Rooney comes of age, Will Grigg on fire – talkSPORT writers’ best Euros memories

Given football in England is on the verge of coming back after a three-month hiatus, you may have forgotten that Euro 2020 should have started today.

For obvious reasons, the tournament has been pushed back a year while the footballing authorities in Europe and across the world look to catch up on the fixture backlog.

Nevertheless, talkSPORT.com‘s esteemed group of writers have picked out some of their favourite memories from previous European Championships to whet your appetite for next summer.

Sean O’Brien (GameDay Editor)

As a 25-year-old who roots for England and Ireland, the Euros have brought little joy in my lifetime. On the pitch, at least.

My favourite memory, therefore, isn’t a great goal or a dramatic victory – it’s the Will Grigg phenomenon at Euro 2016.

Northern Ireland fans totally hijacked the tournament, the scenes in the streets of France were special. And suddenly, everyone across Europe was singing ‘Will Grigg’s on fire’, even Germany’s Mats Hummels.

Grigg didn’t even play most of the time! All that fuss over a League One striker.

Jake Bacon (Sports Writer)

After a stuttering start against Russia at Euro 2016, the pressure was ramped up on England for their clash with Wales.

Gareth Bale gave the Dragons the lead with a long-range free-kick, which Joe Hart should have saved.

Taking Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling off for Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy at half-time seemed to be a last throw of the dice by Roy Hodgson, but his substitutions paid off brilliantly.

Vardy equalised four minutes before the hour mark and Sturridge scored in injury time to, what we thought would, kickstart England’s Euro 2016 campaign.

A disappointing goalless draw with Slovakia followed, before the game against Iceland – and we don’t need to relive that. The dramatic win over Wales was the only good moment in a dreadful tournament for England.

Anton Stanley (Features Editor)

Sometimes football isn’t all about the result – I know, right? The atmosphere you cultivate with those surrounding you often makes those magical moments even more special – even if injury time goals wreck the best laid plans.

Saturday June 11, 2016 started with a tremendous downpour and a leg stretch from Mile End to The Horn of Plenty in Stepney Green, a lovely pub full of friendly faces – who else would you want to be with while watching Switzerland defeat Albania thanks to a Fabian Schar strike?

Onwards! Next the assembled forces were at the New Rose in Islington, the rain had cleared just in time for us to see Gareth Bale and Hal Robson-Kanu swat away a tricky Slovakia test, and earn this then-eager punter a few extra quid which would immediately be plowed into…