Hosts Germany claim Nations Trophy on dramatic final night at multi-sport European Championships

Germany grabbed the multi-sport European Championships' coveted Nations Trophy in dramatic fashion on a thrilling final night in Munich. Home favourite and individual 100m champion Gina Luckenkemper helped lead the hosts to a memorable victory as Germany's gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay – their 26th overall, and coming in the final race of the championships – proved decisive in front of a bumper Olympic Stadium crowd.

Ad Britain's men's 4x100m relay gold had teed up a tantalising conclusion but after the defending relay champions dropped the baton in the women's contest, Germany pounced to send the city's Olympic Park into raptures. AthleticsHudson-Smith helps secure scintillating European gold in Munich8 MINUTES AGO Italy finished third in the overall standings with 14 golds while France missed out on a top three place with 11 titles across the competition.

After 11 days of thrilling action among some of the continent's hottest athletes across nine sports, it seemed fitting the Nations Trophy was decided by the very final event. Both Germany and Britain were duelling it out fiercely throughout the whole competition, with the likes of marathon star Richard Ringer, decathlon king Niklas Kaul and sprint queen Luckenkemper blazing a trail for other nations to follow.

Britain were hot on their heels throughout, however, grabbing a memorable six rowing gold medals in the water on the opening weekend ahead of Jessica Gadivora's stunning gymnastics gold medal on the floor on Sunday evening. Eilish McColgan got the ball rolling for Britain in the athletics with 10,000m silver on the opening night at the Olympic Stadium, but Britain struggled for early momentum on a day when Ringer captured a breathtaking marathon