Five greatest European Championship finals - Denmark fairy tale, heartbreak for Italy
To celebrate this Sunday’s Euro 2020 final, Planet Sport has dug out the history books and compiled the five greatest European Championship finals.
England will be looking to win their first major trophy since 1966 when they take on Italy at Wembley.
5 - Denmark 2-0 Germany (Euro 1992)
Denmark's Euro 1992 victory is beyond the stuff of Hollywood. Their route to the Henri Delaunay trophy is without doubt one of the greatest stories ever told in soccer.
Unsurpisingly, the opening quarter of an hour went as expected - complete German domination. New Manchester United signing Peter Schmeichel had to be at his best as Karl-Heinz Riedle, Stefan Reuter and Guido Buchwald threatened in the early stages.
🇩🇰 #OTD in 1992 🏆
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 26, 2020
Goals from John Jensen (👇) and Kim Vilfort completed the fairy tale as Denmark lifted the EURO 1992 trophy!
⏪ @dbulandshold pic.twitter.com/2kOCMRu7em
The world champions tried everything to turn things around but the soccer gods were simply not on their side that day.
There was no late comeback from Germany as the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg turned into a sea of emotion. Some were crying tears of joy, others tears of sadness. But all of them were aware that they just witnessed a once in a lifetime event.
4 - Netherlands 2-0 Soviet Union (Euro 1988)
After losing two World Cup finals in the 1970s, many in the Netherlands gave up hope of ever capturing a major international honour.
Ten minutes after the restart, Van Basten came up with one of the all-time great European Championship goals.
Despite the cross going around eight metres from goal and six from the goal line, Van Basten was able to volley the ball over Dasayev and into the back of the net. The ball didn't even touch the floor as the Netherlands forward wrapped his right foot over the strike to put his side 2-0 up.
🗓️🇳🇱 #OnThisDay in 1988: Marco van Basten scored one of the greatest volleys ever.
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) June 25, 2020
The Netherlands beat the Soviet Union 2-0 to lift the UEFA European Championship.@MarcoVanBasten x @OnsOranje pic.twitter.com/v73uI1KGsN
The Soviet Union - to their credit - weren't about to throw in the towel. The remainder of the second half saw Valeriy Lobanovskyi's side chase a comeback.
Their best chance of getting back in the contest arrived when referee Michel Vautrot awarded the Soviets a penalty following Hans van Breukelen's challenge on Sergei Gotsmanov. However, the Dutch goalkeeper made amends, saving Igor Belanov's spot-kick to keep his clean sheet intact.
That was as close as the Soviet Union came to getting back in the game as the Netherlands finally delivered on their promise and lifted their first major international trophy.
3 - Czechoslovakia 2-2 West Germany (Euro 1976)
Only one European Championship final has ever been determined via a penalty shootout. It is also the only penalty shootout which Germany have lost in a major tournament. No surprise then that it has made our list.
Coming into this game as the reigning world and European champions, Germany were regarded as the favourites ahead of the final in Belgrade.
Despite that, Helmut Schon's side were rocked in the opening 25 minutes as Czechoslovakia took an unprecedented 2-0 lead.
The first blow arrived in the eighth minute when Jan Svehlik capitalised on some sloppy play. Germany lost the ball in their own penalty area as the high press of Czechoslovakia allowed them to flood the box with red shirts and eventually bag the opener.
Not long later, the Czechs had a free-kick down the left. The ball was crossed into the area and Franz Beckenbauer headed it clear.
Just like that, the score was 2-0.
Just as the match was about to approach stoppage time, the world champions got themselves a corner. The ball was swung into the box and Bernd Holzenbein got his head on the end of the delivery and directed the ball into the net.
Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the 30 minutes of extra time which meant the final headed to its first ever penalty shootout.
The first seven spot-kicks were all successfully converted. The eighth was not. Germany's Uli Hoeness was the man who crumbled under the pressure and sent his strike well over the bar.
Antonin Panenka was next. The midfielder stepped up and produced arguably one of the most memorable penalties of all time. As Meier dived to his left, Panenka dinked the ball into the middle of the net to seal the win for Czechoslovakia - and write his name into history.
Who else has taken a penalty like this❓
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 20, 2020
⚽️ Antonín Panenka scored the infamous penalty #OTD in 1976! pic.twitter.com/XJIJIOX5GI
2 - Spain 4-0 Italy (Euro 2012)
When Spain and Italy faced off in a Euro 2012 group stage clash, fans were treated to a characteristically tight 1-1 draw. When both nations got to the final, many expected the game to pan out in similar fashion.
🇪🇸🏆🇮🇹 Spain vs Italy back at Euro 2012...
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) July 6, 2021
Can't wait for it tonight! #ITAESP | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/RGOlbM8hLd
Despite the criticisms, Vicente del Bosque's side took an early lead through David Silva. Andres Iniesta was able to find Cesc Fabregas with a wonderful through-ball as the midfielder powered forward and delivered a sweet cross for Silva. The former Man City man didn't disappoint as he sent his header past the reach of Gianluigi Buffon.
In the second half, Italy did have chances but Iker Casillas was in no mood to concede. Instead, the night got even worse for Gli Azzuri as their substitute, Riccardo Montolivo, suffered a hamstring injury and was forced to leave the pitch.
In the 88th minute, Torres turned from scorer to provider as he set up Juan Mata for the game's final goal.
Spain had completed the biggest and most comprehensive victory in the history of European Championship finals.
1 - France 2-1 Italy (Euro 2000)
An unforgettable competition also provided an unforgettable final as France edged Italy with a golden goal in extra time.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness!" 😩👌
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 9, 2021
Golden Moments: Euro 2000
Celebrating the story of the UEFA European Championships in association @Heineken_IE – official beer partner of UEFA #EURO2020. Drink responsibly, visit https://t.co/4AMvUvF5Pt #Heineken #SocialiseResponsibly pic.twitter.com/OEuSj5VAaL
As the game got underway, it was the French side who fired the first warning shot. Straight from kick-off, Les Bleus sent a long ball towards Thierry Henry.
Shortly after the restart, it was Delvecchio who made the breakthrough. A sensational bit of skill from Totti was followed by a crisp cross from Gianluca Pessotto. The delivery was pinpoint as Delvecchio directed the ball past Barthez from close range.
After going in front, the Italians did what Italians normally do when they have a one-goal lead - they defended.
Italy, who were less than a minute from winning their first European Championship since 1968, would now have to start again as the match entered extra time.
With the golden goal rule in place, the stakes couldn't be higher. One goal was all that it took to seal a place in the history books.
🏆 🇫🇷 France became the first world champions to win EURO courtesy of David Trezeguet's dramatic golden goal winner #OTD in 2000! #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/7MF0Pv2Uiw
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 2, 2021
Now England will be looking to follow in France's footsteps and produce their own title-winning display against the Italians.
Read the full preview ahead of the game right here.