20. Brilliant Holland blast through group of death
- Holland vs Italy and France, Euro 2008
Euro 2008’s seeding system somehow placed the World Cup finalists of two years’ previous, Italy and France, in the same group together. They were joined by Holland and Romania.
Of the three big guns, France would be the team to miss out after losing the decider but that was only after both they and Italy were taken to pieces by the Dutch.
Wesley Sneijder was outstanding alongside the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben as the Italians fell to a 3-0 defeat before France were beaten 4-1.
Dirk Kuyt (right) and Rafael van der Vaart (left) celebrate defeating France in Bern, Switzerland
Robin van Persie (right) wheels away after scoring past French goalkeeper Gregory Coupet
19. Xavier loses the plot
- France vs Portugal, Euro 2000
Playing at his peak with Everton at the time, Abel Xavier provided one of the stand-out moments of Euro 2000 - but not for his ability, nor his bleached-blond hair and beard.
With a semi-final against France six minutes away from heading to penalties, the Portuguese defender handled, almost on the goallline, to knock away a David Trezeguet shot.
The referee’s assistant spotted the offence that led to Zinedine Zidane’s Golden Goal penalty, but Portugal weren’t finished as they confronted referee Gunter Benko. Xavier’s exasperated protests led to a nine-month ban - later reduced to six months.
Abel Xavier (third left) leads the protests against referee Gunther Benko's penalty decision at Euro 2000
The Portugal defender confronts the official after awarding a handball against him during the semi-final
18. Poborksy’s beautiful scoop
- Czech Republic vs Portugal, Euro 1996
Slavia Prague winger Karel Poborsky had already caught the eye of Manchester United before he netted the goal once crowned the European Championships’ best ever in 1996.
Battling his way through three Portuguese midfielders, Poborsky reached the edge of the box before spotting goalkeeper Vitor Baia well off his line.
What followed next can only be defined as a ‘scoop’ with the terms lob or chip failing to do the unique nature of the Czech star’s strike justice.
Karel Poborsky makes a name for himself with an audacious chip as Fernando Couto (right) looks on
17. Whelan shins it in
- Republic of Ireland vs USSR, Euro 1988
Ronnie Whelan scored one of the greatest goals in Irish history with his brilliant bicycle kick against eventual finalists the USSR at Euro 1988.
Mick McCarthy launched a long throw-in towards the edge of the penalty area and somehow it came to Whelan who, spinning to volley the ball, connected with his left shin to smash past Rinat Dasaev.
Ireland would still exit at the group stage and Whelan’s goal was somewhat mocked for the use of his shin but it remains a stunning effort, all the more so for the unorthodox contact.
Ronnie Whelan (left) leads the Republic of Ireland celebrations after scoring against the USSR in 1988
16. Double drama for Bilic and Co
- Croatia vs Turkey, Euro 2008
Croatia, having knocked England out on their way to qualifying for Euro 2008, endured the worst kind of late heartbreak against Turkey in Vienna.
After 119 goalless minutes, Ivan Klasnic thought he had won this quarter-final - and so did his manager. Slaven Bilic, now of West Ham, was among those to rush on to the pitch in celebration.
But Turkey's Semih Senturk volleyed in an equaliser with the last kick of the game to force penalties. Emotionally-drained Croatia missed three of their four spot-kicks and were sent home.
Slaven Bilic helps a dejected Vedran Corluka back to his feet - he had earlier ran onto the pitch in celebration
Turkey forward Semih Senturk celebrates after scoring the last-gasp equaliser in Vienna
15. The first-ever European Championship game
- France vs Yugoslavia, Euro 1960
The finals of the first-ever European Championship in France were only competed in by four teams and the hosts were knocked out at the first hurdle in dramatic fashion.
Despite the early setback of Milan Galic’s 11th-minute goal, the French roared into a 3-1 lead on 52 minutes after after being pegged back Francois Huette made it 4-2 on 62 minutes.
Yugoslavia were not to be beaten, though. Tomislav Knez pulled one back on 75 minutes before Drazan Jerkovic struck twice in the 77th and 78th minutes for a remarkable turnaround.
The Yugoslavia (left) and France teams enter the pitch for the first ever European Championship match
Goalkeeper Georges Lamia (third left) misses the ball in the goalmouth as hosts France concede
14. Ricardo lives the goalkeeper’s dream
- Portugal vs England, Euro 2004
England were full of hope that they could win Euro 2004, reaching the quarter-final stage buoyed on by the brilliant form of teenage breakthrough star Wayne Rooney.
Those dreams fell apart against hosts Portugal after a brilliant game, which saw Michael Owen, Helder Postiga, Rui Costa and Frank Lampard score, was decided on penalties.
