Soccer For Dummies by Thomas Dunmore Scott Murray

Author:Thomas Dunmore, Scott Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

The Euros in the new millennium

Euro 2000, held jointly by the Netherlands and Belgium, was a huge success, with many high-scoring and dramatic games. The Netherlands was beaten in the semifinals by Italy, missing two penalties during normal time. The Italians so nearly won the trophy, leading France 1-0 in the final with seconds to go, but Sylvan Wiltord whipped in a dramatic equalizer, before David Trezeguet scored a spectacular golden goal in extra time.

Euro 2004 was a quieter affair. Otto Rehhagel’s Greece team was considered dour, not that anyone on the team cared: The Greeks amazingly won the tournament against all the odds, smothering reigning champions France, the much-fancied Czech Republic, and host nation Portugal (twice — in the opening game of the tournament, then in the final).

Euro 2008 was held in Austria and Switzerland, with Germany reaching the final after defeating surprise package Turkey at the semifinal stage. The Germans, however, had no answer for Spain, who had been by far the best team in the tournament. Spain won the final thanks to Fernando Torres’s single goal, adding a second European Championship to the one it won way back in 1964.

The 2012 tournament was held jointly by Poland and Ukraine. It was won by Spain, who not only successfully defended its title from 2008, but became the first country to hold the World Cup while winning consecutive continental championships — in 2010, the Spaniards had won the World Cup for the first time. Spain sealed victory with an impressive performance in the final against Italy, who had surprised many by defeating Germany at the semifinal stage (see Figure 11-2). Spain crushed Italy 4-0 in Kiev to claim the title again.

2012 was the last ever staging of the European Championship to feature just 16 teams — UEFA has decided that in 2016, the tournament will be contested by 24 countries. From its origins back in France 56 years previously, when four teams battled it out for the title, the Euros will have come a long way when they return to French soil in 2016.

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