![]() Gareth Bale reveals Liverpool players admitted they were so nervous they struggled to SLEEP ahead of the 2018 Champions League final Yet Van Basten allowed the ball to drop quite low before unleashing a volley from an almost impossible angle which could not have been hit any better as it flew over the keeper's head and into the top corner across goal to help Holland win 2-0 and win their first ever major tournament. ![]() Tracking a lofted pass played beyond the far post, most players would have struggled to control the ball, let alone think about having an attempt at goal near the byline. There was no doubt he held back his best for the final though. With four goals already heading into the Munich final against the Soviet Union, including a hat-trick against England, the Holland legend had already scored double the amount of goals than any other player at the tournament. It's a precious memory when you get to see one of the world's best players produce one of their best moments on one of the most grandest of occasions.Īnd in 1988 there were few, if any, better strikers in the world than Marco van Basten. Marco van Basten (Soviet Union 0-2 HOLLAND, Euro 88) The 'dentist chair' celebration to mark the infamous pre-tournament trip to the Far East where England stars were criticised for their unprofessionalism in enjoying the night life a bit too much is now etched in Wembley as well as Euros folklore. With nerves jangling at Wembley, a ball was played forward to Gazza, who with a brilliant touch lifted the ball over a completely wrong footed Colin Hendry before blasting past Andy Goram and setting England well on their way in Group A and to a memorable run towards the semi-finals. Just a few seconds earlier Gary McAllister had a penalty saved by David Seaman to deny Scotland an equaliser with a little over 10 minutes remaining of their group stage encounter at Euro '96. Paul Gascoigne's strike is more than just the midfielder's genius it's everything in the context of the match and the timing of such a devastating effort. Yet Schick's goal may not be even the best ever Euros goal scored against Scotland. Paul Gascoigne (ENGLAND 2-0 Scotland, Euro 96) Poborsky's summer earned him a move to Premier League champions Manchester United, but he failed to live up to his star billing during his two years at Old Trafford. 'The ball went so high that I though it couldn't possibly end up in the goal.' 'Baia was well out his goal, so I thought the easiest thing would be to lob him, which I managed to do really well,' he told UEFA. The uniqueness of his scooped finish was awe-inspiring as it had looked like he had sent the ball way over the bar, only for it to descend rapidly into the Portugal net, with Poborsky himself having admitted he thought that he had missed too. ![]() With the aid of a ricochet, he beat three players as he jinked his way to the edge of the box, and in spotting another defender sliding in and Portugal keeper Vitor Baia off his line he performed an audacious chip which settled sweetly into the net. Luckily though one of them is among the greatest Euros goals of all-time, with Karel Porborsky's chipped effort against Portugal at Villa Park his headline act as one of the stars of the tournament. Karel Poborsky (CZECH REPUBLIC 1-0 Portugal, Euro 96)Īnother example of the weakness of Euro '96 was the quarter-finals where just four goals were scored across all the games. Had I not received the ball properly, I wouldn't have been able to make that lob over Schmeichel.' 'The control was the most important thing. 'I saw Schmeichel and controlled the ball well,' he told UEFA. Suker later admitted that his brilliant first touch set up the opportunity for the lob. With Peter Schmeichel having recovered his position after sprinting back from the halfway line, he met to confront Suker who in three touches controlled the ball and then lifted a cheeky chip over the Danish stopper to wrap up a 3-0 group stage victory. With Croatia leading a counter attack against Denmark, who were 2-0 down at Hillsborough, Suker's first touch from a crossfield long ball from Aljosa Asanovic was majestic as he perfectly diverted the ball in front for him to sprint on to. What it did produce though was a bucket load of wonder goals, and while Davor Suker did next to nothing at Arsenal after signing on a free transfer in 1999, he had proven three years earlier he was capable of turning on the style in England. Davor Suker (CROATIA 3-0 Denmark, Euro 96)Įuro '96 is fondly remembered by England fans of a certain generation, but the tournament as a whole was not particularly memorable for producing many classic matches.
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