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Top 10 European Championship goals
Goal.com's Patrick Reilly runs down ten of the best Euro goals of all time...
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6 Feb 2010 12:30:00
By Patrick Reilly
10) Marcelino Martinez (Spain - USSR; Final 1964 )
Drama from start to finish. General Franco threatened to pull the hosts out of the final against his political enemies from the Soviet Union. The dictator relented and La Furia Roja won their first tournament through Marcelino's wonderfully angled header which left the black cat Lev Yashin stranded on his line.
The story doesn't end there though. Decades later footage emerged which suggested the goal should have been given to Jesus Pereda instead. Both players give their side of the story here. Apparently even Franco himself asked after the game just who had scored the winner.
9) Frank De Boer (Netherlands - France; Group Stage 2000)
An outstanding five goal thriller between the co-hosts and the eventual winners lit up even more so by De Boer's stunning free-kick. Patrick Viera wisely ducked out of the way from the violent strike which curled wickedly before rocketing past Bernard Lama. An inch the other way and the French stopper's head would have been taken clean off.
8) John Jensen (Denmark - Germany; Final 1992)
The Danes' unlikely story from '92 was capped by Jensen's bullet first time strike which rocketed past Bodo Illgner after an inch perfect pullback from Flemming Povlsen teed him up. It was the highlight of 'Faxe's' career as he was transferred to Arsenal where it took him several lifetimes to clock up his one and only goal for the Gunners.
7) Ronnie Whelan (Republic of Ireland - USSR Group; Stage 1988)
Mick McCarthy's industrial length throw-in was met by Whelan's, ahem, shin which he volleyed mid-air past the helpless Dasayev. Ireland had ignored Jack Charlton's instructions to 'put em under pressure' and played the Soviets off the park only to concede a late equaliser which would cost them dear as they went out in the first round after losing their next match against Holland.
6) Paul Gascoigne (England - Scotland; Group Stage 1996)
Gazza silenced all his critics with a superb individual goal barely a minute after Gary McAllister missed a penalty for the auld enemy. David Seaman's long ball upfield eventually found its way to Darren Anderton who fed the Geordie to trick Colin Hendry with a brilliant flick to set himself up for a volley which he smashed home. His infamous dentist's chair celebration was almost as good as the winner.
5) Davor Suker (Croatia - Denmark; Group Stage 1996)
Holders Denmark were trailing the gifted Croatian side and sent Peter Schmeichel forward to grab an equaliser when Boban and co. launched a quick counter attack. With the great Dane racing back to his goal-line, Davor Suker played the ball forward with his right foot and broke into the penalty area to execute an exquisite lob with his left foot leaving Schmeichel looking upward and confused. Hillsborough hasn't seen a better goal since.
4) Pietro Anastasi (Italy - Yugoslavia; Final Replay 1968)
Italy wrapped up the newly named European Championship at the second time of asking with Anastasi's perfect turn and volley. Swivelling on a six-pence he rifled home a stunner to send the Azzurri fans in Rome home in raptures.
3) Antonin Panenka (Czechoslovakia - West Germany; Final 1976)
Yes, it is a penalty but undoubtedly the most memorable spot-kick in European Championship history. Panenka coolly stepped up to convert an outrageously cheeky deft chip which he sent down the centre to win the tournament in audacious style.
He admitted afterwards that he'd practiced the technique for two years and his determination paid off to inflict a rare shoot-out defeat on the Germans. Francesco Totti repeated the trick in Italy's shoot-out win over the Dutch in 2000.
2) Karel Poborsky (Czech Republic - Portugal; Group Stage 1996)
Instinctive, genius and downright rude just like Panenka's 20 years earlier. The Czech's hair-rock lookalike dropped his air guitar to scoop Vitor Baia from just inside the box with a stunning piece of skill taken straight out of the playground. Schoolboy hero Roy of the Rovers couldn't have done it better himself.
1) Marco Van Basten (Netherlands - USSR; Final 1988)
Come on, you know it had to be number one. From Arnold Muhren's deep cross the AC Milan legend somehow contorted his body to volley in a spectacular dipping volley from an impossible angle to sail over Dasayev (again) to cap an outstanding Euro '88 for the striker. Only a handful of players in the world would have had the ability to execute this moment of magic. Van Basten was one of them. Unlikely to be ever bettered.
