Madness, they called it, even before Covid-19, the idea of a pan-European football festival across 11 countries seemed like a disaster in the making.
Teams jetting all over the continent in a pandemic appeared to be the last thing we needed with the country on its knees.
Then Andrea Bocelli kicked off proceedings at the European Championship with a powerful rendition of Nessun Dorma in front of 16,000 fans at Rome’s Olympic Stadium – and a month that has lifted us all kicked off.
It hasn’t all been about the football. Christian Eriksen’s collapse with a cardiac arrest on only the second day, during Denmark’s game against Finland, brought proceedings to a shuddering halt and reminded us in stark fashion to value the people we love.
While the Danes became many people’s second favourite team, the BBC’s Alex Scott won (even more) hearts and minds with her tears, live on air, ripping up the punditry playbook to admit she was struggling.
The medics in Copenhagen who saved the life of Denmark midfielder Eriksen became a symbol of the health professionals overworked and underpaid in this country.
The need for defibrillators in schools, offices and every public place was suddenly brought into sharp focus with The Mirror leading the campaign to save lives.
England’s footballers exposed the hypocrisy of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and the other critics who now care about the national team as it threatens to achieve European Championship glory but couldn’t give two bits about the players’ fight for racial equality.
The Three Lions’ dream run aside, the football wasn’t bad either – even though it meant heartbreak for Scotland who were outclassed by the Czechs with Patrik Schick’s lob from the halfway line.
Wales would exit stage left with Gareth Bale, heartbreakingly, realising the magic that had made him the most expensive player in the world eight years ago had gone.
Star-studded world champions France went crashing out at the hands of Switzerland in an epic Monday night quarter-final.
We in England would be accused of arrogance over anthem “It’s Coming Home” by critics who failed to appreciate the despair, self-deprecation and hope in the song.
Cue Gareth Southgate and his players, not only to reactivate the phrase for the 21st-century Euros but also to spark real optimism that this would be the last summer they are ever used.
Who will win Euro 2020? Let us know your score predictions below.
First the Germans were put to the sword for the first time in knockout competition since 1966. Then that first major tournament final in five-and-a-half decades. Now this – history at the end of a special tournament.
The party can begin.
