It hasn't been perfect - but Euro 2024 a success for all the right reasons

Euro 2024 is not rather complete yet, but I americium already being asked really will it beryllium remembered.

My reply is that it has been a success. Maybe it has not ever been a awesome tourney for nan shot - that was connected and disconnected arsenic overmuch arsenic nan trains - but it's been a bully 1 for nan reasons that really matter; nan millions of fans who person travel to Germany, and nan shared experiences they sewage from watching shot together and having a bully time.

For america arsenic hosts, it has been enjoyable too. In Germany, we started disconnected by making comparisons pinch nan 2006 World Cup, which was inevitable but unrealistic.

We've not had a 2nd 'summer fairytale' aliases 'Sommermarchen' and Euro 2024 was not cleanable aliases nan champion ever, but that does not needfully mean it was disappointing. Far from it, successful fact.

Sunday’s last is nan 51st crippled since nan tourney began 31 days agone pinch Germany playing Scotland connected 14 June.

Not each crippled was outstanding and, being wholly honest, location were immoderate that were astir apt rather dull, but that is what awesome finals are usually for illustration and location were still capable entertaining matches astatine each stage.

One of nan things that became a taxable of these Euros was really nan smaller teams amazed america pinch immoderate of their performances, while playing much charismatic shot than immoderate of nan bigger nations.

For me, though, correct from nan start, it was nan fans that stood out. I will ne'er hide nan tens of thousands of Scotland supporters successful Munich and really they carried connected partying moreover aft their squad had mislaid heavily, and not a batch changed wherever I went.

I travelled thousands of miles to screen games successful almost each metropolis and I ne'er saw a hint of trouble. Thankfully, immoderate incidents for illustration that anyplace person been very fewer and acold between. From that perspective, of nan information and information of supporters, it has been peaceful, which is brilliant.

Instead I person conscionable seen and heard things that person put a grin connected my look - for illustration nan wide instrumentality walks to nan stadium that nan Dutch do earlier each crippled - aliases person near maine deafened for days afterwards, for illustration nan Romania fans who turned up nan measurement erstwhile I was sitting pinch them during their tie pinch Slovakia.

I’ve seen nan state and nan tourney from nan position of a German, a pundit and a shot fan, and enjoyed each facet of each three.

The operation of watching shot and gathering beautiful like-minded group has been unthinkable -and truthful was interviewing Gary Lineker too. I said to him for German broadcaster ARD this week, which was rather typical because he is simply a large sanction successful world shot and German shot fans for illustration him a lot.

Every clip he says thing successful Germany, group listen, truthful nan truth I could beryllium down pinch him for half an hr to talk things talk astir football, Germany and nan Euros was a awesome privilege.

As good arsenic putting together these columns, I've besides had nan chance to do immoderate activity pinch nan BBC myself connected a mates of occasions, truthful I could not person had a amended tourney from a individual aliases master constituent of view.

One of nan champion games I saw besides ended successful nan consequence that wounded nan astir - Germany’s conclusion by Spain.

While I still deliberation it could person gone nan different way, I don't deliberation you tin reason that Spain don't merit to beryllium successful nan last - it’s conscionable a shame we had to play them successful nan quarter-finals.

Losing successful nan past 8 felt for illustration an early exit for Germany but I would still opportunity that, overall, Julian Nagelsmann's broadside did OK.

More importantly, though, what we tin return distant from this tourney is that we person a enslaved betwixt nan Germany fans and nan squad again, aft respective years erstwhile nan relationship was not nan best.

We don't person a peculiarly young team, moreover pinch Toni Kroos retiring and Thomas Muller apt to extremity playing world shot too, but it is 1 that nan supporters tin place pinch and that is simply a bully spot to beryllium successful going forward, moreover if location is still a batch of activity to beryllium done if are going to triumph thing anytime soon.

Now we person sewage 2 years to really make immoderate advancement earlier nan 2026 World Cup, and this past period has to spell down arsenic a awesome beginning.

Nagelsmann gave america an breathtaking tourney astatine home, and now he has to build connected that but location are immoderate bully ingredients successful there, for illustration nan shape of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.

We person not made it to nan final, though. As good arsenic Spain, location is 1 squad location connected Sunday that we astir apt did not expect to see.

While Spain are nan champion squad I person seen here, it is really absorbing to spot really things person shifted pinch England from a constituent wherever they were getting a batch of disapproval to nan praise they are receiving now.

It is going to beryllium a really absorbing match. Spain are nan favourites but, connected a individual level, I'd emotion to spot Gareth Southgate triumph it, because he has done truthful overmuch for your nationalist squad and built nan correct situation for success.

While I still get group present asking maine why I support England, I don't deliberation anyone tin blasted maine for that.

Thomas Hitzlsperger was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan successful Berlin.