The European Championships have delivered their fair share of drama over the years, as players put themselves on the line for continental glory.
Throughout the three group stage matches of such a major tournament, every goal matters. Advancement can easily rely on one-point deficits, or even goal difference. From unheard of upsets to incredible last-minute comebacks, the championships always provide great entertainment for the neutral, where good players become heroes, and national pride is paramount.
Over time, a fair share of nail-biting encounters have played out all over the continent, so looking forward to this month’s competition in France, we pick the top five group stage games of all time.
Yugoslavia 3 Spain 4, Euro 2000
In a stoppage time drama, the Spanish ‘tiki-taka’ seen today was well and truly thrown out the window. A draw or loss would not suffice for Spain’s advancement in the tournament, and at 3-2 down after 90 minutes, 99% of the time it would mean European dream over. But not this time. Yugoslavia had been reduced to ten men after Jokanović was shown his marching orders for a second cautionable offence, and when it all looked to be slipping away for the Spanish, they were handed a lifeline after Abelardo was brought down in the area, and Gaizka Mendieta slotted home the penalty. Then it was well and truly on for the ‘route one’ long ball as a minute later, a knockdown fell into the path of Alfonzo Pérez who smashed it home, sending his country into the quarter-finals of the tournament.
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Russia 3 Czech Republic 3, Euro 96
One for the Liverpool fans as well as the Czechs. A relatively small crowd at Anfield saw some incredibly late drama, as the final game of Group C saw Czech Republic take an early two-goal lead, which was eventually pegged back to 2-2 by the Russians. Five minutes from time, Russian half time substitute Vladimir Beschastnykh put his side in the lead, setting the stage for a relatively unknown Czech substitute, a man who would call Anfield home just three years later, Vladimír Šmicer, to grab a decisive point for his nation, securing a place in the knockout stages. Czech Republic went on to finish second in the tournament, losing the final on golden goal to Germany.
Italy 2 Bulgaria 1, Euro 2004
In what will always be one of the most talked about European Championships of all time due to the against-the-odds victory of Greece, the eventual champions’ Mediterranean neighbours, Italy, failed to have as much luck. In what was an interesting climax to Group C, Bulgaria, who had been straightforwardly dispatched by Denmark and Sweden, took the lead on the half time break from the penalty spot. Despite conceding a Simone Perrotta strike early in the second period, the underdogs held out Italy for a further 45 minutes, only for hopes of bringing anything away from the tournament to be destroyed by Antonio Cassano deep into stoppage time. However, the Italian side that would go on to lift the World Cup two years later was unable to celebrate its last-gasp victory. Sweden and Denmark had played out a draw, leaving three nations undefeated on five points and the Italians denied of a quarter-finals position on goal difference.
Turkey 3 Czech Republic 2, Euro 2008
In what was an action-packed tournament for Turkey, a side boasting a young Arda Turan (who will feature prominently for his nation during Euro 2016) had their fortunes laying on the final group stage fixture against Czech Republic. And with 15 minutes to go, all hopes looked to have been lost as they found themselves 2-0 down. However, strikes from Turan and a double from Nihat Kahveci saw the 10-men young Turks take three points away from Geneva, in the process qualifying from the group above their opponents on goal difference. Their following outings continued to live up to the exciting manner that exemplified Turkey at the tournament, with a stoppage time winner against Switzerland and a come from behind penalty-shootout victory over Croatia seeing the side advance to the semi-finals.
Denmark 2 Portugal 3, Euro 2012
Two sides that are set to be reunited in the coming weeks, Denmark and Portugal played out an entertaining encounter in the last edition of the championships. A two-goal lead from goals by Pepe and Hélder Postiga within 36 minutes made it look like the Scandinavian side was beginning to fall apart. That was until cult hero, former Arsenal man Nicklas Bendtner, made his stamp on proceedings, netting a double with goals in the 41st and 80th minutes. However the Danes were unable to capture a point, as substitute Silvestre Varela reinstated Portugal’s lead three minutes from time. This spared the blushes of Portugal’s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who had missed a string of clear-cut chances but was in the end not made to pay for his errors. Ronaldo is sure to play a significant role yet again in France.
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