UEFA Euro 2020 is all set to kick off on Saturday
UEFA Euro 2020 was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic but the tournament is scheduled to take place this summer. The tournament kicks off tomorrow and will feature 24 of the best European teams in 6 different groups.
The final of the competition is scheduled to take place on 11th July 2021 in London. The competition, formed 63 years ago, has had a plethora of iconic finals. Here, we look at the 5 of the best as the 2020 edition of the competition starts in less than a week.
5. Portugal vs France (2016)
Portugal finally put the heartbreak of 2004 behind in the 2016 final of the UEFA European Championship. The team, led by Fernando Santos, were not seen as the outright favourites in front of Didier Deschamp’s France.
However, one goal from Eder in the 19th minute of extra-time was all they needed to lift the title after the game finished at 0-0 after regular time. It was also the first major international title for Cristiano Ronaldo as he overtook Lionel Messi in that regard.
4. Germany vs Czech Republic (1996)
It’s only fair to include Germany, who have the join-most European Championships to their name alongside Spain. Their most exciting final came in the 1996 edition against Czech Republic.
The Czechs managed to take the game into extra-time after Patrik Berger’s penalty was cancelled out by Olivier Bierhoff in the 73rd minute. Then 5 minutes into extra time, Bierhoff’s left-footed shot took a deflection and Petr Kouba’s weak attempt at saving it was not enough. Germany won via the Golden Goal, the first major final to be decided by that rule.
3. Denmark vs Germany (1992)
This final makes it on the list because of two reasons. Firstly, Denmark did not even qualify for the tournament initially. They got in because Yugoslavia backed out in the last moment. And secondly, the UEFA Euro 1992 final saw a massive upset.
The powerful Germans were expected to romp the Danes in the final but instead found themselves at the end of a memorable beating. Goals from John Jensen and Kim Vilfort meant the Danes, led by Peter Schmeichel, lifted their only ever major international trophy.
2. Spain vs Germany (2008)
One of the most iconic editions in the history of the tournament, UEFA Euro 2008 saw two giants in Germany and Spain make the finals. Spain were amidst a golden generation of world-class stars such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, and Fernando Torres.
However, they were trophy-less on the international stage since their Euro win in 1964. The game was a very tight encounter as both teams were afraid to make mistakes. But all it took to separate them was one moment of class from Liverpool’s Torres, who dinked the ball over Jens Lehmann to score the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute.
This final is significant because it kickstarted an era of domination by Spain that saw them win the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2012 Euros when they thrashed Italy 4-0.
1. Greece vs Portugal (2004)
You just knew this would be at the top. Greece’s underdog win against Portugal is perhaps the most widely associated match with the competition. Greece started the tournament as 80-1 outside favourites. But Otto Rehhagel made them defensive giants in the tournament.
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They conceded no goals in the knockout stages of the tournament and kept a clean sheet after Angelos Charisteas’ iconic header in the 57th minute saw Portugal lose the final in front of their own fans. This is by far the country’s greatest moment in football.
