Best five games at EURO 2016?
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
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With the dust now settling on UEFA EURO 2016, we looked back at the 51 matches that took place in France and tried to pick out the best five. What do you think?
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22/06: Hungary 3-3 Portugal
A fixture that had it all: shock factor, end-to-end action and brilliant goals. Zoltán Gera started it all, fizzing in a low half-volley. Nani levelled before half-time, but soon after the restart Balázs Dzsudzsák made it 2-1. Ronaldo became the first player to score in four EURO tournaments with a lovely back-heeled flick only for Dzsudzsák to put Hungary back in front yet again. Back came Ronaldo, earning a point that meant Portugal joined Hungary in the last 16 – the rest, as they say, is history.
27/06: Italy 2-0 Spain
The end of an era? Winners of the previous two EUROs, