Euro 2016 best and worst: Eden Hazard to Thomas Muller and everything in between



After 51 matches and 108 goals, Euro 2016 came to an end on Sunday night with Portugal's 1-0 win over France in the final.

There were plenty of memorable moments, but not many games that will go down in history as tournament classics. Euro 2016 again showed that international football lags behind the club game in terms of tactical innovation and attacking quality.

It was still an enjoyable month, though, and one that Portuguese fans in particular will never forget.

English football correspondent Greg Lea recalls the highs and lows of the 2016 European Championships.

Best match

Germany 0-2 France was a captivating watch, with two top-quality sides producing some excellent football as they attacked in different ways.

Worst match

Wales' 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the first knockout round was dull, but the fact that both sides were at least playing for their place in the competition means Italy's uneventful 1-0 defeat of Sweden in the group stage takes the award.

Best team performance

• Italy's showing against Spain in the round of 16 was superb, as was Germany's in the first half of their semi-final with France, but Wales' magnificent display in beating Belgium in the last eight means they edge out their more illustrious counterparts.

Best individual performance

Eden Hazard was simply unplayable in Belgium's 4-0 thrashing of Hungary in the last 16.

Overachievers

• Wales did brilliantly to reach the semi-finals in their first ever European Championship appearance, but Iceland's progression to the last eight was even more impressive given the size of the country.

Underachievers

• Austria failed to live up to the hype in Group F, but England suffered the most ignominious exit at the hands of Iceland in the round of 16.

Best player

Antoine Griezmann started the competition slowly but was France's key man in the knockout stage. The Atletico Madrid forward thrived after being moved into a more central role, with his six goals helping his team to the final.

Most disappointing player

Thomas Muller is still awaiting his first goal at the Euros, while his all-round performances were extremely poor by his high standards.

Best goal

• Xherdan Shaqiri's overhead kick for Switzerland against Poland was a stunning piece of technique.

Biggest disappointment

• It was a great shame to see the outbreaks of hooliganism in the early stages of the competition.

Best moment

• Iceland’s Viking Clap was an excellent addition to the tournament, and the players’ and fans’ rendition after their last 16 defeat of England was particularly special.

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