Euro 2024: Unforgettable Euro Cup games since 1960

Posted by World Wide Tickets And Hospitality on September 7th, 2023

Next year, the fun and anticipation of a significant global competition returns with Euro 2024. Italy will go in as defending champions as they won Euro 2020. Plenty of legends have graced the famous competition over the past 60 years, and the biggest names in the sport's past have played host to some of the greatest games ever seen. Here, we take a look back at the few best games ever played at the Euros since its start all the way back in 1960.

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1988 Euro Cup Final

Going into Euro Cup '88, Holland were the nearly men in European football on the global stage. Despite their best efforts, they still hadn't won an international honour. At the club level, Ajax won three European Cup titles between 1971 and 1973, with a core of Dutch players, starring the legendary Johann Cruyff, playing an essential role. The Dutch national team were starved of the brilliance of Gerd Muller and Germany in the 1974 World Cup final.

And the wisdom of Mario Kempes and Argentina in the 1978 World Cup final. They lost the 1974 final at the Olympiastadion in Munich, but they weren't to be denied at the same site 14 years later when Holland had their next core of generational stars featuring the likes of Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Gerald Vanenburg and Ruud Gullit the man who opened the scoring in the Euro Cup 1988 final.

But the leading light in the Dutch class of '88 was Marco Van Basten, he's a football god and was as significant to Holland in the 80s as Cruyff was in the 70s. Gullit set the Dutch on their way in the first half, but his strike partner formed a bolt from the blue in the second when he recorded arguably the best goal ever. Van Basten struck Arnold Muhren's lofted cross-field ball sweet on the volley before his right-footed struggle flew into the top corner from a tight viewpoint.

The first-ever Euro Cup game in 1960

It's fair to say that the Euros have been a very successful contest since they were first presented, but they've always had a lot to live up to. The very first game in the European Championship past was a game between France Euro Cup side and Yugoslavia in Paris, and it was a nine-goal actioner. Although Yugoslavia took the lead early on through Milan Galic, France fought back and turned it around.

Goals from Jean Vincent and Francois Huette put France in the lead preceding half-time before Maryan Wisniewski made it 3-1 just after the break. But as Yugoslavia scored 10 minutes into the first half, they did precisely the same in the second as Ante Zanetic pulled it back. Huette doubled his tally soon after, but Yugoslavia weren't down and out just yet.

Yugoslavia were 4-2 down on 75 minutes, but five minutes later they were 5-4 up thanks to a goal from Tomislav Kenz and a brace from Drazan Jerkovic. It's hard to believe that 60 years ago it was just four teams challenging in the Euro Cup, but it has since continued to shine on the global phase with the very first game setting the tone.

Euro Cup Final 1976

The stage was set in Belgrade for the Euro '76 final between Czechoslovakia and Germany Euro Cup team, and it surely didn't disappoint.  Germany went into the Euro '76 final with an aura of strength about them. They were the defending European champions having won the competition in '72. They were world champions having won the World Cup in '74. And they were ruling in club football as well.

Germany were surely the favourites, but Czechoslovakia had other thoughts as they raced into an early lead through Jan Svehlik before Karol Dobias doubled their lead after 25 minutes. The Germans immediately replied through Dieter Muller but they would then continue to be upset. It looked as though Czechoslovakia would triumph, but a late Bernd Holzenbein sent the contest into extra time and ultimately penalties.

The first seven penalties of the shoot-out were recorded, but when Uli Hoeness missed the ball was in Antonin Panenka's court. Panenka did more than just score, he had the daring to chip the penalty past the diving Sepp Maier to win Czechoslovakia the Euro Cup Final and coin his own term for a chipped penalty. Euro fans can buy Germany Euro Cup Tickets at exclusively discounted prices.

Euro 1996 group stage game

Football's Coming Home was the anthem that rang out all over England when the nation was chosen to host Euro '96, and when it came around the admirers showed what they were all about pride, passion and confidence. It was as passionate as you will ever see a set of supporters, Euro '96 is a competition that will live long in the memory forever.

