For those who love soccer, the next month will be a huge festival of goals and action as the European Championships kicks off June 8 in Poland and the Ukraine.
Can Spain become the first team to win three major tournaments in a row? Can the the current German team finally fulfill its potential and win a major championship? Or will the Dutch go one better than their recent runners-up spot in the 2010 World Cup and take the trophy?
All will be revealed in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here are some Euro goals to whet the appetite! Enjoy!
Fernando Torres’ Winner in the 2008 Final
Torres scored this goal to win the final in 2008 when he was at the peak of his powers. In recent years he has gone through a goal drought of monumental proportions at club level with Chelsea. However, in the past six weeks he showed enough form to be selected for the Spanish roster for this year’s tournament.
Marco Van Basten’s 1988 Volley Vs. USSR
How good was Van Basten back in his prime? He was this good. Check out this stupendous volley that gave his team a 2-0 lead in the final against the USSR. Holland went on to win the game and claim its only major international tournament victory. Can they repeat this year? With Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Klaus Jan Huntelaar in the line-up, anything is possible!
David Trezeguet’s Golden Goal in the Euro 2000 Final Vs. Italy
This great French team backed up its 1998 World Cup win with a dramatic golden goal victory over Italy to become European champions in 2000. A great jinking run and cross from former Arsenal player Robert Pires was finished emphatically by David Trezeguet, who rifled the ball past the Italian keeper to end the game.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GwNekXYhacM
Ronnie Whlean’s Volley Vs. USSR in the 1988 Tournament
Under the tutelage of 1966 English World Cup winner Jack Charlton, this no-nonsense Irish team famously put the opposition under pressure at all times. But the team also had some great players, Liverpool great Ronnie Whelan among them. This volley against the USSR in a group game (kind of a shin volley really) is testament to his talent.
John Jensen’s Goal in the 1992 Final
Denmark only made the tournament after the then-Yugoslavian team was disqualified from the competition. The Danes made the most of their opportunity. With Peter Schmeichel in goal performing heroics and Brian Laudrup pulling the strings in midfield, the team advanced to the final where it played Germany. There, hard-man midfielder John Jensen hammered in this goal to complete a fairytale win for his country.
