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Top 10 European Championships Shocks
Ahead of this Sunday’s qualifying draw for Euro 2012, Carlo Garganese looks over the top 10 shocks in European Championships finals history.
Feb 4, 2010 10:34:00 AM
By Carlo Garganese
10) France’s Domenech Disaster - 2008
France went into Euro 2008 with a number of aging warriors such as Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele, but still possessed a star-studded squad through the likes of Franck Ribery, Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra. Unfortunately, they were led by an incompetent coach – Raymond Domenech – who made numerous gaffes in his squad/team selection and tactics. France crashed out in the groups with just one point and one goal from three games, being thrashed 4-1 by the Netherlands and 2-0 by an under-par Italy.
9) Little Latvia Limit Germany - 2004
Just by qualifying for Euro 2004, major tournament virgins Latvia had produced one of the biggest sensations in European Championships history. At the finals themselves the tiny Baltic nation, whose most famous player was former Arsenal flop Igor Stepanovs, were expected to be humiliated. However, they put up a good showing. After losing narrowly 2-1 to the tournament’s best team the Czech Republic, Latvia held World Cup finalists Germany to a goalless draw in Porto. The proceeding 3-0 defeat to Holland eliminated the Latvians, but the memories of 2004 will remain for a long time.
8) Czech Republic Shock Italy – 1996
Germany and Italy were expected to qualify comfortably from Group C, and all seemed to be going according to plan after opening victories over Czech Republic and Russia respectively. Next up for the Azzurri were the Czechs, playing in their first tournament since gaining independence. Coach Arrigo Sacchi was so confident of victory that he rested most of his major stars, but he was given a rude awakening by two unknown quantities – Pavel Nedved and Karel Poborsky.
The young pair lit up the match, Nedved opening the scoring, and inspired their side to a shock 2-1 win over the ten-men Italians. Italy would go out after drawing their next game against Germany, while the Czechs would progress all the way to the final after further surprise wins over Portugal and France. After taking the lead in their re-match against Germany, they would be denied by two Oliver Bierhoff goals.
7) France Capitulate In Paris - 1960
France have been involved in arguably the two greatest European Championships matches of all time. Number one was the classic semi final against Portugal in 1984, but 24 years earlier they had been on the receiving end of a nine-goal thriller against Yugoslavia. The fact that France lost was not a shock as Yugoslavia had a strong squad that included a young Dragoslav Sekularac and Milan Galic. What was a bolt from the blue was the fact that Les Bleus led 4-2 with 15 minutes remaining, only to end up losing 5-4 clinched by a quickfire Drazan Jerkovic double.
6) Michel Platini’s France Failure – 1992
After the expulsion of Yugoslavia, France were most people’s favorites to win Euro 1992. They boasted a magnificent squad including Jean-Pierre Papin, Eric Cantona, Didier Deschamps, Laurent Blanc and 1980s veterans Manuel Amoros and Luis Fernandez. Les Bleus had roared through qualifying winning all eight of their games, and arrived in Sweden on a 19-game unbeaten run that had won Platini World Soccer manager of the year for 1991. But in the finals proper, nothing went right for France. They scored just two goals in three games, both by Papin, and were eliminated after losing 2-1 to Denmark. A third successive draw would have taken France through to the semis, but a 78th minute goal by Lars Elstrup proved fatal.
5) Joxer Goes To Stuttgart - 1988
"With their Union Jacks all them English fans for victory they were set. Until Ray Houghton got the ball and he stuck it in the net !" And so goes the immortal line from Christy Moore's 'Joxer Goes to Stuttgart', a song chronicling Ireland's first appearance at a major finals. The age old rivalries between the Irish and English need not be dredged up here but suffice to say that there is usually an extra spring in Irish steps once the Three Lions are the opposition.
