20 Greatest European Championship Moments of All-Time
by Jon O'brien
The history of the European Championship may not quite stick in the memory as much as the World Cup, but since its inception way back in 1960, it’s produced almost as much drama, intrigue and wonder as its more global counterpart.
With the newly-expanded 15th edition set to kick off at the Stade de France on June 10 – the last time that the prestigious tournament will be staged in just one country – we’ve trawled through the archives to find the greatest and most significant incidents the competition we all know and love as the Euros has had to offer over the past 56 years.
From show-stopping golden goals and jaw-dropping displays of skill to highly intense penalty shootouts and hot-headed meltdowns, not to mention possibly the most surprising winners of a major international trophy ever – these are the kind of moments that we’ll be hoping to see plenty more of this summer.
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<p>Just four teams entered the inaugural 1960 tournament – then named the European Nations Cup – with Yugoslavia and hosts France chosen to kick off proceedings at Paris’ Parc des Princes.</p>
<p>It’s fair to say that they did so in style. Despite the absence of their two star men, Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine, the French looked to be heading comfortably into the final when they went 3-1 and then 4-2 up in the second half.</p>
<p>But with less than a quarter of an hour to go, their opponents suddenly went into turbo-charged mode and scored an astonishing three goals in the space of just five minutes, stunning the previously jubilant home crowd to win 5-4.</p>
<p>To make matters worse, France also lost the third-place play-off and had to wait another 24 years before they got their hands on the trophy.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">The Italian team poses for pictures after beating Yugoslavia 2-0 in the UEFA European Football Championship Final replay at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, 10th June 1968. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>The coin toss</h3>
<p>Penalty shootouts, golden goals, silver goals – there have been many ways to settle a draw in tournament football over the years, but they don’t come much crueller or much more random than the approach adopted in Euro 1968.</p>
<p>Yes, in a sport dependent on skill, flair and finesse, UEFA bosses decided that the most appropriate way to settle the semi-final between Soviet Union and Italy was the toss of a coin.</p>
<p>Following an evenly-matched goalless 120 minutes, Soviet captain Albert Shesternyov was given the thankless responsibility of calling heads or tails on the flip of a Dutch guilder. Sadly, for him and the rest of his weary side, he guessed wrong and a fortunate Italy went through.</p>
<p>The Italians’ final against Yugoslavia also finished level, but UEFA had finally seen sense by then and the much fairer method of a replay, in which they won 2-0, determined the outcome instead.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC: TO GO WITH AFP STORY ‘Le Bohemians Prague renait grace a une collecte de ses supporteurs’ Soccer players of FC Bohemians thank their fans after the match with Slavia Prague at Vrsovice stadium in Prague 07 August 2005. Czech football club Bohemians Prague, a former first division team which reached the semi-finals of the UEFA cup in 1982-1983, has reemerged from a financial crisis that threatened to wipe it out, thanks to a collection by fans this year. The club, founded 100 years ago and where the celebrated Antonin Panenka, the hero of the Czechoslovak Euro-1976 final vistory over West Germany, once played, is now back, after losing its licence at the start of the year. Now playing in the third division, club officials hope to return to the top by 2010. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Panenka’s ice-cool penalty</h3>
<p>Precisely placing it into the top corner, wrong-footing the keeper with a dummy, blasting it straight down the middle – there must be a million and one possible options running through the mind of a player when they make that dreaded long walk from the half-way line to the penalty spot.</p>
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<p>Deftly chipping the keeper probably wasn’t one of them until Czechoslovakia’s cult hero Antonin Panenka wowed everyone with such a tactic in the Euro 1976 final.</p>
<p>Such a showboating trick would be viewed as a bold move at any time. But Panenka’s was made all the more impressive for being the decisive penalty in a shootout which saw his side pull off a surprise victory over West Germany.</p>
<p>The moustachioed man’s ice-cool chip over helpless keeper Sepp Maier has been imitated numerous times since, with both Spain’s Sergio Ramos and Italy’s Andrea Pirlo recently pulling it off in Euro 2012.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini arrives to attend his appeal against a eight year ban from football on February 15, 2016 at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich .<br>The 60-year-old Frenchman was banned for eight years on December 21 over a two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment that FIFA leader Sepp Blatter authorised for Platini. Blatter was also banned for eight years. / AFP / MICHAEL BUHOLZER (Photo credit should read MICHAEL BUHOLZER/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Platini dominates Euro ‘84</h3>
