Rangers lose fifth European final on penalties in Seville
Aaron Ramsey misses as Eintracht Frankfurt win 5-4 in shootout
Joe Aribo scores Rangers' goal as absorbing game finishes 1-1
Calvin Bassey's heatmap through the whole match paints the picture of a defender who marshalled his territory relentlessly.
Image source, OptaCalvin Bassey's heatmap through the whole match paints the picture of a defender who marshalled his territory relentlessly.
Mark Hateley
Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageBassey has come so far, so quickly. He's established himself as a centre-half, wing-back, full-back. He's put himself in a place right now where I imagine there's a lot of clubs looking at him. He's still only 22-years-old. He has been outstanding.
BT Sport
Former Manchester United & Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves said: "Calvin Bassey, my word, what a performance.
"That was astonishing, the energy and effort. Everything about his game was fantastic.
"Anyone watching that will be thinking: 'That's the kind of player I want in my team'."
Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland
Much has been made of the fact Rangers' ever-present centre-back Goldson is out of contract at the end of the season, but the club might have to worry about Bassey having suitors, too.
It is even more remarkable given he has come from the fringes. Bassey started as Steven Gerrard rotated his XI for a League Cup quarter-final against St Mirren last season, and was all over the place before being substituted early in a 3-2 defeat.
Four months later, he was part of the group who received a six-game ban for breaching lockdown rules by attending a party and looked out of the picture altogether. He made seven appearances - four of them starts - as Rangers won the title with Borna Barisic as the starting left-back.
Image source, Getty ImagesBassey assumed the role in the early months of this term as the Croat struggled for form and fitness but found himself shunted infield after the arrival of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and has made the new position his own. He kept Filip Helander out of the team when he briefly returned from injury, and has left Leon Balogun stuck on the bench.
The good news for Rangers is he is under contract until 2024, and can expect to command a good fee having signed him on a free transfer from Leicester in July 2020.
Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland
Bassey was excellent against Eintracht, just as he has been throughout Rangers' run to the final. He won seven of his 11 duels on the night, four of his five aerially, won possession back nine times, and made three interceptions.
Twice in extra time, with other players going down with cramp, he made two incredible recovery runs. First, after losing his footing he hared back to make a crucial tackle to stop a close-range shot.
Then a few minutes later, he chased down Ansgar Knauff and stopped the wing-back getting a free effort at goal.
Those were just a couple of examples of him using his athleticism, and there were countless others as he used sheer brute strength to defend stoutly. But he is also comfortable on the ball and in previous rounds demonstrated his ability to drive forward from the back.
It was not perfect from Bassey. Rafael Borre snuck across him in the six-yard box to score the equaliser, but he would perhaps have expected the cross to be stopped at source or Connor Goldson to intercept at the near post.
Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland
Two years ago, Calvin Bassey was in Leicester City's reserves. Little over 12 months later, he was one of five Rangers players suspended for breaking lockdown rules.
Yet on Wednesday night in Seville, the 22-year-old was being described as a "colossus" and "outstanding" for his performance in the Europa League final.
The left-back turned domineering centre-back was viewed as a weak link in the Rangers team 18 months ago after joining as an unheralded free transfer, but has been utterly transformed this season.
Now the Nigerian international suddenly looks like one of the Ibrox side's most prized assets, with the likes of Ally McCoist, Mark Hateley and Owen Hargreaves all cooing over his performance and what might come next for him.
"Calvin Bassey has been absolutely phenomenal," McCoist said on BT Sport. "He has been a colossus this evening."
BBC Sport Scotland's Thomas Duncan has dived into more detail on Calvin Bassey.
Let's break down his analysis next...
BT Sport
Rangers legend Ally McCoist: "We’ve got to look at the bigger picture and look at what these lads have given us. They now have a cup final on Saturday. They’ve got to be very, very proud of what they’ve achieved."
Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller: "They’ve gone to toe-to-toe with Champions League teams. They’ve come up short in the cruellest of ways."
