Leon Wobschall: Bloated format, but Euro 2016 still conjures up plenty of magic moments

NEVER has the phrase '˜less is more' been so apt.
Graphic: Graeme Bandeira.Graphic: Graeme Bandeira.
Graphic: Graeme Bandeira.

For the connoisseur, Euro 2016 had a sweet enough bouquet at times and was plentiful in supply, but the overall taste lacked sophistication and true character for those with a discerning palate.

More vin de table than a reassuringly indulgent bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, with the finish not exactly lasting.

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In the final analysis, the quality was diluted by a bloated 24-team format, which led to a surfeit of low-grade games, ensuring that for every decent match there were three pretty poor ones.

Portugal players celebrate after Eder (left, obscured) scores what proved to be the winning goal in Paris. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA.Portugal players celebrate after Eder (left, obscured) scores what proved to be the winning goal in Paris. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA.
Portugal players celebrate after Eder (left, obscured) scores what proved to be the winning goal in Paris. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA.

The numerical make-up of future tournaments – with many purists hankering for a return to 16 teams – will be at the top of the agenda for UEFA overlords when they reconvene for a debriefing.

A lopsided tournament in which the powerhouse nations of Europe were all concertinaed into one half of the draw in France, Germany, Italy and Spain also helped clear a path for a functional Portugal to negotiate their way to pragmatic glory.

Not that their victory was without merit, with sage manager Fernando Santos following the successful tournament template of Greece in 2004 and Italy in the 1994 World Cup and plenty of others besides in showing that outstanding defensive structure and organisation and an occasional smidgeon of brilliance at the other end of the pitch can take you all the way.

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It left the French deflated and out of juice by the end in Sunday’s Paris finale, with many Les Bleus players forced to run on the equivalent of petrol fumes after being afforded just two days to recover after beating Germany in a heavy-duty semi-final.

France's Antoine Griezmann shows his dismay after Portugal's victory in the final of Euro 2016 in Paris. Picture: AP/Michael ProbstFrance's Antoine Griezmann shows his dismay after Portugal's victory in the final of Euro 2016 in Paris. Picture: AP/Michael Probst
France's Antoine Griezmann shows his dismay after Portugal's victory in the final of Euro 2016 in Paris. Picture: AP/Michael Probst

It was France’s third knockout game in seven days. By contrast, Portugal were playing their third match in 11 days.

Not ideal, with the scheduling alongside the number of teams leaving a fair bit to be desired.

But for all the paucity in overall quality across the board, it was a tournament when cherished moments were not hard to come by, with another major plus point being the high standard of officiating when red cards were thankfully kept in top pockets.

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As for the drama, rewind to the opening night, with Dimitri Payet’s tear-laden reaction after being overcome with emotion after netting in the hosts’ late victory over Romania representing a treasured moment that struck a chord with not just a nation but millions around the globe.

Portugal players celebrate after Eder (left, obscured) scores what proved to be the winning goal in Paris. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA.Portugal players celebrate after Eder (left, obscured) scores what proved to be the winning goal in Paris. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA.
Portugal players celebrate after Eder (left, obscured) scores what proved to be the winning goal in Paris. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA.

We also had the wonderful Welsh and the heart-felt strains of Land of My Fathers and the inspired Icela,ndics and their Viking thunderclap celebration in a tournament where the bridesmaid finally caught the bouquet and the underdog gloriously had their day.

We had Hal Robson-Kanu’s ‘Cruyff turn’ and inspired finish against Belgium, shortly followed by Sam Vokes sweetly heading the Red Dragons into the semi-finals.

It represented an iconic moment when time stood still on a grand night in Lille in perhaps the most outstanding game of the tournament. Let’s face it, we were all ‘Welsh’ that night.

And then we had England ...

France's Antoine Griezmann shows his dismay after Portugal's victory in the final of Euro 2016 in Paris. Picture: AP/Michael ProbstFrance's Antoine Griezmann shows his dismay after Portugal's victory in the final of Euro 2016 in Paris. Picture: AP/Michael Probst
France's Antoine Griezmann shows his dismay after Portugal's victory in the final of Euro 2016 in Paris. Picture: AP/Michael Probst
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While the Welsh, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland were afforded kudos for making their mark and plenty of friends along the way, we had the depressingly familiar sight of a tactically and technically destitute England plumbing new unwanted depths.

After Belo Horizonte 1950, we now have Nice 2016 and the most embarrassingly inept night ever in international football for England at the hands of the deserving Iceland. Some legacy.

For the Northern Irish, they were afforded a marvellous night against Ukraine, which provided their first tournament win in 34 years. Not forgetting the inimitable ‘Will Griggs on fire’ song ringing out across France.

Across the border, the Republic had their own stirring moment against Italy in Lille provided by ex-Hull City player Robbie Brady, with his post-match celebration with Roy Keane showing the power of tournament football and just what it means.

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Just ask Cristano Ronaldo, too, with his bitter-sweet experiences in the showpiece and rhapsodic reactions at the end providing much-needed colour to an insipid and forgettable final. Aside from that, there was not much else, apart from a plague of moths.

While Portugal finally secured payback for their bitter Euro 2004 final loss against the Greeks, there was also a cathartic moment for the French, who finally beat Germany, their traditional tournament nemesis, for the first time since 1958.

Earlier, the Germans, had their own revenge moment in beating Italy for the first time at a major tournament at the ninth time of asking, with some big hoodoos falling by the wayside in France.

It was not enough to make it a vintage tournament in the round, but at least the dreaded spectre of terrorism did not infiltrate France’s party, with some deplorable scenes in Marseille involving England and predominantly Russia ‘fans’ and a bit of ugliness in Lille thankfully dissipating after the Russians went home.

For that, we were all truly grateful.