Nani scores 600th goal at a EURO finals
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
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After Portugal forward Nani scored the 600th goal in EURO finals history, EURO2016.com checks out the other milestone strikes along the way and comes across some big names and occasions.
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No1: Milan Galić (Yugoslavia), 1960
The competition's inaugural match at the Parc des Princes was 11 minutes old when midfielder Galić notched the first finals goal. Sixty seconds later Jean Vincent got the second, equalising for France, and a remarkable semi-final ended 5-4 to Yugoslavia. Fifty-six years on, it remains the tournament's highest-scoring match.
No100: Alain Giresse (France), 1984
Twenty-four years later the championship returned to France, and it was the hosts who brought up a century of goals. Giresse, arch-instigator of Les Bleus' famed midfield 'Carré Magique' (Magic Square), claimed it in a 5-0 win against Denmark in Nantes, a neat chip after a one-two with Jean Tigana. Michel Platini took the headlines with a hat-trick, though.
No200: Kim Vilfort (Denmark), 1992
Denmark's fairy-tale triumph in Sweden was the best and worst of times for midfielder Vilfort. He twice left the Danish camp – missing a group game – to visit his seven-year-old daughter who was suffering from leukaemia. It was fitting, then, that he had the last word, shooting low in off a post to make it 2-0 in the final against Germany and seal Denmark's victory.
No300: Zlatko Zahovič (Slovenia), 2000
One of Slovenia's greatest players, Zahovič turned in a cross despite colliding with a team-mate to level at 1-1 against Spain. Parity lasted a minute and his side went on to lose, though the defeat was arguably not as upsetting as the events of a few days earlier – when two Zahovič goals and a 3-0 lead were not enough for the tournament debutants as Yugoslavia recovered for a draw.
No400: Thierry Henry (France), 2004
Having put France ahead against Switzerland with 14 minutes remaining, Henry settled it with a trademark dash and unerring finish. It secured the defending champions top spot in their group and booked a seemingly easier quarter-final tie ... against Greece. Appearances, of course, can be deceptive.
No500: Xavi Hernández (Spain), 2008
Could there have been a more appropriate man to bring up the 500 milestone? Xavi was player of the tournament in 2008 and not far from it in 2012, either. His lone finals goal came in the 2008 semi-finals against Russia, steering in Andrés Iniesta's fine left-wing cross to break the deadlock five minutes after half-time.