Euro 2024, held in Germany produced many great moments of sportsmanship. Here’s our Top 5 (in reverse order).
5th
Georgian shakes hands with Portuguese before celebrating
The 2024 European championships in Germany has produced some shocks but none more so than when Georgia beat Portugal 2-0 in the group stage. Then, that special moment came at the end of the game, when, Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (who scored a goal), instead of running onto the pitch and celebrating with his team mates at the final whistle, he stopped and went straight over to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, out of respect, and shook his hand. It was a touch of class from the Georgian star. Watch it here.
And later Ronaldo gave his shirt to Kvaratskhelia, you can see how proud he is of his opposition’s shirt
4th
Remembering Former Team Mates Who Also Suffered Penalty Loneliness
In Euro 2021 (2020 was delayed by COVID) England lost in the final against Italy by a penalty shoot-out, the three unfortunate lads to miss were Marcus Rashord, Jaden Sancho and Bukayo Saka. Only Saka was picked for the 2024 Euro 2024, so when he stepped up to take a penalty in the quarter final, the whole nation held their breath…. The young man kept his composure and scored from the spot. England went on to win the penalty shootout, with Saka picking up the man of the match award. A lovely moment came from Sancho who posted on his Instagram – “I’m so proud of this guy @bukayosaka87, you did it for me and Marcus brother”
3rd
Spanish Say Goodbye to German Hero
Germany were dumped out of Euro 2024 at the quarter-final stage by a last-minute Spanish goal in extra time. At the final whistle, it was time to say goodbye to Germany’s all-time great, Toni Kroos, who announced prior to the tournament his retirement at the end of the tournament. At the end of the game, all of the Spanish players immediately lined up to pay their respects to the German legend – and shake his hand. A real touch of class from this great Spanish side.
2nd
India and Pakistan Stop World Cup Cricket Match & Show Love for England
India were playing against Pakistan in the cricket World Cup in Edgbaston, England, while the England football team were in a penalty shootout against Switzerland. Crowds of both Indian and Pakistani fans as they gathered inside to watch the penalty shootout instead of the cricket match. United together, they all celebrated when England’s Trent tucked away his penalty to send England through to the semi-final of the European championships. Watch this truly amazing moment as many different ethnic groups from a different sport, show their love for England. Sport unites us all.
1st
Dignity in Defeat
Love him or hate him, Gareth Southgate made his players proud of playing for England. He guided England to back to back European championship finals but unfortunately lost both. Here he is, moments after losing the Euro 2024 Final, while the Spanish squad celebrated their victory – Southgate consoles his own players, applauds the opposition players and shanks hands with the referee and linesmen. A man with dignity in defeat.
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