Drama from start to finish. General Franco threatened to pull the hosts out of the final against his political enemies from the Soviet Union. The dictator relented and La Furia Roja won their first tournament through Marcelino's wonderfully angled header which left the black cat Lev Yashin stranded on his line.
The story doesn't end there though. Decades later footage emerged which suggested the goal should have been given to Jesus Pereda instead. Both players give their side of the story here. Apparently even Franco himself asked after the game just who had scored the winner.
9) Frank De Boer (Netherlands - France; Group Stage 2000)
An outstanding five goal thriller between the co-hosts and the eventual winners lit up even more so by De Boer's stunning free-kick. Patrick Viera wisely ducked out of the way from the violent strike which curled wickedly before rocketing past Bernard Lama. An inch the other way and the French stopper's head would have been taken clean off.
8) John Jensen (Denmark - Germany; Final 1992)
The Danes' unlikely story from '92 was capped by Jensen's bullet first time strike which rocketed past Bodo Illgner after an inch perfect pullback from Flemming Povlsen teed him up. It was the highlight of 'Faxe's' career as he was transferred to Arsenal where it took him several lifetimes to clock up his one and only goal for the Gunners.
7) Ronnie Whelan (Republic of Ireland - USSR Group; Stage 1988)
Mick McCarthy's industrial length throw-in was met by Whelan's, ahem, shin which he volleyed mid-air past the helpless Dasayev. Ireland had ignored Jack Charlton's instructions to 'put em under pressure' and played the Soviets off the park only to concede a late equaliser which would cost them dear as they went out in the first round after losing their next match against Holland.
6) Paul Gascoigne (England - Scotland; Group Stage 1996)
Gazza silenced all his critics with a superb individual goal barely a minute after Gary McAllister missed a penalty for the auld enemy. David Seaman's long ball upfield eventually found its way to Darren Anderton who fed the Geordie to trick Colin Hendry with a brilliant flick to set himself up for a volley which he smashed home. His infamous dentist's chair celebration was almost as good as the winner.
5) Davor Suker (Croatia - Denmark; Group Stage 1996)
Holders Denmark were trailing the gifted Croatian side and sent Peter Schmeichel forward to grab an equaliser when Boban and co. launched a quick counter attack. With the great Dane racing back to his goal-line, Davor Suker played the ball forward with his right foot and broke into the penalty area to execute an exquisite lob with his left foot leaving Schmeichel looking upward and confused. Hillsborough hasn't seen a better goal since.
4) Pietro Anastasi (Italy - Yugoslavia; Final Replay 1968)
Italy wrapped up the newly named European Championship at the second time of asking with Anastasi's perfect turn and volley. Swivelling on a six-pence he rifled home a stunner to send the Azzurri fans in Rome home in raptures.
3) Antonin Panenka (Czechoslovakia - West Germany; Final 1976)
Yes, it is a penalty but undoubtedly the most memorable spot-kick in European Championship history. Panenka coolly stepped up to convert an outrageously cheeky deft chip which he sent down the centre to win the tournament in audacious style.
He admitted afterwards that he'd practiced the technique for two years and his determination paid off to inflict a rare shoot-out defeat on the Germans. Francesco Totti repeated the trick in Italy's shoot-out win over the Dutch in 2000.
2) Karel Poborsky (Czech Republic - Portugal; Group Stage 1996)
Instinctive, genius and downright rude just like Panenka's 20 years earlier. The Czech's hair-rock lookalike dropped his air guitar to scoop Vitor Baia from just inside the box with a stunning piece of skill taken straight out of the playground. Schoolboy hero Roy of the Rovers couldn't have done it better himself.
1) Marco Van Basten (Netherlands - USSR; Final 1988)
Come on, you know it had to be number one. From Arnold Muhren's deep cross the AC Milan legend somehow contorted his body to volley in a spectacular dipping volley from an impossible angle to sail over Dasayev (again) to cap an outstanding Euro '88 for the striker. Only a handful of players in the world would have had the ability to execute this moment of magic. Van Basten was one of them. Unlikely to be ever bettered.
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