The time arrives for Skysports.com to round-up the best and the worst of the action from Euro 2008.
Peter Fraser takes a look at the memorable moments of Euro 2008
As we reach the final of Euro 2008 the time arrives for a round-up of the best and the worst action from Austria and Switzerland.
The close of this summer's finals will also allow all England supporters still ruing the absence of their team to finally rest easy, if they have not already.
Euro 2008 has been a thoroughly entertaining tournament, to cast aside grudges against a failure to qualify and, bar a few exceptions, all teams have appeared intent on favouring an attackingly open-minded brand of football.
And here,
Sky Sports takes a look back at the moments that will live in the memory - for both good and bad reasons.
One to Remember: Holland 4 France 1
The first port of call in any round-up undoubtedly has to be the most eye-catching match and we opt not to buck the trend as, in terms of aesthetic pleasure, Marco van Basten's Holland side will be remembered.
The perennially underachieving Dutch predictably ran out of legs having stormed through the dreaded 'Group of Death', but their 4-1 victory over France will live long in the memory.
Having wiped the floor with Italy in their opening encounter, Holland made everyone begin to think that, maybe, the future was Oranje as they produced a master class in counter-attacking football in Berne.
Second only to a birthday-suited pitch invader, there are few things as pure in football as a well worked sucker punch and Holland happily produced many against Les Bleus.
With France talking a good game ahead of the tournament, the two-time champions came into this encounter well aware that, following a goalless draw with Romania, anything less than three points would leave them facing an uphill task.
And as Thierry Henry pulled one back after Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie had handed Holland a two-goal lead, things looked promising for a French side dominating proceedings.
However, almost immediately Arjen Robben - from an impossible angle - netted in clinical rope-a-dope fashion before Wesley Sneijder curled in from range to seal the sort of result which makes you feel warm inside.
One to Forget: Greece 0 Sweden 2
Of course the best match has to be accompanied by its evil twin sister - a worst match - and here we have a bit of a toss up.
On one side there is the aforementioned drab stalemate between France and Romania, but the greater offender is Sweden's 2-0 victory over holders Greece in Group D.
Following Greece's slightly less than adventurous tactics, the phrase, 'do you know what? I'd like to see a bit more sideways passing', is likely to see you chased out of EM Stadion.
The fact that Otto Rehhagel's side were defending their 2004 crown in such pessimistic style was perhaps what rankles the most.
But to make matters worse, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's well-taken opener continued the summer trend of players who had been dismissed as 'overhyped' by this writer causing begrudging about-turns, while Petter Hansson's bumbled second summed everything up.
Controversy: Howard Webb, Austria 1 Poland 1
How reassuring that, with messers Terry, Gerrard, Rooney and Beckham all away on their jollies, it is an Englishman who provided us with the most debatable talking point at Euro 2008.
Despite having already invited Poland's Brazilian-born midfielder Roger Guerreiro to put his side in front from what looked a certain offside position against Austria in their second match of Group B, Webb was not finished.
The Rotherham-based official awarded a last-gasp penalty to co-hosts Austria after Marcin Wasilewski was adjudged to have pulled Sebastian Prodl's shirt and 38-year-old Ivica Vastic duly converted from the spot.
Uefa praised the decision to punish Wasilewski's disfigurement of Prodl's attire, while Poland coach Leo Beenhakker slammed Webb for - effectively - costing his side a place in the knock-out stages. The jury is still out.
Star of the Show: Andrei Arshavin
This one, as the saying goes, writes itself. Despite an alarmingly abject semi-final performance, you do not have to be the manager of Barcelona, Arsenal or Chelsea to recognise that Arshavin has been this summer's stand-out player.
Prior to kick-off in Austria and Switzerland, an air of uncertainty surrounded a slightly unknown character, who had earned a place in Guus Hiddink's Russia squad despite being suspended for the first two games.
However, Hiddink reaffirmed that he does not miss a trick as Arshavin took Euro 2008 by storm.
