|
No.1 1988 Marco Van Basten Holland v USSR (Making it 2:0)
|
Probably the best goal in the tournament's history, not just in a
final. Leading one nil against the USSR thanks to Ruud Gullit's header, the Dutch
doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half with a phenomenal effort from
Marco Van Basten. Full-back Adri van Tiggelen found Arnold Muhren on the left,
he immediately looped a really deep, high cross way over to the right,
where Van Basten had peeled away from his marker. To be honest Van Basten would
have done well to even cross it back into the box, but for some reason he decided
to go for goal and thumped it first time straght over Rinat Dasaev from an almost
impossible angle into the far corner of the net.
A fitting way for the Dutch to win their first major trophy.
|
Video Clips:
Van Basten's Volley (YouTube).
|
|
No.2 1976 Antonin Panenka Czechoslovakia v West Germany (Making it 5:3 on pens)
|
Having let slip a 2:0 lead, with the West German equaliser coming agonisingly
in the last minute of normal time, the Czechoslovakian team could have been
excused for thinking they'd blown their big chance as 30 minutes of extra time
finished and the penalty shoot-out loomed at an international tournament for
the first time. The first seven penalties were dispatched without a hitch,
then Bayern Munich star Uli Hoeness decided to go for raw power ahead of
precision but hammered it right over the bar. Up stepped Czech playmaker
Antonin Panenka knowing that if he could beat Sepp Maier in the German goal
the trophy was theirs. With a long run up, starting outside the penalty box,
Panenka approached the ball as if he was going to strike it with some pace
to his right, yet just before he hit it he paused fractionally before
nonchantly clipping it into the centre of the goal. If Maier hadn't moved it
would have just floated into his hands and Panenka would have looked like
a clown, but instead it went down as one of the cheekiest, bravest and
cleverest goals in football history.
As schoolkids all around the globe attempted to repeat it, the good old
fashioned penalty would never be the same again.
|
Video Clips:
Panenka's Penalty (YouTube).
|
|
No.3 1968 Pietro Anastasi Italy v Yugoslavia (Making it 2:0)
|
|
Having drawn a cagey first final 1:1, the Italians were still favourites for
the replay as they were playing on home soil, in Rome. Luigi Riva had opened
the scoring after 12 minutes and then 20 minutes later speedy striker
Pietro Anastasi made it two with a real belter. Giancarlo De Sisti spotted
Anastasi on the edge of the box, and as he received the ball the AS Varese man
flicked it up with his back to goal then pivoted and volleyed it home,
ensuring that the Italians made sure of the trophy at the 2nd time of asking.
|
Video Clips:
Match Highlight's including Anastasi's Volley at 2:55 (YouTube).
|
|
No.4 1992 John Jensen Denmark v Germany (Making it 1:0)
|
Probably best known in Britain for not scoring at Arsenal (although he did
eventually break his duck just short of 100 apearances with his legendary
curler at QPR, still remembered by the Gooners with their "I saw John Jensen
Score" t-shirts), their were no signs of his shortcomings in front of goal in
the 1992 final. The Danes, late replacements for Yugoslavia, had surprised
everyone by reaching the final, then caused one of the great upsets by
beating the Germans 2:0 in Gothenburg. Jensen's goal was the opener, scored
after 18 minutes. Kim Vilfort's sliding tackle on the right flank won the
ball from Andreas Brehme, Flemming Povlsen collected the loose ball, spotted
Jensen lurking on the edge of the box and pulled the ball back for the
Brondby midfielder to hammer a right footer passed Bodo Illgner.
One of the best thing's to look out for in the video clip of the goal is
Stefan Effenberg's despairing dive towards Jensen in a futile bid to block
the shot.
|
Video Clips:
Match Highlight's including John Jensen's Screamer at 1:25 (YouTube).
|
|
No.5 2000 David Trezeguet France v Italy (Making it 2:1)
|
Whether or not the Golden Goal is the best way of deciding a final is
open to debate, what no-one's arguing about is the quality of David Trezeguet's
winner against Italy during the 2000 final in Rotterdam's de Kuip stadium.
Bordeaux's Sylvain Wiltord had hit a dramatic last gasp equaliser to take the
game into extra time, and Zinedine Zidane was looking increasingly dangerous.
Yet it was Marseille winger Robert Pires who set up the winner - a neat French
move was eventually broken up by the Italian's but then quickly intercepted
by Pires, on the left. He then beat three defenders as he raced forward
before cutting the ball back towards the penalty spot for fellow substitute
Trezeguet who met it first time on his left foot to volley it passed
Francesco Toldo into the roof of the next.
Zut Alors !
|
Video Clips:
Trezeguet's Golden Moment (YouTube).
|
Top 5 Goals from the Final match of the European Championships 
To be honest there haven't been a vast amount of great goals in the actual final
game of the European Championships, so rather than md's traditional top 10
we've had to make do with a top 5...
