NETHERLANDS

Widely tipped as dark horses, Turkey were one of the most disappointing teams at the tournament. Goals were expected from Lille’s Ligue 1-winning striker Burak Yilmaz, but the 35-year-old failed to find the net while his team-mates only did so once, losing all three of their group games. Even with their veteran frontman, Turkey had the youngest squad in the tournament, but youthful vigour failed to shine through. They limped out with the worst record in the group stage thanks to a goal difference of minus seven, yet coach Senol Gunes has refused to resign.

TURKEY

Callum McGregor’s equaliser at Hampden Park in the key game against Croatia provided momentary hope for Scotland, but their opponents went on to turn on the same style that saw them reach the 2018 World Cup final. An unfortunate loss to the Czech Republic in their opening game meant Scotland were up against it from the off and a draw with England meant everything was riding on that final game, which they lost 3-1. There is plenty of promise in Steve Clarke’s team, who were playing at their first Euros since 1996, but they lacked a cutting edge.

SCOTLAND

A perfect record in the group stage suggested coach Frank de Boer had found a way to make the Netherlands tick after they had failed to qualify for the two previous major tournaments. It wasn’t to last, though. Things began to take a turn for the worse after Matthijs de Ligt was sent off for handling the ball when Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick was otherwise clean though on goal. De Boer failed to reorganise his ten men, who conceded goals from a set-piece and a misplaced header. He left his job just two days later.

At one stage it looked like Germany might suffer the unthinkable ignominy of exiting at the group stage – just as they had done at the last World Cup. A late Leon Goretzka goal against Hungary spared those particular blushes, but it only delayed the inevitable for Joachim Low’s side. They were knocked out by England following a disappointing display that summed up their current situation. Germany will try to forget their last two tournaments and look forward to making the most of their talented side in a new era under Hansi Flick.

After cruising through qualifying, topping their group with a perfect record and defeating Portugal in the last 16, Roberto Martinez’s side came unstuck against an Italian side as stubborn as they were talented. Going into the tournament, pressure was high on the world’s top-ranked side, with suggestions that their Golden Generation is coming to an end; pressure that will undoubtedly increase at next year’s World Cup. 19-year-old winger Jeremy Doku, so impressive in the defeat to Italy, showed that more talent is coming through, while Romelu Lukaku led the line throughout the tournament in a way few others can. The Internazionle striker will still be in his prime in Qatar, and he will need to be if Belgium are to finally land the success their immense talent deserves.