The UEFA European Championship includes the best players and teams in Europe. You can be sure of some terrific goals and games at the Euros. These are some of the greatest goals scored in previous UEFA European Championships.
For many, Marco Van Basten’s wonder goal in the Euro ’88 final was among the great goals scored in the European Championship. In the final, Holland came up against the USSR and led 1-0 after the interval. However, the match was not over until the ball was crossed to Van Basten on the right side of Russia’s box. When the ball fell, the striker struck a volley from an acute angle, which beat the Russian goalkeeper. As such, the game ended Holland 2 Russia 0, and Holland lifted its first soccer trophy.
In the Euro 2000 Championship final, France came up against the Italians. Having gone a goal down, France trailed until a late equalizer ensured the match went into extra time. Then, any Golden Goal would win the match for the first team to score. During this period, the ball was played into Trezeguet from the left side of Italy’s box, and the striker struck a sweet half-volley from just a few yards to the left of the penalty spot. The ball flew into the top left corner of Italy’s net to seal a great 2-1 victory for France. A very Golden Goal had won them the trophy, and it was a great strike.
In Euro 84, France played Yugoslavia in the final group game. Then they were 1-0 down after half-time before a great hat-trick from Platini ensured victory. The best goal of the game came with Platini’s third. France was given a free-kick within the semi-circle just outside Yugoslavia’s box. From here, Platini curled the ball over the wall and past the Yugoslavia goalkeeper with a fine free-kick that ensured a 3-2 victory for France.
At Euro 88, the Republic of Ireland had already beaten England and had a chance of making the semi-finals when they took on the USSR. In this game, a long Ireland throw from the left side of the pitch fell to Whelan on the edge of Russia’s penalty box. Then Whelan struck a fantastic volley, which put them in front. Russia later equalized, so the goal did not take them to the semi-finals. However, it was still a great goal.
Few expected Denmark to defeat Germany in the Euro 1992 final. But when the ball was played to Jensen, just within the German box, a strike from distance sent the ball rocketing into the German net. Their keeper had little chance of saving, and a second Denmark goal later in the match sealed their 2–0 victory.
These are just a few of the greatest goals scored at the Euros. Rarely have those goals been bettered in a European Championship match. Such goals show why the European Championships are always worth watching!
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