo.

Another key storyline of this year’s competition was the glorious return of Toni Kroos to the German National Team. Having retired from club football following his Champions League triumph with Real Madrid, the renowned sniper was looking to lift the Euros in front of hundreds of thousands of German fans, giving himself the most fitting farewell from the sport of football. His compatriot in club football, the legendary Luka Modric, was also set to carry Croatia on his shoulders. While the nation came eerily close to lifting the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022, an international trophy has yet to be lifted by the nation, which has a very skilful and experienced side. They were looking to turn their sadness into happiness, but unfortunately, both legends bid farewell to the grand finale.

The Azzurri from Italy, the defending champions of the Euros, were ready to bleed to defend their title. With their defensive football style, this Italian side could have carved their way to European success, but this beautiful game is full of surprises at every end as they, too, bid farewell to the dream of lifting the trophy.

Immense pressure also fell on the Three Lions. With the unprecedented rise of Jude Bellingham and the mastery of Phil Foden, this just might be one of the most talented English squads the world has seen. With a heartbreaking defeat in the finals of the tournament’s last edition, the team led by Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane looked promising with a spirit of vengeance and made their way into the European battlegrounds, reaching the finals to face the tactical Spanish side.

The month-long tournament’s final finally played out on July 14th at the historic Olympiastadion Berlin. Spain had all the European excellence in the world. From Dani Carvajal to Rodri, from Pedri to the one who has been creating all the buzz this season, young prodigy Lamine Yamal, the La Roja came in to create a massive dent in England’s dreams and made history by lifting the European trophy in Germany.

With an assist from the young maestro Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams drew first blood. Just when things were looking settled for the Spanish side, substitute Cole Palmer crushed the spirits with a decisive goal to keep England’s dreams alive. With bated breaths, the match went on till the 86th minute before super-sub Mikel Oyarzabal fired the winning goal for the Spanish side, sealing victory for the new Kings of Europe.

With an exciting month of football over, fans are now beyond eager for the Finalissima in 2025 between Euro champions Spain and consecutive Copa America champions Argentina. In this match, the future Lamine Yamal will be up against arguably the best player to ever play the game, Lionel Messi.