It took England a while to get going, a draw to Switzerland in their opener was followed by an unimpressive 2-0 win over Scotland, meaning they weren't certain of qualification going into the last group game against Holland. It was a game and atmosphere that brought out the best in England. Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham burst into life as they sent the Dutch 4-1 at Wembley.

The Wembley crowd were England's twelfth man as they roared the Three Lions on to a colossal victory over a strong Holland team featuring the likes of Edwin Van Der Sar, Michael Reiziger, Danny Blind, Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert all of whom won the Champions League with Ajax a year prior to Euro Cup 1996.

They'd never played in anything like the cauldron Wembley was that day though, England was intense. Shearer and Sheringham both netted a brace as they put Holland to the sword. Kluivert replied with a comfort late on, but it didn't dampen the mood of the England admirers who watched their team produce perhaps their best-ever Euro display. 

Euro Cup 1992 final

Curiously, Denmark failed to qualify for Euro 1992 having finished second behind Yugoslavia in qualification. Back in 1992, the Euros held just eight sides a third of today's number, with the winners of each of the seven qualifying groups plus hosts Sweden going straight into the race. In 1991, the Cold War ended and when the Soviet Union lost control of the Slavic nations of Yugoslavia, an awful Civil War broke out.

This meant that Yugoslavia were unable to contest at Euro '92 after being widely tipped to win the competition based on the fact that 15 out of Red Star Belgrade's 16 players in their group for their European Cup final triumph of 1991, were Yugoslavian. As a result, Denmark was drafted in to make up the numbers a week before the contest began. Their squad made the short trip across to next-door Sweden to participate.

The Danes did more than just make up the numbers, they surpassed all hopes and won the competition, beating Germany Euro Cup team in the final in Gothenburg. After picking up just one point and failing to score in their opening two group games against England and Sweden, Denmark beat France 2-1 in the final group game before edging out Holland on penalties in the semis.

Then in the final, goals from John Jensen and Kim Vilfort sealed the contract as Denmark were crowned champions of Europe. The Scandinavians outplayed Germany. Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and Laudrup brothers Brian and Michael featured for Denmark throughout the competition.

2012 Euro Cup Final

In 2012, Spain created extraordinary history. They became the first team to win back-to-back Euros and they did it while concurrently being world champions. The Spain dynasty was completed in 2012 when Vicente Del Bosque led his nation to continental glory after leading them to world glory in 2010. It stars the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and Iker Casillas.

Spain's group of extremely talented players laid the basics of modern-day football. Remarkably, Spain accepted just six goals across the three international competitions they won in 2008, 2010 and 2012. After narrowly overcoming Iberian neighbours Portugal on penalties in the Euro Cup Semi-Finals, they went into the game against an Italy side full of sureness after knocking out Germany.

But only one team played with sureness in the final in Kyiv as Spain conquered the contest from start to finish in one of the main displays ever seen in a final. Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata saw Spain sweep Italy aside and create a unique piece of history that makes them stand out from all the other Euro Cup winners of the past. Euro fans can buy  Euro Cup Final Tickets at exclusively discounted prices.

2004 Euro Cup Quarter-Final

Talk about high-end drama, this game surely wasn't short of it. England prevailed in the group phase and a young 18-year-old named Wayne Rooney was making the nation fall in love with the national side and starting to believe they would win on the international stage. After exciting wins against Switzerland and Croatia where Rooney netted a brace in both and was forming a lethal mixture with Michael Owen up top, England played hosts Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Portugal had a golden generation of their own, they had a young Cristiano Ronaldo in their grades playing with Real Madrid star Luis Figo along with the core of FC Porto's Champions League winning side of 2004. It was Owen who put England into an early lead, glancing past Ricardo on three minutes. But the game reformed on 27 minutes when Rooney was replaced, England's talisman was running the Portuguese defence ragged.

It made Portugal seize the creativity, and that initiative turned to constant pressure in the second half pressure which eventually culminated in a goal scored by Helder Postiga on 83 minutes. Sol Campbell thought he'd won it for England late on, turning in a David Beckham free-kick, but his goal was ruled out for a ruled push. Rui Costa put Portugal ahead in extra time before Lampard smoothed again.