Revenge on their minds
Spain v Italy
Euro 2012 match: Sunday June 10
Euro 2008 quarter-final:June 22 2008, Vienna
Spain 0 Italy 0 (aet) — Spain won penalty shoot-out 4-2
Spain changed from chokers to champions-in-waiting with a penalty shoot-out success against Italy in the last eight of the Euro finals four years ago. The outcome broke a big psychological barrier for Luis Aragones’s squad: Spain had exited finals in 1986, 1996 and 2002 after spot-kick losses on the same date as this latest test, and hadn’t overcome Italy competitively since 1920.
Chances were scarce in Vienna. Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon foiled David Villa and David Silva in the first half, and pushed anchorman Marcos Senna’s shot onto a post after the interval. Substitute Antonio Di Natale came closest for Italy in extra-time when his header was tipped over the bar by Iker Casillas.
Captain Casillas was the hero of the shoot-out, saving from Daniele De Rossi and Di Natale to let substitute Cesc Fabregas convert the decisive kick. Seven days later, Spain were crowned champions of Europe.
England v France
Euro 2012 match date: Monday June 11
Euro-2004 (Group B), June 13 2004, Lisbon
France 2 England 1
Zinédine Zidane’s late, dramatic, dead-ball double gave holders France a winning start against England at Euro 2004 in Portugal. Frank Lampard headed England in front from David Beckham’s free kick, nearing half-time in Lisbon, and with Everton teenager Wayne Rooney posing a constant threat, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team looked set for victory.
But when Fabien Barthez saved Beckham’s penalty in the 73rd minute, Jacques Santini’s men were inspired to stage a storming finish. Substitute Emile Heskey’s clumsy challenge on Claude Makelele was punished by Zidane, who curled a trademark free kick past David James after 89 minutes. Zizou then stroked home an injury-time penalty after Steven Gerrard’s under-hit back pass forced James to foul Thierry Henry.
Both teams advanced from Group B to the quarter-finals, where England were knocked out on penalties by Portugal, and France lost their crown in a 1-0 defeat to Greece, who went on to succeed them.
Germany v Netherlands
Euro 2012 match date: Wednesday June 13
Euro 88 semi-final, June 21 1988, Hamburg
W Germany 1 Netherlands 2
He missed much of the season through injury and only started Euro 88 on the bench. But Marco Van Basten (below) sparked Dutch delight by scoring a late winner against West Germany in Hamburg to set up a final showdown with the Soviet Union.
Two disputed second-half penalties, converted by Lothar Matthaus and Ronald Koeman, had the teams level as full-time approached. The Germans, coached by the legendary Franz Beckenbauer, were seeking their first trophy since 1980, and had not lost to the Dutch for 32 years.
AC Milan striker Van Basten changed all that for Rinus Michels’s team after 88 minutes. Sliding onto Jan Wouters’s precise pass, he got the better of Jurgen Kohler to steer the ball wide of Eike Immel. In Munich four days later, captain Ruud Gullit lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy as the Netherlands claimed their first senior international prize, after beating the USSR 2-0.
Denmark v Germany
Euro 2012 match date: Sunday June 17
Euro 92 final, June 26 1992, Gothenburg
Denmark 2 Germany 0
Twenty years ago, Richard Moller Nielsen planned to spend the month of June refurbishing his kitchen. But when Denmark got a last-minute call to replace sanctions-hit Yugoslavia at Euro 92, Moller Nielsen deferred the DIY and masterminded arguably the most remarkable triumph in the history of international football.
Germany, competing as a unified country at a finals for the first time since 1938, were the fall guys in the decider at Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium. Berti Vogts’s team dominated early on but couldn’t beat the inspirational Peter Schmeichel. Instead, midfielder John Jensen’s scorching drive gave Denmark the lead in the 19th minute.
With Thomas Hassler outstanding, Germany created further chances in the second half. When Schmeichel brilliantly denied Jurgen Klinsmann after 73 minutes, however, the Danes sensed victory. Midfielder Kim Vilfort, whose daughter was battling leukaemia, doubled Denmark’s advantage with 12 minutes remaining, prompting the most unexpected celebrations in Euro history.
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