<p>Following his controversial, corrupt and, at times, downright crazy eight-year spell as UEFA President, it’s sometimes easy to forget that Michel Platini was once one of the most gifted and most idolised footballers ever to grace the beautiful game.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Nowhere was that more apparent than the 1984 European Championships in France, where he virtually singlehandedly guided the host nation to victory with nine goals – a record that still stands today.</p>
<p>The now-disgraced Frenchman started as he meant to go on with the opening goal in the opening game against Denmark, and went onto score a brace against Belgium and a hat-trick against Yugoslavia before netting a 119th minute winner in the semi-final against Portugal.</p>
<p>The three-time Ballon d’Or recipient then capped off his remarkable run with the opening goal in France’s 2-0 final win against Spain. If only his behaviour off the pitch had been as commendable as it was on it.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Michel Platini of France during the Semi Final Football European Championship ( Euro 1984 ) between France and Portugal, Marseille, France on 23 June, 1984<br>( Photo by Michel Barrault / Onze / Icon Sport via Getty Images )</p>
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<h3>Manuel Amoros’ headbutt</h3>
<p>While Platini was busy showcasing his silky smooth skills, teammate Manuel Amoros was busy showcasing his talents as a streetfighter.</p>
<p>Following a challenge from Danish opponent Jesper Olson in the opening game of Euro 1984, the French defender spectacularly saw red – rather stupidly right in front of the referee.</p>
<p>Amoros initially attempted to throw the ball at Olson’s head before deciding that a headbutt would be a more appropriate punishment. Incredibly, despite this blatant display of thuggery, Amoros tried to dispute his inevitable dismissal, but his argument fell on deaf ears and he wasn’t seen again until he came on as a substitute in the final.</p>
<p>Of course, it wouldn’t be the last time that a Frenchman would receive his marching orders in a major tournament for losing his head – although Zinedine Zidane’s moment of World Cup madness ultimately proved to be far more costly.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">assistent trainer Marco van Basten of AZ during the Dutch Eredivisie match between AZ Alkmaar and Pec Zwolle at AFAS stadium on September 21, 2014 in Alkmaar, The Netherlands.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Marco van Basten’s volley</h3>
<p>You know you’ve produced a pretty special move as a player when it’s not only given your name, but when every football-mad kid in the school playground attempts to faithfully recreate it the next day.</p>
<p>Marco van Basten had already cemented his place alongside Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit in the holy trinity of late ‘80s Dutch footballers before his side’s final against the Soviet Union in Euro 88.</p>
<p>But his astonishing right foot volley, which the future national coach somehow managed to thump in the top corner of the net from an impossibly tight angle in the penalty area, assured his place in the list of all-time greats.</p>
<p>His sensational strike, which put Holland 2-0 up nine minutes into the second half and all but guaranteed victory at Munich’s Olympiastadion, may have not been the decisive goal but it’s certainly the one that everyone remembers nearly 30 years on.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Sport, Football, pic: October 1989, World Cup Qualifier in Dublin, Republic of Ireland 3 v Northern Ireland 0, Republic of Ireland’ s Ronnie Whelan brings down Northern Ireland’s Nigel Worthington who goes flying (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Ronnie Whelan’s volley</h3>
<p>Ronnie Whelan might not have exuded the same sense of glamor as van Basten, but his incredible volley against USSR in the same tournament was every bit as magical.</p>
<p>Following a triumphant win over neighbors England in their first ever major competition, the Irish team continued to display their talents on the world stage with a hard-fought 1-1 draw over eventual runners-up Soviet Union</p>
<p>And they had Whelan to thank after the Liverpool captain connected with the ball from a long throw-in and spectacularly struck it from just inside the penalty area into the top right hand corner of the net.</p>
<p>Replays later indicated that the ball actually came off Whelan’s shins, but whether it was a stroke of luck or an act of footballing genius, Ireland didn’t care. Sadly, a defeat to Holland ended their Euro 88 dream, although they did go onto reach the quarter finals of the World Cup in Italy just two years later.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(FILE PHOTO) In this composite image a comparison has been made between images (L-R) 1251624 and 186224564 of Father (L) and Son (R).<br>**LEFT IMAGE*** 11 Aug 1996: Peter Schmeichel of Manchester United celebrates during the FA Charity Shield between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium in London. Manchester went on to defeat Newcastle by 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport UK<br>***RIGHT IMAGE*** LEICESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester City celebrates a Leicester goal during the Capital One Cup fourth round match between Leicester City and Fulham at the King Power Stadium on October 29, 2013 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Denmark sneak through the backdoor</h3>
