FFT counts down the European Championship’s highlights, featuring tears, psychics and a very excitable Motty
Words Tom Hancock
30 REP IRELAND 1-0 ENGLAND
In 1988, the Republic of Ireland marked their tournament debut by beating England in their first match, as Ray Houghton’s looping header separated the sides in Stuttgart. They later came within 10 minutes of eliminating the Dutch – eventual winners – to reach the semis, while England lost every game. Ouch.
THEY SAID “You know, I wasn’t a very good goalscorer” – Houghton, who also scored the winner against Italy at USA 94. If you say so.
29 SPAIN 2-1 USSR
Spain lifted their first major trophy in 1964 by beating the Euros’ inaugural champions. The game looked set for extra time with the scores level at 1-1, but Marcelino had other ideas, heading in an 84th-minute winner.
THEY SAID “We had to win at all costs; otherwise, there would have been a hunt for culprits” – Spain goalkeeper Jose Angel Iribar, referring to an era when the country was under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.
28 GREECE 1-0 PORTUGAL
If we were judging it purely as a footballing spectacle, Greece’s Euro 2004 Final victory against the hosts wouldn’t be anywhere near this list, but it was such a shock. Towering striker Angelos Charisteas stunned Europe and etched his name into Greek mythology (take a look – he’s just before chimera) by heading in Angelos Basinas’ corner.
MOST NOTABLE MOMENTCristiano Ronaldo crying. The stuff that memes are made of.
27 ENGLAND 2-0 SCOTLAND
The Euro 96 hosts won football’s oldest rivalry to kickstart their run to the semi-finals. Alan Shearer broke the deadlock, and then came Paul Gascoigne’s outrageous flick and volley, followed by that dentist’s chair celebration.
MOST NOTABLE MOMENTUri Geller, in a helicopter over Wembley, making the ball move from the penalty spot just before Gary McAllister kicked it and saw his effort saved by David Seaman. This definitely happened.
26 DENMARK 2-2 NETHERLANDS
It’s one of football’s great underdog stories: Denmark, who hadn’t qualified for Euro 92, were drafted in late when Yugoslavia were banned, then only went and won the thing. They reached the final in dramatic fashion, conceding a late equaliser to Frank Rijkaard before knocking out the holders on penalties.
DID YOU KNOW?Marco van Basten, perhaps fearing he could never top his goal in the last final, posted the only miss in the shootout.