David Beckham and Costa missed their spot-kicks before the shoot-out went to sudden death. Goalkeeper Ricardo saved Darius Vassell’s penalty and then dusted himself down to fire home his own for the clincher.
Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo dives to his left to save England striker Darius Vassell's penalty
The cocky keeper then stepped up to blast his team into the Euro 2004 semi-finals as David James despairs
13. Mad Mario’s masterclass
- Italy vs Germany, Euro 2012
A moment just as memorable for the celebration as Mario Balotelli’s footballing genius came in the Euro 2012 semi-finals in Warsaw.
The Manchester City striker, so often unpredictable in his up-and-down performances, netted after 20 minutes before his brilliant, emphatic finish to Riccardo Montolivo's pass on 36 minutes.
Balotelli whipped off his shirt and stood motionless and tensed with his muscles on show having netted the goal to knock Germany out at the semi-final stage.
Mario Balotelli bullies his way past Philipp Lahm to smash past Manuel Neuer at Euro 2012
The Italy striker appeared to have the world at his feet and showed off his muscles in celebration
12. Italy win on a coin toss
- Italy vs USSR, Euro 1968
Almost unthinkable now, but Italy found their way to the final of Euro 1968 courtesy of a coin toss held in a Naples dressing room.
The two teams could not be separated from a goalless deadlock after 120 minutes of play and so it came down to Italy captain Giacinto Facchetti’s correct call of tails to send his team through from the semi-final.
Facchetti then emerged from the tunnel to effectively inform the 68,000 watching fans of the result with his celebrations.
Italy went on to beat Yugoslavia 2-0 in the Euro 1968 final after earning their passage thanks to a coin toss
11. Bierhoff hits first Golden Goal winner
- Germany vs Czech Republic, Euro 1996
Not the most beautiful of goals but when it’s ‘Golden’ it doesn’t really matter how they go in.
Substitute Oliver Bierhoff won the tournament for Germany in the 1996 final, turning inside the area before his deflected left-foot shot found a way past goalkeeper Petr Kouba and in off the post.
It was the first time a Golden Goal had decided a major international tournament.
Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Kouba failed to stop Oliver Bierhoff's (background, falling) weak shot
Stefan Kuntz celebrates Bierhoff's Golden Goal as Germany sneaked home to win Euro 96 in extra time
10. Double penalty drama for England
- England vs Spain and Germany, Euro 1996
Stuart Pearce’s redemption after his World Cup penalty miss in 1990 was the enduring moment of England’s only major tournament shootout victory, against Spain in the quarter-final at Euro 1996.
Four days later, back at Wembley, the hosts took the semi-final to the wire against Germany.
On this occasion, though, Gareth Southgate missed the decisive penalty after Andreas Moller netted Germany’s sixth. Heartbreak at the end of England’s best shot at Euro glory in recent memory.
Stuart Pearce roars with relief after scoring in the shootout against Spain while David Seaman (right) saves
Gareth Southgate holds his head in his hands after missing against Germany in the semi-final shootout
9. Platini’s late ‘84 winner
- France vs Portugal, Euro 1984
Juventus star Michel Platini arrived at Euro 1984 midway through a run of three successive Ballon d’Or wins and he lived up to the billing on home soil for France.
Platini scored in every game, netting nine goals in total, but the most memorable and vital came in the semi-final against Portugal.
Rui Jordao had put Portugal ahead, 2-1, in extra-time before Jean-Francois Domergue scrambled an equaliser. Platini then found the winner in the 119th minute at the end of Jean Tigana’s dazzling dribble.
France captain and midfielder Michel Platini scores past Portugal keeper Bento in Marseille
Alain Giresse, Platini and Patrick Battiston lap up the winning moment on home soil in the semi-final
8. England thrash Holland 4-1
- England vs Holland, Euro 1996
The SAS stake pairing - (Alan) Shearer and (Teddy) Sheringham - inspired this victory that really transformed English football during Euro 1996.
It was a game that showed what English players were capable of when given confidence by their manager and one Sportsmail’s Jeff Powell called: ‘the greatest English victory since the winning of the 1966 World Cup.’
Shearer and Sheringham netted twice each before Patrick Kluivert’s late consolation goal.
Teddy Sheringham (centre) slides in to beat Winston Bogarde to the ball and score at Wembley in 1996
Alan shearer (centre right) celebrates one of his two goals against the Dutch with Steve McManaman
7. Spain demolition proves their dominance
- Spain vs Italy, Euro 2012
European and world champions Spain, having triumphed at Euro 2008 and the World Cup in 2010, came in for some criticism ahead of the 2012 final in Kiev.