<p>Marco van Basten would also play a significant role – albeit one which he’d much rather forget – in Euro 1992, a tournament responsible for perhaps one of football’s most remarkable underdog stories.</p>
<p>Having failed to qualify for the finals, Denmark then snuck through the backdoor following the break-up of Yugoslavia, but were expected to be sent packing in an even quicker fashion than they had arrived.</p>
<p>However, with no pressure placed upon them, the Danes went onto finish ahead of England and France in the group stage, while Peter Schmeichel became a national hero when he saved van Basten’s spot-kick in a dramatic semi-final shoot-out against the Dutch holders.</p>
<p>Denmark were still being written off as no-hopers by some in the final, but proved they weren’t there just to make up the numbers once and for all by beating world champions Germany 2-0, with a spectacular opening goal from John Jensen proving to be the icing on the Danish pastry.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Davor Suker during the World Series of Boxing between British Lionhearts and Astana Arlans Kazakhstan on February 7, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Šuker’s cheeky chip</h3>
<p>In the four years between Euro ‘92 and Euro ‘96, Peter Schmeichel had established himself as one of the world’s greatest keepers, with his imposing presence an integral part of Manchester United’s early Premier League dominance.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>But he was made to look rather foolish by dark horses Croatia, and star man Davor Šuker in particular, following a daring, but ill-advised, run-up to the opposite end of the pitch in the second round of group stage games.</p>
<p>With Denmark 2-0 down in injury time, Schmeichel decided to add some extra manpower for his side’s corner kick. But he was forced to compete in an epic race back to his own goal line when Croatia quickly regained possession.</p>
<p>Although he made it back in time to prevent Šuker the opportunity of an open goal, he then had to suffer the indignity of watching the striker’s deft chip sail over his head and into the net instead.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Gareth Southgate’s penalty miss</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409884" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – MARCH 24: Gareth Southgate manager of England U21 speaks during an England U21 press conference ahead of their UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier against Switzerland at St Georges Park on March 24, 2016 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Gareth Southgate’s penalty miss</h3>
<p>“It’s coming home. It’s coming. Football’s coming home” roared the packed-out Wembley during England’s semi-final showdown with arch rivals Germany in Euro ‘96. And up until Gareth Southgate stepped up to take a penalty, it really did seem as though the words of Lightning Seeds and Baddiel & Skinner’s football anthem would prove to be prescient.</p>
<p>England hadn’t won a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup but after seeing-off neighbors Scotland, demolishing Holland and squeezing past Spain, there was hope that the 30 years of hurt was finally coming to an end.</p>
<p>Terry Venables’ side more than matched favorites Germany in normal time, and Paul Gascoigne came agonisingly close to adding a more triumphant chapter to his life story in the subsequent extra 30 minutes. But after finishing 1-1, the game went to penalties.</p>
<p>Gareth Southgate, the Aston Villa defender not exactly renowned for his deadly striking prowess, then joined Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce on the list of England’s spot-kick failures with a shot weaker than a wet paper bag. The ruthlessly efficient Germany inevitably scored all five of theirs and progressed to a final against Czech Republic.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Germany’s golden goal</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409885" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">18 May 1999: Patrik Berger of Liverpool in action against Nicky Summerbee of Sunderland during the 100th League Championship Challenge match against Sunderland played at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England. The match finished in a 2-3 win for the visitors Liverpool. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport</p>
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<h3>Germany’s golden goal</h3>
<p>Some Czech Republic fans may well have preferred the old coin toss method of settling a draw at Euro ‘96 after becoming the first team to lose a final on the golden goal rule.</p>
