The best and funniest memes of Euro 2020: From the Little Car to Jack Grealish as Keira Knightley

Euro 2020 is drawing to a conclusion and what a tournament it has been.

Although there might have been some trepidation about the Pan-European competition taking place across multiple countries, especially with Covid-19 still being a very real problem, it has undoubtedly provided us with some memorable moments.

From Roberto Mancini’s suits and Wales’ stunning win over Turkey in Baku, to France’s stunning loss to Switzerland on penalties and Patrick Shick’s unbelievable goal from the halfway line against Scotland, it’s been a truly exciting few weeks. There have also been sobering moments, including Denmark player Christian Eriksen’s traumatic cardiac arrest, and the entire football community showing support for the LGBTQ+ community in the face of oppression from the Hungarian government.

When it came down to the final it was England fans whose hearts were broken again as a tough 1-1 draw with Italy in the final went down to penalties and the inevitable happened to the Three Lions as the Azzurri claimed victory.

Perhaps more than any tournament in recent memory, Euro 2020 has also produced countless hilarious moments and memes that even the most cynical of football fans would find hard not to raise a smile at.

On that note here are some of our favourite memes from the past month of football:

England as Marxists

This is a row that kicked off before the tournament when the England team decided to start taking the knee before kick-off to show support for Black Lives Matter and solidarity with those facing racial injustice around the world. However, the likes of Nigel Farage, Laurence Fox and a few Tory MPs didn’t like this and falsely claimed that it was a political gesture with links to Marxism. Of course, this is nonsense but England fans turned this on its head and started to imagine what it would actually be like if the England team were actually Marxists.

Ciro Immobile feigning injury

This all depends on how seriously you take football but Ciro Immobile’s apparent feigning of an injury during Italy’s quarter-final against Belgium just before his side’s opening goal was viewed by fans as either an Oscar-winning piece of acting or shameless cheating of the highest order. Regardless, the memes were pretty darn funny in response.

Gareth Bale rolling his eyes

Wales put up a valiant fight at Euro 2020 but they could not repeat their heroics from 2016. Ultimately their tournament would end on a bit of a whimper as they were thrashed 4-0 by Denmark in the round of 16. Captain Gareth Bale’s reaction to a delayed goal confirmation by VAR became the perfect meme for summing up those everyday things that annoy everyone.

David Marshall trying to stop Shick’s goal

With 5 goals, Czech striker Patrick Shick was undoubtedly one of the players of the tournament and his stunning strike from near the halfway line against Scotland will be remembered for years to come. Unfortunately for Scottish goalkeeper David Marshall his attempts to stop the shot only rubbed salt in the wound as it became an instant meme.

This Switzerland fan’s range of emotions

Switzerland’s unlikely win over France in the Round of 16 was a shock to many people including their own fans, in particular, this guy who seemed to go through every emotion known to man in a matter of minutes.

Bukayo Saka on an inflatable unicorn

Arsenal’s 19-year-old winger Bukayo Saka has been one of the best young players at the tournament, playing a key role in a number of the Three Lions matches. While his performances on the pitch have delighted a nation, he’s also given a key contribution to the meme game, after he followed in the footsteps of Harry Maguire and got rode an inflatable unicorn in a swimming pool creating instant meme gold.

The Little Car

There have been many stars of the tournament but has any shone bigger than ‘The Little Car’? Although essentially just a marketing tool for Volkswagen – as it delivers the ball to the centre circle before kick-off – it has captured the hearts of football fans as it’s just too darn cute. Little Cars at every football match from now on, please.

Boris Johnson celebrating an England goal

This is a slightly more unsavoury meme so we’ll keep the description short but here is UK prime minister Boris Johnson watching Harry Kane score against Germany, except he actually watching Matt Hancock having an illicit affair...

Edit Szalay

You could be forgiven for not knowing who Hungarian reporter Edit Szalay was a month ago but she’ll definitely come up as a pub quiz question in the future, so remember her name. Anyway, Szalay was pitchside when Hungary took a shock lead over France. Then, all of a sudden, her little spot in the stadium was invaded by the Hungarian players as the team and the fans went wild, leading to perhaps the best reaction of the entire tournament.

Alberico Evani

Many have been left speechless by the Italian coaching staff’s flawless Armani suits which have, in all honesty, put everyone else to shame. One man has stood out more than others though and that’s AC Milan legend Alberico Evani, whose sharp haircut and moustache combination is somewhere between a Bond villain and a catwalk model.

Jack Grealish as Keira Knightley

Speaking of haircuts, perhaps the most talked-about comes from England’s Jack Grealish who has combined curtains with a headband to create one helluva barnet. Many fans have noticed that the dynamic attacker actually bears a striking resemblance to Keira Knightley in Bend it Like Beckham and it’s hard to disagree.

It’s coming home

Controversial opinion, but the ‘It’s Coming Home’ memes haven’t been quite as good as they were in 2018. That being said, the infectious chant has still put a smile on many fans faces, even if many opposition supporters are probably sick to the back teeth of it.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise was perhaps the most unlikely spectator in the stands at Wembley for the final. The Mission: Impossible star had been in attendance at Wimbledon on Sunday and was clearly taking in all the sporting sights in London that he could at the weekend. However such was the sight of the Hollywood A-lister sitting next to David Beckham that people couldn't resist making jokes.

There we are. Until next time, eh?