There is an old saying in football that “it takes only a second to score a goal”, however, to score a goal or two or even more, after trailing with the clock ticking, in an almost impossible situation practically thought of, is what makes a remarkable comeback. With the EURO 2016 less than a week away from kickoff, let us look at the greatest comebacks in the history of UEFA European Championship till date.
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It would be really inappropriate if we do not mention some honorable matches, before getting down to our final list. Sorry if your favorite game could not make it down to our list and we would be glad if you can recall any of these games or comment us few more matches that you can think of and share your views on the same.
Honorable Mentions:
France 3-2 Portugal(aet*) – 1984 semi-finals
Portugal 3-2 England – 2000 group stages
Yugoslavia 3-4 Spain – 2000 group stages
Netherlands 2-3 Czech Republic – 2004 group stages
*after extra time
5. Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic – 2008 group stages
While few might have seen this game or can recall the most recent of great comebacks in an EURO tournament, few would know that the most fascinating element of this game was a draw in this match would have taken it into penalties for a place in the quarter-finals, even though it was a group game.
Jan Koller, who replaced Milan Baros for this game, steered in a header in the first half to give Czechs the lead. With less than thirty minutes from the full-time whistle, Jaroslav Plasil slid in from the left off a Sionko’s cross from the right to make it 2-0. Arda Turan slotted in for Turkey with fifteen minutes to go to set up a climax.
Skipper Nihat then capitalized on a howler from Peter Cech, who dropped a cross and gave Turkey a chance with three minutes to play. 2-2! It seemed that the script was perfectly written for Nihat, who after two minutes, produced a moment of utter brilliance when he curled a right-footed shot in off the underside of the crossbar.
The comeback was complete and Nihat was the hero, leading from the front. Not to forget that the Turkey goalkeeper Demirel shoved Koller in the chest to get a red card in the injury time. Turkey went on to qualify for the quarter-finals against Croatia, beating them 3-1 on penalties.
4. West Germany 4-2 Yugoslavia (aet) – 1976 semi-finals
West Germany were the defending champions, they also won the World Cup two years ago, but they were two down inside half an hour in the semis. However, the quality of the West German side was again reflected when they were back on level terms with less than eight minutes left, courtesy of goals from Heinz Flohe and substitute Dieter Muller.
The game finished 2-2 and there was no separating the two sides even after the first half of the extra time got over.
It looked like West Germany would have to get the luck from penalties this time to make the finals, but Muller, who was also the debutant and had scored from a header which was his first touch in international football earlier, had other ideas. He completed his hat trick after scoring twice in the extra time and taking his team through to the final.
Not only was it a dream debut for Muller but also a game for Yugoslavia to forget as they were stunned in their capital city of Belgrade. West Germany eventually lost the final on penalties to Czechoslovakia and Muller finished with the highest number of goals(4) in the tournament.
3. Yugoslavia 3-3 Slovenia – 2000 group stages
We got one more sensational story from one of the 2000 EURO Championship group stages, probably the last of them and arguably the best among them. This is also regarded as one of the most memorable comebacks in international football. You might be wondering this was just a group game and at the end was a draw, but at the same time, it was also a classic example of comebacks in football.
Slovenia were the underdogs and Euro debutants, but they led Yugoslavia 3 goals to nil and were coasting after a brace from their star player Zahovic in this derby. Then, Yugoslavia’s Mihajlovic was sent off with a second yellow to aggravate things. This appeared to be the final nail in Yugoslavia’s coffin.
But so quickly the fortunes change in the game of football, the Serbs with ten men were pumped up With less than twenty-five minutes left on the clock, Milosevic scored for Yugoslavia, then Drulovic put one in and finally Milosevic scored the equalizer, all three goals coming in the space of six minutes.
It seemed the drama was over but Slovenia regained their footing, and it required a goal-line clearance from Ivan Dudic to deny Slovenia a dramatic, injury time winner. In the end, Yugoslavia earned a vital point and went on to qualify for the quarterfinals on the basis of more goals scored than Norway, since both were tied on points and goal difference.
2. France 4-5 Yugoslavia – 1960 semi-finals
A nine-goal thriller in a semi-final of European Championship and a win for Yugoslavia in Paris. France led 3-1 and then the scoreline read 4-2 with almost fifteen minutes of play remaining. The home crowd were ready to celebrate the Les Blues’ entry into the finals, which was also to be held in Paris when Yugoslavia pulled one back in the 75th minute.
Yugoslavia never lost hope and the turnaround happened, thanks to some poor French defending. A brace from Drazan Jerkovic, with goals in the 78th and 79th minute, helped Yugoslavia take the lead. Three goals in the space of four minutes and the host and their fans were shell-shocked.
1. France 2-1 Italy (aet) – 2000 Final
While this might not be the most unbelievable or the most remarkable of comebacks in European football, it features at the top on our list because of the occasion(a final), two powerhouses locking horns, the host nation winning the tournament, an injury time equalizer and a golden goal winner – both by substitutes.
This was the golden era in the history of French football, the Les Blues were favorites going into this match after having won the World Cup two years ago on the home soil.
The Azzurri took a lead early in the second half when Delvecchio scored from Pessotto’s cross. The Italians are very good at defending and holding back and the time was winding down for the hosts and only three minutes of injury time was added. Who came to the rescue? Not Zidane, not Henry and not Vieira either.
It was the substitute Wiltord who sent home the equalizer during the last attack to take the game into extra time. The golden goal rule was applied during the Euro 2000 and just before half-time in extra time, Pires cut a great ball back to David Trezeguet, whose fascinating strike measured at 81kmph left the Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo with no chance at all.
The golden goal meant France were not only the World Champions but also the European Champions at home. Can they repeat history this year? Only time will tell.