<p>The Czechs, who had been the surprise package of the tournament, looked like causing an upset when Borussia Dortmund’s Patrick Berger scored from the penalty spot in the 59th minute to put his side 1-0 up.</p>
<p>But of course, Germany aren’t renowned for giving up easily, and after Oliver Bierhoff equalised 14 minutes later, it only seemed a matter of when, and not if, they would score the decisive goal.</p>
<p>That question was answered five minutes into extra time when Bierhoff became the first player to hit the net twice in a final since West Germany’s Horst Hrubesch in 1980, and with the newly-imposed golden goal now in place, the Czechs weren’t given any chance to reply.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Yugoslavia’s goal bonanza</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409886" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 27: Gaizka Mendieta of Boro battles with Thomas Gravesen of Everton during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Everton and Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on March 27, 2004 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Yugoslavia’s goal bonanza</h3>
<p>40 years after their epic 5-4 win over France in the very first European Championships game and Yugoslavia would once again compete in a high-scoring end-to-end thriller in the shape of this Group C Euro 2000 closer.</p>
<p>This time they were on the receiving end, but they certainly put up a good fight against Spain, taking the lead not just once but three times before two dramatic injury time goals from Alfonso and Gaizka Mendieta finished them off.</p>
<p>Yugoslavia had previously clawed back a three goal deficit to draw against Slovenia and thanks to a win over Norway, progressed to the quarter final stage alongside Spain where they met one of the joint hosts, Netherlands.</p>
<p>There were seven goals in that game too, but sadly for the Yugoslavs, who were competing in their last international tournament before changing their name to Serbia and Montenegro, six of them went to the Dutch.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Xavier’s meltdown</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409887" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-409887" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F52532186-fussball-1-bl-0304-hannover-96-hertha-bsc-berlin-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">HANNOVER, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 29: Fussball: 1. Bundesliga 03/04, Hannover; Hannover 96 – Hertha BSC Berlin 1-3; Abel XAVIER / HANNOVER diskutiert mit Schiedsrichter Joerg KESSLER 29.02.04. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Xavier’s meltdown</h3>
<p>Six years before they engaged in one of the most notoriously dirty games in international history (the 2006 Battle of Nuremberg vs. Holland) Portugal offered a taste of things to come in their Euro 2000 semi-final showdown against eventual winners France.</p>
<p>With the prospect of a penalty shoot-out looming, France were given a literally golden opportunity to snatch victory six minutes from the end of extra time when Abel Xavier blocked a Sylvain Wiltord shot on the goal line with his hand.</p>
<p>Zinedine Zidane scored the resulting spot kick to put his side through on the golden goal rule, much to the dismay of the Portuguese, who then bombarded poor Austrian referee Günter Benkö with a torrent of abuse.</p>
<p>Xavier’s foul-mouthed and aggressive reaction was deemed to be even more offensive than his bleached blonde haircut and subsequently received a six-month ban – reduced from an initial nine-month one – from the game entirely.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Zidane’s chest control</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409888" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-409888" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F115126836-euro-2000-france-defeats-portugal-2-1-in-the-semi-final-in-brussels-belgium-on-june-28-2000-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389" srcset="https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/115126836-euro-2000-france-defeats-portugal-2-1-in-the-semi-final-in-brussels-belgium-on-june-28-2000-850x560.jpg 850w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/115126836-euro-2000-france-defeats-portugal-2-1-in-the-semi-final-in-brussels-belgium-on-june-28-2000-768x508.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BELGIUM – JUNE 28: Euro 2000: France defeats Portugal 2-1 in the semi final in Brussels, Belgium on June 28, 2000 – Zinedine Zidane. (Photo by Pool MERILLON/STEVENS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Zidane’s chest control</h3>
<p>Thankfully the aforementioned Portugal-France game will also be remembered for something other than its rather ugly finale.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Zinedine Zidane may have grabbed France’s controversial winner, but it was his glorious chest control halfway through the second half which had even his fiercest critics rising to their feet and applauding.</p>
