The UEFA European Championship is a soccer cup fixture that France has won twice. With players such as Platini, Zidane, Henry, and Vieira, the French have played some great matches in the European Championship. These are a few of France’s classic games in the tournament.
Before Euro 1984, France had played very few games in the Euro finals. All that changed when Platini inspired the team to the semi-finals of the 1984 European Championship. In Marseilles, they came up against Portugal, but France was the clear favorite to win the game and reach their first final.
France scored the only goal in the first half. When the referee gave a free-kick directly outside Portugal’s box, Domergue fired them in front with the setpiece. France remained in front some way into the second half, but the game turned when Portugal headed in an equalizer from within France’s penalty box.
Portugal’s goal ensured a period of extra time, where Jardao scored from the left side of the box. France was rocking, but with little over five minutes remaining, they scored a second goal to level the score.
It was left to Platini to finish off Portugal when the ball was played to him from the right side of Portugal’s box. Whilst their keeper was out of position, three Portugal players remained on the goal line, as Platini struck the ball into the net from close range. Thus, France celebrated a 3-2 victory after an enthralling semi-final clash.
Having defeated Portugal in the semi-finals, France came up against Spain in the Euro 1984 final. In this game, Platini put France up 1-0 in the second half with a free-kick that was curled in from outside Spain’s box and slipped beneath their goalkeeper.
In the final minutes of the game, France sealed their victory, when their forward was played through and ran towards Spain’s goal to fire the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net. At 2-0, there was no way back for Spain, and the goal sealed a historic win. France’s team had won the first international soccer trophy.
At Euro 2000, France was the world champion from 1998 and made it to the final of the European Championship. Then they came up against a solid but somewhat drab Italian team. In the second half, the Italians went a goal up when a cross from the right of the pitch set up Delvecchio to score from close range.
The Italians remained in front until a late French equalizer took the game to extra time. At Euro 2000, Golden Goals could win games during extra time. It was France’s very Golden Goal, a sublime half volley into the back of Italy’s net, which left the keeper with little chance, that ensured a 2-1 victory for France. As such, they lifted the trophy for the second time.
Those were France’s greatest victories at the Euros. The victories in France’s classic games at the Euros paved the way for European Championship glory in France and Holland. Mbappé and co will hope for more French matches like those at Euro 2028 in Britain.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
