Euro 2024 photos: The best Getty images in the photographers' own words (2024)

Alex Pantling: Capturing a player heading the ball often results in compelling images, but the backlight and clean background in this shot truly emphasise the sweat spraying off Lutsharel Geertruida's head in the Netherlands' game against Austria. This, combined with the colour of the Netherlands kit, makes for a striking photograph.

Shaun Botterill: The exterior of the iconic Munich Football Arena is a sight to behold when it comes to life, illuminated in a multitude of colours. The Euros were a wonderful mix of fans, with both sets of supporters filtering through the entrance. For this shot, I used the massive exterior panels as a uniform backdrop, softened by a shallow depth of field, to highlight a passionate Romania fan proudly holding his flag aloft in the sunshine. I love how he could celebrate with fellow Romania supporters while mingling with Ukraine fans. The vibrant colours, combined with the patterned backdrop, worked perfectly to create an image previewing the match.

Matthias Hangst: I shot this frame during the match between England and Denmark in Frankfurt. Major football tournaments offer the rare opportunity to cover matches from the tribune - high in the stands among the fans - which I enjoy for its unique angles and perspectives. Whenever I'm up on one of these tribunes, I always think of one of the most famous football images of all time: Diego Maradona guarded by six Belgium players during the 1982 World Cup. Jude Bellingham is one of the shining stars of modern football, a character to focus on and try to capture in a distinctive way.

Boris Streubel: With the way modern football is played, it's sometimes difficult to capture great action shots. The slick, one-touch play doesn’t often lend itself to the crunching tackles of days gone by. Usually, it’s a stray pass or a slight error that leads to those classic confrontations. This shot of Portugal's Bruno Fernandes with his foot raised high while the Czech Republic's Antonin Barak goes to head the ball provided a fantastic opportunity to capture an amazing image. Timing was everything for this one, as capturing it slightly before or after this moment wouldn’t have had the same impact.

Julian Finney: Austria were performing exceptionally well, topping their group. This photograph was taken during their final group match against Poland, where the Austria fans travelled in large numbers. At full-time I witnessed them celebrating and my camera was drawn to a particularly enthusiastic, topless, tattooed man. I wanted to centralise him, surrounded by fellow red-clad supporters. Berlin's stadium is stunning for photography, and the gap in the structure allowed sunlight to stream through, creating a beautiful backlight that added to the drama of the scene.

Matthias Hangst: The players are under the spotlight of the world's media. Photographers capturing the team photo before each match present a wonderful opportunity to showcase the attention and focus on a team. With matches sometimes attracting up to 200 photographers on the pitch, all lenses are trained towards the two teams before kick-off. This symbolic photo of England's players before the group game against Slovenia illustrates the immense interest and societal impact football can wield. It highlights 11 players who bear the responsibility for the happiness and joy of an entire nation.

Michael Regan: Kylian Mbappe was struggling with his nose injury. This was his first match wearing the protective mask, making it essential for every photographer to capture it, as we all wondered how it might impact his performance. Despite Mbappe scoring a penalty, France managed only a draw against Poland. This moment occurred during a break in play when the discomfort became too much for him and he removed the mask, revealing a pained expression that spoke volumes about France’s struggles.

Clive Mason: As expected for a home team fixture in a major tournament, the stadium was packed and buzzing with excitement. Germany fans were in full force, but there was also a passionate contingent of Hungary supporters, despite being heavily outnumbered. From my elevated position, I was captivated by the vibrant colours of the Hungarian flags, which their fans waved frantically, creating a sea of colour that stretched from wall to wall. I particularly appreciated the contrast in the bottom right third of the frame, where a harsh shadow added an angular aspect to the picture.

Dan Mullan: This image was taken using a small remote camera attached to the top corner of the net, providing a unique perspective on a critical moment in the match between Turkey and Austria. Turkey keeper Mert Gunok denied Christoph Baumgartner an equaliser in the dying moments of the last-16 match. Some pundits compared this save to Gordon Banks' legendary stop against Pele in the 1970 World Cup. The comparison is flattering, and I am thrilled that the time invested in setting up the camera for this shot paid off.

Oliver Hardt: Thanks to our co-operation with Uefa, I secured an exclusive photo position in the stands among the fans. As the England-Slovakia match neared its end, I strategically sought out the best spot for any potential extra time and a possible penalty shootout, aiming to capture those special moments. However, football often surprises us with its twists, and this match was no exception. Positioned perfectly, I was able to capture the golden moment of Jude Bellingham's overhead kick goal with a telephoto zoom lens, highlighting the drama and excitement of the game.

Alex Pantling: I am confident that the Spain-France semi-final will be remembered as the Lamine Yamal show. Scoring a goal of such calibre in a match of this magnitude at just 16 years old is truly special. Thanks to our Uefa on-field privileged access, I was able to capture this remarkable event up close. As the match concluded, forward Lamine walked over to the Spain supporters on his own. I followed him across the pitch, leading to a wonderful moment as he celebrated with them. Being able to document such an intimate and joyous occasion was a testament to the incredible access we had during this unforgettable match.

Oliver Hardt: As a photographer, there's the inevitable pressure to capture big moments and great pictures. Images can be missed in the blink of an eye. This pressure is amplified by the occasion, and it doesn't get much bigger than the European Championship final. Capturing the winning goal - scored by Mikel Oyarzabal as Spain beat England 2-1 - not only brings great satisfaction but also creates an iconic image that defines a moment in sporting history.

Stu Forster: What would have been the equalising goal from Marc Guehi's header was perfectly captured by a remote camera positioned in the stadium roof. The image clearly shows Dani Olmo heading the ball off the line. So much effort and planning goes into the placement of these cameras that it's a nice reward to capture unique angles and defining moments like this.

Joosep Martinson: Shooting from an exclusive position in the stands provided a fantastic vantage point for the end of the match, and this moment at the final whistle perfectly sums up the night. Dani Olmo and Dani Carvajal are in utter delirium, a stark contrast to the dejected mood of Ollie Watkins, who is experiencing the complete opposite emotion.

Michael Regan: A cruel twist of the presentation ceremony is that the losing team have to file past the trophy just before watching the winners lift it. While it's an important part of the night's story, it wasn't a picture I wanted to take. This image shouldn't define the Gareth Southgate era as England manager.

Alex Pantling: I covered Spain in my first game of the tournament in Berlin and, from that game on, it was evident that they had incredible unity and team spirit. This photograph, with head coach Luis de la Fuente at the centre of the squad holding the trophy, perfectly encapsulates why they deserved to win Euro 2024. England faced the best team in the tournament by far.