<p>Despite running at full pelt, the hot-headed maestro somehow managed to control a long-range pass from Bixente Lizarazu on his chest just outside the penalty area. Then, just when it looked as though he was about to fall flat on his face, he regained his balance, pirouetted in the style of a graceful ballerina and controlled the ball with his outstretched right foot, going onto produce a cross which very nearly resulted in a goal.</p>
<p>It was an exquisite piece of footballing magic which even after repeated views, you still have no idea as to how he pulled it off.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">The thrilling Euro 2000 final</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409889" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-409889" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F493896458-arsenal-training-session-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: ex Arsenal player Robert Pires watches a training session at London Colney on October 23, 2015 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>The thrilling Euro 2000 final</h3>
<p>There proved to be just as much high drama in France’s subsequent encounter with Italy at Rotterdam’s Stadion Feijenoord, and once again Sylvain Wiltord was in the thick of the action.</p>
<p>With Dino Zoff’s men almost able to taste the champagne thanks to Marco Delvecchio’s opening goal, the Arsenal winger came to the rescue when his last-gasp low drive gave his side an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time.</p>
<p>The goal inevitably knocked the wind out of Italy’s sails, and the French went onto dominate the first half of extra time before breaking their opponents’ hearts once again when David Trezeguet pounced on a cross from Robert Pirès to deliver a goal which could be described as literally show-stopping.</p>
<p>There have been finals with more goals, bigger shocks and an overall better standard of play, but for pure thrills and spills, Euro 2000 unarguably remains the one to beat.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-409890" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F497673576-denmark-v-sweden-uefa-euro-2016-qualifier-play-off-second-leg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – NOVEMBER 17: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden is interviewed by Karin Frick and Hans ‘Hasse’ Backe for Swedish television after celebrating the qualification for the EURO 2016 in France following the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifier play-off second leg match between Denmark and Sweden at Telia Parken stadium on November 17, 2015 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Zlatan Ibrahimović’s backheel</h3>
<p>Zlatan Ibrahimović may be so egotistical that he makes Kanye West look shy and reserved, but his equaliser against Italy in Euro 2004 is just one of many wonder goals that proves the Swede can put his money where his big mouth is.</p>
<p>With just five minutes to go, the self-proclaimed god of football and his fellow countrymen looked to be heading for a 1-0 defeat to Italy in their second group stage game at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão.</p>
<p>But never missing an opportunity to grab the headlines, Ibrahimović then beat a racing Gianluigi Buffon to the ball just inside the six-yard box to lob it over both the keeper and helpless defender Christian Vieri – with none other than his backheel.</p>
<p>Zlatan would go on to score far prettier goals in his career, including a jaw-dropping scissor kick against France in Euro 2012, but this improvised display remains his most audacious.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">The Sweden-Denmark ‘fix’</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409891" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-409891" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F78990737-bt-sport-football-uefa-european-championships-euro-2004-algarve-faro-loule-26th-june-2004-quarter-final-holland-0-v-sweden-0-after-extra-time-holland-won-on-penalties-tobias-linderoth-of-sw-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Sport, Football, UEFA European Championships, Euro 2004, Algarve, Faro-Loule, 26th June 2004, Quarter Final, Holland 0 v Sweden 0, after extra time, Holland won on penalties, Tobias Linderoth of Sweden watches Holland’s Clarence Seedorf (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>The Sweden-Denmark ‘fix’</h3>
<p>Sweden and Denmark were ultimately cleared of any match-fixing allegations, but still, their 2-2 result at Euro 2004 remains one of the tournament’s most questionable results.</p>
<p>Going into the final round of group games, Italy would be guaranteed a quarter-final place if they beat Bulgaria – which they did 2-1 – and Sweden and Denmark failed to produce a draw higher than 1-1.</p>
<p>Although the Nordic derby wasn’t quite as transparent as the West Germany-Austria game which dumped Algeria out of the World Cup in 1982, suspicions were raised when Henrik Larsson equalised for Sweden in the 89th minute, resulting in a 2-2 draw that put both sides through on goal difference and eliminated Italy.</p>