Many were unimpressed by their striker-less false nine system that had only brought wins by more than a single goal against the Republic of Ireland and France - sealed by a stoppage-time penalty.
What better way to prove their quality, then, than by beating Italy 4-0 in the final with four different goalscorer overwhelming their closest rivals on the continent that summer.
Fernando Torres scores Spain's third goal past Gianluigi Buffon of Italy during the Euro 2012 final
Spain celebrate on the podium after sealing their status as the best international team of their generation
6. Origin of the Panenka
- Czechoslovakia vs West Germany, Euro 1976
Perhaps the most-famous winning penalty kick ever, Antonin Panenka had the chipped spot-kick named after him with the decisive lob in the 1976 final.
The Czech midfielder had the chance to win the tournament for his country after Uli Hoeness missed and, feigning to shoot right, Panacea let German goalkeeper Sepp Maier dive to his left before chipping down the middle.
The Panenka penalty was born.
Czechoslovakia midfielder Antonin Panenka steps up to slot past Germay goalkeeper Sepp Maier
Panenka's cheeky chipped penalty completely deceives Maier with a groundbreaking technique
Panenka showed incredible nerve to chip home the decisive penalty in the 1976 shootout
5. Trezeguet’s Golden Goal
- France vs Italy, Euro 2000
After Bierhoff, France star David Trezeguet was the only other player to experience the glory of scoring a European Championship-winning Golden Goal.
Les Bleus had only equalised against Italy in stoppage time for normal time through Sylvain Wiltord before Trezeguet ended the tournament on 103 minutes.
Robert Pires broke down the left and sent in a cross behind the Juventus striker that required him to readjust his body shape before thumping past Francesco Toldo to spark wild celebrations.
France striker David Trezeguet keeps his eye on the ball to shoot as Paolo Maldini (left) watches on
Trezeguet's powerful volley flew into the Italy net to settle the Euro 2000 final with a Golden Goal
4. Schmeichel saves on the way to Denmark shock glory
- Denmark vs Holland, Euro 1992
Denmark, famously, failed to qualify for Euro 1992 before shocking the continent by winning the tournament, having replaced disqualified Yugoslavia.
There were plenty of stand-out performances along the way but arguably the best came from goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel in the semi-final.
The Manchester United stopper saved from Marco van Basten’s penalty to send Denmark to the final where they beat Germany 2-0.
Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was the hero as they upset all of Europe to win in 1992
Schmeichel dived to his left to stop Marco van Basten's penalty in the semi-final against Holland
Denmark begin their celebrations after beating Germany in the final at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg
3. Gazza in the dentist’s chair
- England vs Scotland, Euro 1996
Another celebration that will live long in the memory, Paul Gascoigne mocked criticism of his drinking habits after netting his brilliant goal against Scotland in 1996.
With 12 minutes left of a group-stage game at Wembley, the England midfielder flicked the ball over Colin Hendry with his left foot before slamming in with his right.
Gascoigne lay behind the goal as his team-mates squirted water into his mouth, a re-enactment of the ‘dentist's chair’ drinking game which made headlines ahead of the tournament.
Paul Gascoigne celebrates in the 'Dentist's Chair' with McManaman, Sheringham and Jamie Redknapp
Gazza's celebration remains one of the most iconic in English football after his brilliant goal against Scotland
2. Greece upset the odds
- Greece vs Portugal, Euro 2004
Greece championed their team ethic and came from nowhere to upset the favourites in one of football’s great shocks at Euro 2004.
They stifled every opponent on their way to beating hosts Portugal in the final with 1-0 wins in every stage of the knock-outs.
Angelos Charisteas grabbed the winner in the final and even the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo could not find a way through the dogged defence as Greece claimed their only major title.
Greece striker Angelos Charisteas (third right) heads the ball past Portugal keeper Ricardo in 2004
Outsiders Greece pulled off a sensational upset to conquer Europe with a series of stifling wins
1. Van Basten’s volley
- Holland vs USSR, Euro 1988
The most iconic goal of European Championship history came in the 1988 courtesy of Holland star Marco van Basten’s brilliant volley at Munich’s Olympiastadion.
Arnold Muhren sent in a cross from the left that went deep and seemed to pose minimal danger, only for Van Basten to majestically smash in with an arching strike that flew into the net.
Dutch captain Ruud Gullet even admitted: ‘If he hit it a million times, he would never ever score that goal again.’ That it came on one of football’s biggest occasions was the icing on the cake.
Van Basten (left) shows stunning technique to score the winning goal in the Euro 88 final against USSR
The Dutch striker belted the ball home from a seemingly impossible angle with a magnificent strike
The legendary striker raises one arm into the air to celebrate the finest strike of his career