With Jack Charlton in charge and a smattering of UK born players in their ranks, the Boys in Green were seen as a walkover by their illustrious counterparts, as well as the English media who predicted a rout. Describing the gatecrashing Irish victory as a shock is something of an understatement. That game, in particular, did much to rouse the nation into a football frenzy for much of the late 80s and early 90s; Houghton's goal is seen as one of the all-time greatest moments in the history of the team.
4) Spain Stun West Germans – 1984
Remember the days when Germany would almost always reach the final of an international tournament? Well, 1984 was right bang in the middle of this time period. Coached by Jupp Derwall, West Germany were second favorites for the Euros behind hosts France and possessed a whole host of world class players among their ranks – Harald Schumacher, Hans-Peter Briegel, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthaus, Pierre Littbarski and the list goes on.
Yet, they were wasteful in front of goal, and after a goalless draw with Portugal and 2-1 win over Romania, required a point in their final match against Spain to progress to the semis. Although the Spaniards missed a penalty, West Germany were utterly dominant and hit the woodwork twice. Then in the 90th minute, out of nowhere goalscoring defender Antonio Maceda headed home to give Germany a taste of their own late-goal medicine.
3) The German Empire Is Czech-Mated – 1976
There is no doubt who Europe’s best international team of the 1970s were. West Germany won Euro 1972 and World Cup 1974, finished third in World Cup 1970, and were again in the mix for Euro glory in 1976. Despite no longer being able to count on legends such as Gerd Muller, Wolfgang Overath and Gunter Netzer, not forgetting the banned Paul Breitner, West Germany still had a formidable squad and were strong favorites to beat a Czech side with not too many household names.
Germany, who had recovered from two goals down to beat hosts Yugoslavia in the semis, launched another comeback in the final. Trailing 2-0, Bernd Holzenbein’s 89th minute header forced extra time and then penalties. Incredibly it was the Czechs who emerged victorious 5-4 on spotkicks, with Antonin Panenka chipping home the most famous penalty in history to clinch glory. Czechoslovakia had also surprisingly beaten Johan Cruyff’s Total Football Dutch team in the semis 3-1.
2) Who Are Danish Dynamite? – 1992
Danish Dynamite was the nickname given to the brilliant Denmark team of the mid-1980s, which contained legends such as Preben Elkjaer and Michael Laudrup, and had lit up Euro ’84 and World Cup 1986. However, by the beginning of the 1990s, most of the Dynamite stars had retired while Laudrup was refusing to play. Denmark now had a very ordinary team, flopping at Euro ’88, and failing to qualify for World Cup 1990.
They also failed to make it to Euro 1992, finishing second in their qualifying group behind arguably the world’s best nation at the time – Yugoslavia. Yet, on the eve of the tournament, Yugoslavia were barred from participating on political grounds due to war in the Balkans. Denmark took their place, and stunned Europe by going on to win the whole competition. Sneaking out of their group courtesy of a 2-1 win over fancied France, Peter Schmeichel was the hero in the semi-finals by saving Marco Van Basten’s spot-kick as Denmark beat holders Holland on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw. In the final itself, red-hot favorites Germany were beaten 2-0 in a game best remembered for John Jensen’s thunderbolt opener.
1) Greece Lightning – 2004
Narrowly beating Denmark 1992 into first place it is Greece 2004. Prior to Euro 2004, the Greeks had only qualified for two major tournaments in their entire history – Euro 1980 and World Cup 1994 – where they had played 6 in total, lost five, drawn 1, scored 1, and conceded 14. A team of no big names coached by German country bumpkin legend Otto Rehhagel, only Latvia were less favoured than the Greeks.
Yet, Rehhagel implemented a perfect gameplan whereby Greece would sit back and soak up pressure before punishing the opposition on set-pieces and counter-attack. Greece made it out of a group including hosts Portugal, and Spain, beating the former in the opening game. They then stunned holders France 1-0 in the quarter final, beat favorites the Czech Republic on a golden goal in the semis, and finished the job by defeating Portugal for a second time 1-0 thanks to Angelos Charisteas.
