GAZZA, VAN BASTEN AND THE TOP 10 MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN EURO HISTORY

With the European Championship set to get under way in France next week, Goal takes a nostalgic look back at some of the most unforgettable games, goals and celebrations from the 14 previous editions of the continental competition…

GAZZA’S DENTIST’S CHAIR | In the lead-up to Euro ‘96, England midfielder Paul Gascoigne had played a predictably prominent role in an infamous drinking session centred around a dentist’s chair. The impudent Geordie inevitably referenced the controversy after his wonder-goal in the group-stage win over Scotland. Having bamboozled Colin Hendry with a ‘sombrero’ before then volleying home past Andy Goram, Gascoigne lay down on the turf as he waited for his team-mates to empty the contents of a nearby water bottle into his open mouth. “I will never forget Gazza as he got up,” Teddy Sheringham later reminisced. “He asked Goram why he had bothered diving to try and save it. Then he said: ‘Where’s Hendry? Has he gone to get me a pie?!'”

PIRLO’S PANENKA | Italy were 2-1 down in their Euro 2012 quarter-final penalty shootout with England when Andrea Pirlo stepped up to take their third spot-kick. The pressure on the playmaker was enormous, so he decided to try to dink the ball over Joe Hart. He pulled it off perfectly and his audacity shifted the entire momentum of the shootout, with England missing their next two penalties, as Roy Hodgson’s men wilted under the pressure that Pirlo had treated with utter indifference. Indeed, for l’Architetto, football is a simple game, based upon angles and percentages. “The chip was impromptu,” he said. “The only way I could push my chances of scoring close to 100 per cent. There was absolutely no showboating – that’s not my style.”

ZLATAN’S SCORPION KICK | It is remarkable that even today there are those that cast doubt on the genius of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, particularly when one considers that his flair for innovation has been obvious since as far back as Euro 2004. With Sweden trailing 1-0 to Italy and just five minutes left on the clock in their group-stage encounter in Porto, Ibrahimovic put his body in front of Gianluigi Buffon before acrobatically leaping into the air and sending a bouncing ball looping into the Azzurri net with the outside of his right boot. “I scored a lucky goal,” Zlatan modestly stated afterwards, before quickly adding: “But it was also an incredible goal.”

BIERHOFF’S GOLDEN GOAL | Oliver Bierhoff’s winner in Germany’s Euro ‘96 final showdown with Czech Republic certainly wasn’t pretty but it was golden. In finding the back of the net with a weak, deflected shot that Petr Kouba somehow failed to keep out, Bierhoff became the first scorer of a ‘golden goal’ in international football. Perhaps it was fate, though, as Germany boss Berti Vogts revealed afterwards that his wife had instructed him to name Bierhoff in his squad. “Take Oliver Bierhoff with you,” she had said. “He will repay you.” So it proved, as the Udinese forward came off the bench to net twice in a dramatic come-from-behind victory at Wembley.

BALOTELLI’S BOLT FROM THE BLUE | Roberto Mancini once said: “If Mario’s not one of the best players in the world it will be his fault, because he has everything.” Sadly, the finest demonstration of his many attributes remains Italy’s Euro 2012 semi-final win over Germany. Balotelli displayed his quality in heading the Azzurri ahead before thundering home a right-footed shot from the edge of the area in an awesome exhibition of brute force. What followed was one of the most memorable celebrations in football history, as Balotelli whipped off his shirt and flexed his muscles before a captivated watching world. “Mario’s career has only just begun,” Italy boss Cesare Prandelli stated. If only that had been true…

PLATINI’S GRAND FINISH | According to former Juventus boss Giovanni Trapattoni, Michel Platini turned his nose up at fitness work. “He used to say, ‘We’re not going to compete in the 5,000 metres; we have to play with our feet.'” Luckily for Platini, he was often surrounded by players willing to work on his behalf. Jean Tigana was one such character, as so thrillingly exemplified in France’s epic Euro ‘84 semi-final win over Portugal. With just over 60 seconds of extra time remaining, the sides locked at 2-2 and nearly every player out on their feet, the seemingly indefatigable Tigana won the ball back outside the Seleccao box, drove into the area and pulled the ball back for Platini, who rifled home the winner.

THE ORIGINAL PANENKA | Antonin Panenka used to stay back after training sessions and practice penalties with his goalkeeper. “We would play for a bar of chocolate or a glass of beer. Since he was very good, it became expensive for me.” But, Panenka got better, more creative. He developed a chipped penalty that he started trialling in matches. However, nobody knew what was coming when he stepped up to take his spot-kick in Czechoslovakia’s shootout with West Germany in the final of Euro ‘76 – least of all Sepp Maier, who was made to look foolish as a nerveless Panenka secured the greatest victory in his nation’s sporting history. “I suspect Sepp doesn’t like the sound of my name too much,” Panenka later joked.

GREECE STUN FRANCE & EUROPE | Greece had only pipped Spain to a place in the last eight of Euro 2004 on goals scored, so few pundits expected them to prove any match for reigning champions France, who had topped a group featuring England, Croatia and Switzerland. However, a Bleus side featuring Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry failed dismally to break down Otto Rehhagel’s wonderfully well-drilled outfit and were ultimately undone by Angelos Charisteas’ towering, 65th-minute header. “This is the greatest moment in Greek football,” Charisteas enthused. “Now that we have reached this point, everything is possible.” He wasn’t wrong, with Greece going on to upset Portugal in the tournament decider to pull off a stunning tournament triumph.

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VAN BASTEN’S VOLLEY | During their AC Milan days, Carlo Ancelotti asked Marco van Basten how he wanted the ball. “Just pass it,” the Dutchman replied, “and then start running to congratulate me.” Indeed, it didn’t matter where Van Basten received the ball, he always found a way to score. His stunning volley in the Euro ‘88 final against Soviet Union proved this. With the ball dropping for him just a couple of yards in from the right-hand side of the area and just six yards from the touchline, Van Basten should have been focusing on trying to control a floating cross. However, this being Van Basten, he simply unleashed the most beautiful volley the game has ever seen: the perfect strike from the perfect striker.

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BRAVE VILFORT SECURES DANISH MIRACLE | Denmark’s Euro 92 campaign was a story of tragedy and triumph. Richard Moller Nielsen’s side had only secured entry at the 11th hour because of the outbreak of war in Yugoslavia, while midfielder Kim Vilfort missed his country’s final group game against France to be at the bedside of his daughter, who was battling leukemia. He was only persuaded into returning to Sweden by his family, so his second goal in the 2-0 win over West Germany in the Gothenburg final remains the most poignant moment in European Championship history. However, while Denmark’s triumph is often described as a fairytale, ultimately there was to be no happy ending, as Vilfort’s little girl passed away just a few weeks later.