Despite lacking in inches, the 27-year-old possesses the body and strength of a particularly potent bottle of his country's finest export Vodka, while his pace, skill and awareness allow him to link play with an apparent absence of effort.
Spain striker David Villa deserves mention for his price-inflating goalscoring exploits, while Germany full-back Philipp Lahm has also caught the eye.
Magic Moment: Turkey 3 Czech Republic 2
No, not any time a camera panned onto a view of Mrs Rafael Van der Vaart, or any glimpse of now retired Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber's comedy pony-tail, but the most enthralling single event of Euro 2008.
Holland's counter-attacking play has earned previous high praise and, for any callous neutral, penalty shoot-out heartbreak always makes good viewing.
But Turkey's dramatically late victory over Czech Republic, to book a place in the last eight in the final game of Group A at the expense of their opponents, served the most drama.
With Euro 96 finalists Czech Republic cruising and seemingly on course to progress to the latter stages courtesy of goals from Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil, all seemed set for a predictable quarter-final line-up.
However, Arda Turan put the cat amongst the pigeons with 15 minutes remaining and Nihat Kahveci then struck twice (87 and 89) to send Turkey scrambling for extended accommodation, while Czech Republic began to pack their bags.
Turkey, though, were to discover that the boot can be on the other foot as they suffered late on at the hands of Germany in similar style in the semi-finals.
Biggest Flop: Nicolas Anelka
The ruthless among us would be tempted to blast the French team as a whole as they crashed out of Group C with only one point, while 2006 World Cup winners Italy received their quarter-final comeuppance for refusing to recognise that modern football has moved on.
However, Anelka earns especial criticism following his lacklustre performances in Austria and Switzerland.
After playing only 111 minutes in which he did not appear to break sweat, Anelka misses out on his infamous 'Le Sulk' nickname and is instead branded 'Le Flop'.
The Chelsea striker has struggled at Stamford Bridge since a £15million move from Bolton in January and that fee continues to be greeted with a slight hesitancy from all in blue, at club and international level.
One to Watch: Luka Modric
The likes of Arshavin and Villa would appear too obvious and, therefore, Modric receives the nod.
Despite helping to oversee two victories over England in qualification, Tottenham supporters were slightly taken aback when a club record fee was splashed on Croatia midfielder Modric in April.
However, Spurs boss Juande Ramos seems to have landed a real star as Modric made Croatia tick and his ability to spot a pass and keep possession will fit nicely with the White Hart Lane faithful next season.
Despite netting his country's opening goal of the tournament from the spot, it is safe to say Modric will not be taking Tottenham's penalties following a rotten miss in Croatia's quarter-final shoot-out defeat to Turkey.
And it remains to be seen if the 22-year-old can survive the rough and tumble of the Premier League, but if played alongside the likes of an experienced and leggy Jermaine Jenas or Didier Zokora, Modric looks set to flourish.
Blast from the Past: Switzerland 1 Turkey 2
To finish off it seems fitting to have a helping of nostalgia as we reminisce over Turkey's soggy 2-1 victory over co-hosts Switzerland in Group A.
Ever since the torrential first half downpour, the Basel pitch has resembled a patchwork quilt, but the match itself was gripping and fun-filled as players slipped and slid through puddle-based performances.
Not only was the encounter a riveting watch, it brought about flashbacks to rainy day schoolboy football as a ruthless P.E teacher dressed from head to toe in water-proof clobber held an umbrella in one hand and pointed menacingly with the other while barking, 'get stuck in' orders.
As a child sporting ill-fitting kit you battled on, cursing your teacher under your breath, but deep down you loved the experience.
And that appeared to be the case in the opening 45 minutes between Switzerland and Turkey as Hakan Yakin put the former in front only for Semih Senturk and Arda Turan to hit back in the second half.
Despite the grudge match build-up, on paper this was perhaps not the most appealing fixture, but the conditions and the enthusiasm of both sets of players contributed to an entertaining piece which continued the overall trend of an eye-catching tournament.