This had been the biggest shock in international football history, and it is debatable whether we will ever see such an unfancied team as Greece emerge victorious again.
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France went into Euro 2008 with a number of aging warriors such as Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele, but still possessed a star-studded squad through the likes of Franck Ribery, Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra. Unfortunately, they were led by an incompetent coach – Raymond Domenech – who made numerous gaffes in his squad/team selection and tactics. France crashed out in the groups with just one point and one goal from three games, being thrashed 4-1 by the Netherlands and 2-0 by an under-par Italy.
9) Little Latvia Limit Germany - 2004
Just by qualifying for Euro 2004, major tournament virgins Latvia had produced one of the biggest sensations in European Championships history. At the finals themselves the tiny Baltic nation, whose most famous player was former Arsenal flop Igor Stepanovs, were expected to be humiliated. However, they put up a good showing. After losing narrowly 2-1 to the tournament’s best team the Czech Republic, Latvia held World Cup finalists Germany to a goalless draw in Porto. The proceeding 3-0 defeat to Holland eliminated the Latvians, but the memories of 2004 will remain for a long time.
8) Czech Republic Shock Italy – 1996
Germany and Italy were expected to qualify comfortably from Group C, and all seemed to be going according to plan after opening victories over Czech Republic and Russia respectively. Next up for the Azzurri were the Czechs, playing in their first tournament since gaining independence. Coach Arrigo Sacchi was so confident of victory that he rested most of his major stars, but he was given a rude awakening by two unknown quantities – Pavel Nedved and Karel Poborsky.
The young pair lit up the match, Nedved opening the scoring, and inspired their side to a shock 2-1 win over the ten-men Italians. Italy would go out after drawing their next game against Germany, while the Czechs would progress all the way to the final after further surprise wins over Portugal and France. After taking the lead in their re-match against Germany, they would be denied by two Oliver Bierhoff goals.
7) France Capitulate In Paris - 1960
France have been involved in arguably the two greatest European Championships matches of all time. Number one was the classic semi final against Portugal in 1984, but 24 years earlier they had been on the receiving end of a nine-goal thriller against Yugoslavia. The fact that France lost was not a shock as Yugoslavia had a strong squad that included a young Dragoslav Sekularac and Milan Galic. What was a bolt from the blue was the fact that Les Bleus led 4-2 with 15 minutes remaining, only to end up losing 5-4 clinched by a quickfire Drazan Jerkovic double.
6) Michel Platini’s France Failure – 1992
After the expulsion of Yugoslavia, France were most people’s favorites to win Euro 1992. They boasted a magnificent squad including Jean-Pierre Papin, Eric Cantona, Didier Deschamps, Laurent Blanc and 1980s veterans Manuel Amoros and Luis Fernandez. Les Bleus had roared through qualifying winning all eight of their games, and arrived in Sweden on a 19-game unbeaten run that had won Platini World Soccer manager of the year for 1991. But in the finals proper, nothing went right for France. They scored just two goals in three games, both by Papin, and were eliminated after losing 2-1 to Denmark. A third successive draw would have taken France through to the semis, but a 78th minute goal by Lars Elstrup proved fatal.
5) Joxer Goes To Stuttgart - 1988
"With their Union Jacks all them English fans for victory they were set. Until Ray Houghton got the ball and he stuck it in the net !" And so goes the immortal line from Christy Moore's 'Joxer Goes to Stuttgart', a song chronicling Ireland's first appearance at a major finals. The age old rivalries between the Irish and English need not be dredged up here but suffice to say that there is usually an extra spring in Irish steps once the Three Lions are the opposition.
With Jack Charlton in charge and a smattering of UK born players in their ranks, the Boys in Green were seen as a walkover by their illustrious counterparts, as well as the English media who predicted a rout. Describing the gatecrashing Irish victory as a shock is something of an understatement. That game, in particular, did much to rouse the nation into a football frenzy for much of the late 80s and early 90s; Houghton's goal is seen as one of the all-time greatest moments in the history of the team.
