Euro 2024 Review: Stats, Facts and Trends From The Summer

After 30 days, 51 matches, and 117 goals, Spain were crowned European champions for the fourth time as England, once again, fell at the final hurdle. Euro 2024 in Germany has been a pulsating and entertaining tournament, where attacking football has triumphed and ‘young’ smaller nations have delivered more than a few surprises.

Our European football expert, Daniele Fisichella, has analyzed some of the most interesting trends to emerge from the competition.

Attack and you’ll be rewarded

Euro 2024, 14th June-14th July, Germany

Last Sunday, Spain reaffirmed their dominance over European football at both national and club levels. 

Luis de la Fuente’s men secured victory over England, marking the 27th consecutive major final won by a Spanish side in a major tournament (World Cup, Euros, Champions League, Europa League) over the past 20 years. The last Spanish defeat in a major final came when Alaves lost to Liverpool in the 2001 UEFA Cup Final.

Unlike in the previous two editions of the Euros, the favored team before the final managed to lift the trophy. However, Spain, like Portugal in 2016 and Italy three years ago, were not considered the frontrunners for ultimate success, with odds of around 9.00 before the tournament began.

The reigning champions’ curse continued, with Italy falling to Switzerland in the round of 16, following Spain’s and Portugal’s similar fates in 2016 and 2020, respectively. This marks three consecutive tournaments where the defending champions were eliminated in the first knockout round.

Spain made history by becoming the first team to win all seven of their Euros matches. Additionally, they became the second side in European Championship history to win all their group matches without conceding a single goal, following the example set by Euro 2020 champions Italy.

Rewards for proactive football

Ultimately, attacking and proactive football was rewarded as Spain topped the charts for goals scored (15), expected goals (xG), 11.02, attempts on target (42), and finished second in corners taken (44, three behind Portugal, that exited at the quarter-finals). 

Similar stats underpinned Italy’s success in 2021, though Spain played more on the front foot than the Azzurri in that tournament.

However, this summer the tournament’s goal tally was notably down compared to three years ago, with 25 fewer goals scored (average 2.30 per game), only nine more than in 2016 when the Euros expanded to 24 teams for the first time.

Berlin’s final was high-scoring, only the second in the last 11 editions to produce more than two goals within 90 minutes. Surprisingly, the knockout stages saw a slight increase in goals (35 in 15 games, average 2.33) compared to the group stage.

In fact the group stage averaged 2.25 goals per game, down from Euro 2020’s record-breaking 2.79 goals per game, higher only than those of Euro 96 and Euro 2016 in the past 30 years.

Only 19 goals were scored from outside the box, with none from direct free kicks. Euro 2020 had just one free-kick goal, scored by Mikkel Damsgaard against England in the semi-finals. Euro 2016 saw four, with Gareth Bale netting two—more than in the next two tournaments combined. This reflects domestic trends, as in Europe’s top five leagues, the percentage of free-kicks in the final third taken as shots has fallen from 24.6% in 2008-09 to 18.8% in 2022-23.

The unlikely top goalscorers

For the first time in the history of the competition, six players shared the top goalscorer award, marking the lowest tally since the tournament’s expansion eight years ago.

The rise of own goals continued, with 10 own goals scored. France and Portugal benefited from two each, just one fewer than the record 11 own goals from three years ago, but still as many as in the first 15 European Championships combined.

A significant portion of the goals (23, 19% of the total) were netted between the 16th and 30th minutes of the first half. There were also 12 goals scored in stoppage time, seven more than three years ago, but only two in extra time, a notable reduction from the seven scored in 2021.

Early and late doors

Remarkably, this summer we witnessed the earliest and latest goals in the competition’s history. Nedim Bajrami stunned Italy with a record-breaking opener for Albania, scoring just 23 seconds into their first group game. Meanwhile, Hungary’s Kevin Csoboth set a record by scoring the latest ever goal in normal time, striking against Scotland at 99 minutes and 33 seconds.

Euro 2024 saw 12 penalties awarded (nine scored, three saved), the same as Euro 2016. Euro 2020 surpassed this with 16 spot kicks, but only nine were converted, indicating that takers have adapted their techniques to counter the wealth of data now available to goalkeepers.

Diogo Costa made history by becoming the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a EURO shoot-out, as Portugal triumphed over Slovenia in the round of 16. He also achieved the rare feat of not conceding a single goal in a EURO shoot-out.

Cristiano’s tears, Czechia’s entertainment

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to compete in six different EUROs, debuting in 2004. 

He extended his record for the most appearances in the finals (30) and, at 39 years and 151 days, became the oldest player to score a penalty in a EURO shoot-out. 

However CR7 did not add to his 14-goal record, with Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri remaining the only European to score in the last six major tournaments. 

Despite Portugal’s quarter-final exit, only Kylian Mbappé, who missed a group game due to injury, had more shots (24) than Ronaldo. Ronaldo’s 3.6 expected goals without scoring set the second-highest goalless shots record in a single EURO, behind Deco’s 24 shots in 2004. 

N’Golo Kanté set a EURO record for the most games played without losing (W7 D6) as France edged past Portugal in the quarter-finals.  His streak ended in the semi-finals against Spain.

Georgians winning Neutral’s hearts

Georgia marked their debut knockout round appearance at a EURO final tournament, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili making 29 saves in four matches, 11 more than any other keeper in Euro 2024.

Teams staged dramatic comebacks at Euro 2024, matching the total number of wins from half-time deficits (3) seen in the last three tournaments combined. 

England and Ukraine both overcame Slovakia after trailing, while the Netherlands turned a half-time deficit into victory against Turkey.

The Czech Republic scored more group-stage goals than nine other teams, including all four teams in England’s group, yet managed only one point and finished last in Group F. 

Notably, none of the Czech Republic’s last 27 EURO matches have ended goalless, highlighting the tournament’s drama and unpredictability.

Euro 2024 Team Of The Tournament

Mamardashvili; Kimmich, Akanji, Guehi, Cucurella; Kroos, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Gakpo.

Upcoming fixtures: Nations League next

• 5th September 2024 – 8th June 2025: Nations League
• 21th March 2025 – 31st March 2026: UEFA World Cup Qualification
• 11th June – 19th July 2026: FIFA World Cup (Canada, Mexico, United States)

Safer Gambling

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.