<p>The fact that an unusually high amount of money had been bet on that exact scoreline added further weight to the conspiracy theory. But despite an understandable complaint from the Italians, UEFA decided that neither team had done anything wrong.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Greece stun the world</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409892" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-409892" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F165232245-euro-cup-slug-0601104-a-group-of-greek-funs-celebrates-the-victory-of-greece-over-portugal-in-fi-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Euro Cup Slug—06/011/04-A group of Greek funs celebrates the victory of Greece over Portugal in first EuroCup game on Danforth St. , June 12, 2004. (Kazuyoshi Ehara/Toronto Star) (Photo by Kaz Ehara/Toronto Star via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Greece stun the world</h3>
<p>Greece had only ever qualified for two international tournaments – the 1994 USA World Cup and Euro ‘80 in Spain – so their 150-1 rank outsider odds came as little surprise when they made it to a third in Euro 2004.</p>
<p>Despite a placing in the Group of Death alongside Spain, Russia and hosts Portugal, the Greeks defied all the low expectations to finish second and earn a quarter final against the much-fancied France.</p>
<p>Incredibly, Otto Rehhagel’s men thwarted the reigning champions and after a semi-final victory over Czech Republic, beat the Portuguese for the second time in a matter of weeks to land the trophy outright and ultimately cause one of the biggest international upsets ever.</p>
<p>Greece’s overly-defensive style of play may not have been particularly entertaining to watch – in fact, at times it was downright tedious. But even their biggest detractors had to admire the tactical nous of a team that most expected to be on the first plane home.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Turkey’s last-minute run</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409893" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BASEL, SWITZERLAND – JUNE 25: Semih Senturk of Turkey celebrates scoring Turkey’s second goal during the UEFA EURO 2008 Semi Final match between Germany and Turkey at St. Jakob-Park on June 25, 2008 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Turkey’s last-minute run</h3>
<p>If ever there was a team that embodied the ‘play to the final whistle’ mantra then it was Turkey in Euro 2008.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>The tournament’s rank outsiders first proved that it ain’t over ‘til it’s over when Arda Turan scored a 92nd minute winner against Switzerland in their second group stage game to keep them in the competition.</p>
<p>Fatih Terim’s men then came from 2-0 behind against the Czech Republic to win 3-2 in their subsequent Group A decider, with Nihat Kahveci scoring in the 89th minute. Croatia looked to have beat them at their own game when they went ahead in the 119th minute of their quarter final clash, only for Semih Şentürk to equalize with the last kick of added time, with his side going on to win the penalty shoot-out.</p>
<p>However, their semi-final encounter with Germany showed that time wasn’t always on their side when Philipp Lahm sent them home with a 90th minute winner. Still, at least their travelling fans were always guaranteed value for money.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">Spain win historic treble</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_409894" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-409894" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F81778313-spanish-team-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">MADRID, SPAIN – JUNE 30: The Spanish team throw their manager Luis Aragones into the air while celebrating with fans at Plaza Colon after winning the UEFA EURO 2008 Final match between Germany and Spain 2008 on June 30, 2008 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Spain win historic treble</h3>
<p>Having failed to land a major trophy since 1964, Spain then couldn’t stop winning them once their golden generation came of age in the late 00s/early 10s.</p>
<p>Vicente del Bosque’s men kickstarted their world-conquering run at the Euro 2008 final with a 1-0 win over Germany, and added to their tally just two years later against the Dutch in South Africa when they became the first European nation to win a World Cup outside their own continent.</p>
<p>But it was their majestic display against Italy in the Euro 2012 final which cemented their place in the history books, with their 4-0 demolition job making them the first ever country to win three major back-to-back titles.</p>
<style>.theiaPostSlider_nav._lower {display: none !important}</style><div class="nextpost sm relatedstory amp-stories"><a class="location" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/04/13/20-greatest-uefa-european-championship-moments-of-all-time/"https://playingfor90.com/2016/03/25/premier-league-players-headed-euro-2016/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-story-shortcode">Related Story: <span class="amp-teaser">Which Premier League players are heading to Euro 2016?</span></a></div>
<p>This historic treble made Spain’s implosion at the 2014 World Cup all the more shocking, but for those four remarkable years, the likes of Iker Casillas, Gerard Piqué and David Silva were pretty much untouchable.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">