The semi-finals of the European Championship are being completed, the fight for the trophy is on Sunday in Berlin, and the BBC has selected the most exciting semi-final duels in the championships of the Old Continent in the last 21 years in anticipation of the match between England and the Netherlands, which will take place tonight at 30:XNUMX in Dortmund.
EURO 2020: ENGLAND - DENMARK
Twenty-five years after the Gareth Southgate missed a penalty in the semi-final of the Euro against Germany, Albion faced a duel for placement in the final against Denmark.
In July 2021, Southgate, in the role of selector, took part in the triumph in another very exciting duel, which was decided after 120 minutes - 2:1.
The Danes were leading by a goal Mikel Damsgora, and the English settled when Simon Kier cross Bukaja Sake carried out in the network.
It's in overtime Harry Kane first missed a shot from 11 meters (he saved Kasper Schmeichel), and then knocked the ball into the goal, so Gordy Albion reached the final of a major competition after 55 years of waiting...
EURO 2012: ITALY - GERMANY
The clash between Italy and Germany 12 years ago in Warsaw was a success Maria Balotelli.
The controversial striker, who a month earlier brought Manchester City the famous title in the Premier League, dominated the duel with the "Manshaft" and was a double scorer in the 2:1 victory.
Balotelli checkedmate Manuel Neuer in the 20th minute, and in the 36th minute, the celebration of the second goal was specific, because he took off his shirt and showed his muscles. During that period, there really weren't many better strikers in the world than Super Mario.
The "Azuri" kept the score without any problems, and all the Germans did was to mitigate the defeat in stoppage time when it was registered Mesut Ozil. The Italians had no chance in the final, they were outclassed by Spain - 4:0.
EURO 2008: GERMANY - TURKEY
Turkey played in the semi-finals 16 years ago, and was not far from repeating that result at this Euro, but the Netherlands got in the way in the quarter-finals.
The fact that the Germans and Turks played in Basel in 2008 was a real thriller. Ugur Boral scored for the team's lead Fatiha Terim, equalized by halftime Bastian Schweinsteiger. And then - chaos in the last 11 minutes.
He reversed the "elf" with a hit Miroslav Klose, 2:2 he signed Semih Senturk, and when it seemed to go into overtime - he appeared Philip Lam, scored a goal for 3:2 and launched his team into the fight for the trophy.
Germany didn't win it, Spain was too strong...
EURO 2000: FRANCE - PORTUGAL
On the wings of the world title in 1998, France attacked the European crown two years later. She met Portugal in the semi-finals in Brussels and the golden goal Zinedine Zidane in the 117th minute from the penalty spot came a great victory.
It is previous Nuno Gomes in the 19th minute gave the Portuguese an advantage, and at the beginning of the second half he equalized Thierry Henry.
It smelled that everything would have to be solved in penalty roulette, but the attack of the "tricolor" followed and a goal chance Silvan Viltor - Abel Xavier played with his hand and deflected the penalty, and Zizu made no mistake.
It was the ticket to the final, where the golden goal was again crucial - against Italy, he scored it David Trezeguet after they shook the net in the regular part Marco Delvecchio on one side and Viltor on the other side...
EURO 1996: ENGLAND - GERMANY
England fans probably still can't forget that semi-final of the Euro and the duel with the Germans at "Wembley".
It's already after three minutes of the game Alan Shearer checkmate Andreas Kepke for the advantage of the "three lions", but in the 16th he scored Štefan Kunc - it turned out to be the final result, even though the home team had more chances Darren Anderton, Shearer, Paul Gascoigne...
It had to go to penalties, there were no misses in the first five series, and in the sixth Gareth Southgate desperately shot when he was stopped by Kepke.
A few tens of seconds later it is Andreas Mehler was accurate for the placement of Germany in the final, where the Czech Republic was waiting.
The fight for the trophy was decided by two goals Oliver Biroff (2:1), so after extra time, the Germans won their third European Championship title.
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