A bit-part player at the start of his Rangers career, Calvin Bassey showed maturity beyond his years on one of European football's biggest stages.
The 22-year old put in a stellar performance as he dealt with everything thrown at him.
While the bids may well come in the summer...they'll have to be pretty steep to prise him away from Ibrox right now.
Image source, Getty ImagesCalvin Bassey was a colossus in Seville
Cammy Bell
Former Rangers goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageIt's so cruel, the way they've lost the game. There were opportunities for Rangers to win it, I think Ryan Kent probably should have scored. You see the emotions of the fans, so many tears tonight. It's really difficult.
Rory Loy
Former Rangers forward on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageIt was quite staggering. It wasn't the best game standards-wise, it was quite cagey. Both teams were scared to lose. Nerves were shredded towards the end, the heat took it out the players. What a horrible way to lose a game of football.
BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesThe latest episode of the Scottish Football Podcast is available now for analysis of Rangers' heartbreak in Seville.
Fair play to the big man for soldiering on with an injury that would have had some players on the deck for a fortnight.
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Ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton had a little dig at his former club's rivals at their lowest point. Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson reckons he's lacking class - "regardless of rivalry".
So, when it comes to big games and the cruellest of losses...
Thumbs up for 'Aw c'mon, it's football, of course you're going to wind folk up'
Thumbs down for 'Nope, that was below the belt, not the time'
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Steven Davis admitted the pain of defeat was made even worse because of his pre-match confidence.
“Once it goes to that stage of the game it’s a lottery,” he told BT Sport.
“We were desperate to come here and send the fans home happy. They have been tremendous for us throughout the whole campaign. The boys have been tremendous. But it hurts tonight.
“I really felt coming into the game we would go on to win it, so it’s a major disappointment. But at the same time I couldn’t be more proud of all the lads, the staff, the fans, everyone associated with the club.”
Image source, SNSDavis' contract expires this summer
Winning last night would have meant a guaranteed spot in the Champions League group stage for Rangers, but that dream is by no means gone.
They can still qualify for a spot, they just have a few more hoops to jump through first.
As Scottish Premiership runners-up they go into the third qualifying round, which means they will need to negotiate that and a play-off round to get through.
Celtic are guaranteed a group place as champions.
Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
Rangers will know that was an amazing opportunity missed and they obviously don't know when they'll get back in a final again. It's hard to reach European finals.
Rangers didn't deserve to win in 2008, they were beaten by the better team [Zenit]. That wasn't the case tonight.
Eintracht Frankfurt had a few chances themselves but at the end of the game, Rangers were stronger.
It's the oldest cliche in the book, leave it all out on the pitch and Rangers did.
If they're better than you, you take it on the chin. Rangers can't say that. You can't get any closer.
It's tiny moments.
This final wasn't to be, but Rangers have to dust themselves down and get ready for the Scottish Cup final this weekend with Hearts.
Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst told BT Sport: "I’m very disappointed. We were very close. At the end, the emotions go from high to very low.
"I’ve had these moments in my career, losing the World Cup final, it hurts. It’s for us to look ahead now, it feels difficult but we have to. We need to make sure we’re ready on Saturday [Scottish Cup final].
"I said to the players we came so far, we deserved it, I’m very proud of them. We had challenges through injuries.
"The emotions are down but we have to change it quickly. We have to start all over again. We’re going to work hard and develop as a team."
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter his heroics throughout their Europa League run, captain James Tavernier will have that extra little bit of hurt that he wasn't able to drive his side to glory yet again.
Post-match, the Rangers captain told BT Sport: "I’m devastated. I’m proud of every single one of the lads, the club and the fans.
"We wanted to make everyone proud but we didn’t get over the line. To lose on penalties, it hurts. We went toe-to-toe with them.
"It gives us fuel to push on, we want to be back in these finals and we have a massive game on Saturday.
"We are a close-knit group, we’ll get around each other. We’ll recover well because we have a massive game this weekend."
Image source, Getty Images