4) Spain Stun West Germans – 1984
Remember the days when Germany would almost always reach the final of an international tournament? Well, 1984 was right bang in the middle of this time period. Coached by Jupp Derwall, West Germany were second favorites for the Euros behind hosts France and possessed a whole host of world class players among their ranks – Harald Schumacher, Hans-Peter Briegel, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthaus, Pierre Littbarski and the list goes on.
Yet, they were wasteful in front of goal, and after a goalless draw with Portugal and 2-1 win over Romania, required a point in their final match against Spain to progress to the semis. Although the Spaniards missed a penalty, West Germany were utterly dominant and hit the woodwork twice. Then in the 90th minute, out of nowhere goalscoring defender Antonio Maceda headed home to give Germany a taste of their own late-goal medicine.
3) The German Empire Is Czech-Mated – 1976
There is no doubt who Europe’s best international team of the 1970s were. West Germany won Euro 1972 and World Cup 1974, finished third in World Cup 1970, and were again in the mix for Euro glory in 1976. Despite no longer being able to count on legends such as Gerd Muller, Wolfgang Overath and Gunter Netzer, not forgetting the banned Paul Breitner, West Germany still had a formidable squad and were strong favorites to beat a Czech side with not too many household names.
Germany, who had recovered from two goals down to beat hosts Yugoslavia in the semis, launched another comeback in the final. Trailing 2-0, Bernd Holzenbein’s 89th minute header forced extra time and then penalties. Incredibly it was the Czechs who emerged victorious 5-4 on spotkicks, with Antonin Panenka chipping home the most famous penalty in history to clinch glory. Czechoslovakia had also surprisingly beaten Johan Cruyff’s Total Football Dutch team in the semis 3-1.
2) Who Are Danish Dynamite? – 1992
Danish Dynamite was the nickname given to the brilliant Denmark team of the mid-1980s, which contained legends such as Preben Elkjaer and Michael Laudrup, and had lit up Euro ’84 and World Cup 1986. However, by the beginning of the 1990s, most of the Dynamite stars had retired while Laudrup was refusing to play. Denmark now had a very ordinary team, flopping at Euro ’88, and failing to qualify for World Cup 1990.
They also failed to make it to Euro 1992, finishing second in their qualifying group behind arguably the world’s best nation at the time – Yugoslavia. Yet, on the eve of the tournament, Yugoslavia were barred from participating on political grounds due to war in the Balkans. Denmark took their place, and stunned Europe by going on to win the whole competition. Sneaking out of their group courtesy of a 2-1 win over fancied France, Peter Schmeichel was the hero in the semi-finals by saving Marco Van Basten’s spot-kick as Denmark beat holders Holland on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw. In the final itself, red-hot favorites Germany were beaten 2-0 in a game best remembered for John Jensen’s thunderbolt opener.
1) Greece Lightning – 2004
Narrowly beating Denmark 1992 into first place it is Greece 2004. Prior to Euro 2004, the Greeks had only qualified for two major tournaments in their entire history – Euro 1980 and World Cup 1994 – where they had played 6 in total, lost five, drawn 1, scored 1, and conceded 14. A team of no big names coached by German country bumpkin legend Otto Rehhagel, only Latvia were less favoured than the Greeks.
Yet, Rehhagel implemented a perfect gameplan whereby Greece would sit back and soak up pressure before punishing the opposition on set-pieces and counter-attack. Greece made it out of a group including hosts Portugal, and Spain, beating the former in the opening game. They then stunned holders France 1-0 in the quarter final, beat favorites the Czech Republic on a golden goal in the semis, and finished the job by defeating Portugal for a second time 1-0 thanks to Angelos Charisteas.
This had been the biggest shock in international football history, and it is debatable whether we will ever see such an unfancied team as Greece emerge victorious again.
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