The European Championship: Greatest Football Matches

Sports’ ability to bring people together should not be taken for granted. Being able to take part online through sports betting or in-person at stadiums is a joy to experience. We all have those memorable sports moments and the same goes for the Euros. The Euros football tournament has delighted us with spectacular moments on the field. 

We’ve combed through the tournament’s archives to compile a list of just that, starting with Spain vs Italy 2012.

Spain 4-0 Italy (Euro 2012 final) – Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine

In 2012, Spain made history for the first time in the Euros. They became the first team in history to win back-to-back Euros while also being world champions.

Vicente Del Bosque completed the Spanish dynasty in 2012, as he guided his country to continental triumph after showing them a stunning world victory in 2010.

Spain’s extraordinarily brilliant players, including Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, and Iker Casillas, created the basis of modern-day football.

During the three international championships that Spain won in 2008, 2010, and 2012, they only surrendered six goals. However, after narrowly defeating Iberian rivals Portugal on penalties in the semifinals, they faced an Italian side riding high after knocking out Germany.

Spain swept Italy aside with David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres, and Juan Mata, creating a unique piece of history that sets them apart from all prior European Championship victors.

Portugal 2-2 England – AET – Portugal win on penalties (Euro 2004 quarterfinal) – Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

England won their group, and a talented 18-year-old named Wayne Rooney made the country fall in love with the national squad and believe that they might triumph on the international stage.

England faced Portugal in the quarterfinals after securing wins over Switzerland and Croatia, in which Rooney scored a brace and formed a lethal combination with Michael Owen up top. Portugal had its golden generation, with a teenage Cristiano Ronaldo playing alongside Real Madrid’s Luis Figo and the core of FC Porto’s Champions League-winning team in 2004.

On three minutes, Owen flicked the ball past Ricardo to give England the lead. When Rooney was brought on in the 27th minute, the game transformed. England’s talisman was tearing the Portuguese defense apart.

It caused Portugal to seize the initiative, and in the second half, that momentum evolved into persistent pressure, which resulted in a goal scored by Helder Postiga on 83 minutes. Late in the game, Sol Campbell thought he’d won it for England by heading in a David Beckham free-kick, but his goal was overturned due to a push. 

Rui Costa put Portugal ahead in extra time before Lampard levelled again. Then, on penalties, England’s hopes were dashed when Beckham fired the first spot-kick over the crossbar, booking the team’s return trip to London the next day.

France 3-2 Portugal – AET (Euro 1984 semifinal) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille, France

This nail-biting semifinal match between Portugal and host nation France in Marseille was the most dramatic game of the 1984 European Championships.

The game ended in a 1-1 tie-in regulation, but extra time resulted in a thrilling twist of events. Rui Jordao doubled his goal in the first period of spare time for Portugal, and Jean-Francois Domergue did the same for France in the second period.

The match appeared to be going head-on into a penalty shootout, but Michel Platini, the current Ballon d’Or winner, had other ideas. Deep into extra time, the tireless Jean Tigana regained possession in the Portugal half, raced into the box, pulled the ball back to Platini, who finished the job.

Two onrushing Portuguese defenders and the goalkeeper all committed themselves, their exhausted minds playing a role with only one purpose. Platini was one step ahead of the game, and after a touch to set himself, he smashed the ball into the roof of the net to send France to the final. Platini struck again in the final, as France defeated Spain 2-0 in Paris.

France 2-1 Italy – Golden Goal (Euro 2000 final) – De Kuip, Rotterdam, Holland

In 1998, France won the World Cup in Paris, and two years later, they won the European Championship in Rotterdam.

As stoppage time approached in the final, it didn’t look like things were going France’s way. France was down 1-0 and struggling to break down an Italian defense that had only allowed two goals in the entire tournament before the final.

Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, and Paolo Maldini were among the defenders who stood firm. Marco Delvecchio’s goal on 55 minutes appeared to put the Italians over the top in Holland.

With a colossal boot up-field in stoppage time, France goalkeeper Fabian Barthez began his team’s final effort of the game. David Trezeguet won the header and headed the ball to France’s Sylvain Wiltord, who equalized.

Trezeguet scored the stunning golden goal in extra time to title France European champions after assisting towards the second half. With a superb left-footed drive, the Monaco striker sent the ball home on the half-volley, fooling Francesco Toldo in the Italy goal.

Portugal 0-1 Greece (Euro 2004 final) – Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

Greece entered Euro 2004 as an outsider with a 150/1 chance of winning the tournament.

That’s precisely what they did, absolutely defying the odds. They defeated Portugal 2-1 in the tournament’s first match in Porto and 1-0 in the final game in Lisbon. With their golden generation of players at their disposal and playing on home soil, Portugal thought this was their year, but the Greeks made sure they had an ultimate say.

After defeating France 1-0 in the quarterfinals and then the Czech Republic 1-0 in the semifinals, Greece defeated Portugal 1-0 in the final, with Angelos Charisteas lighting up the Estadio da Luz.

As Athens rose from the rubble in 2004 to pull off one of the biggest sporting upsets ever, he became the latest Greek deity, and in doing so, he rained on the Portuguese parade.

There you have it! Some of the greatest matchups, upsets, and epic performances throughout the history of the Euros tournament. One thing is for sure, football fans can count on stellar football during the Euros.