DO YOU REMEMBER?
JOHN LYONS takes a look back at some of the most memorable incidents in the European Championship
Top 5 Euro moments
ET’S be honest, the European Championship hasn’t got quite the same glitz and glamour as the World Cup. You’re missing the Brazilians and Argentinians for starters, but that’s not to say the Euros don’t come up with those moments that live in the memory.
As the tournament draws close, we’ve picked out five magic moments from European Championship history:
1.Antonin Panenka – Czechoslovakia v West Germany, 1976 – Not many people can say they have a particular play in the game named after them – Antonin Panenka can. The Panenka is known as a penalty in which the ball is softly chipped down the centre of the goal, leaving the goalkeeper who has dived to one side looking embarrassed. A risky move at the best of times, Panenka successfully did it at a key moment – to score the winning penalty in the shoot-out against West Germany in the 1976 final. Imagine the grief he would have got if Sepp Maier had saved it to keep the shootout alive!
2.Stuart Pearce – England v Spain, 1996 – After missing for England in their World Cup semi-final shoot-out defeat against West Germany in 1990, Stuart Pearce had unfinished business. His redemption duly arrived six years later against Spain in a quarter-final at Wembley. Brave enough to take a spot-kick for Terry Venables’ side,‘Psycho’ unnervingly slammed home the penalty as England went on to win. Then, as if letting go of six years of torment, he wildly punched the air as he looked towards the celebrating fans, screamed at them and, with bulging eyes, appeared as though he would kill anyone that got in his path.
3.Paul Gascoigne – England v Scotland, 1996 – Is this for the goal or the celebration? For both. In the group game against the Scots, England were leading 1-0 through an Alan Shearer goal when Gazza struck. He brilliantly lobbed the ball over the head of Scotland defender Colin Hendry, ran round the other side and smashed the ball home on the volley. As the net bulged, Gazza raced off to celebrate. He flung himself to the turf and implored his team-mates to pour water into his mouth, re-enacting the infamous ‘dentist’s chair’ drinking high-jinks in Hong Kong before the tournament.
4.Marco van Basten – Holland v Soviet Union, 1988 – If you’re ever looking for a goal of the highest quality, a goal of rare beauty, then
it’s difficult to beat Marco van Basten’s stunner against the Soviet Union in the 1988 final. When former Ipswich favourite Arnold Muhren swung over a deep cross with that wand of a left foot, nothing appeared on. But from a ridiculous angle on the right-hand side of the box, van Basten sent an impeccably timed volley soaring over the head of keeper Rinat Dasayev and high into the net for a majestic strike.
5.Ray Houghton – Republic of Ireland v England, 1988 – Under England World Cup winner Jack Charlton, the Republic of Ireland had reached their first ever major finals. Their first game up was a juicy showdown against England, who were hot favourites to beat them. However, with just six minutes on the clock and England struggling to clear their lines, Ray Houghton, hardly the tallest of players, looped a header over Peter Shilton to send their fans wild and give the Irish a lead they never let go.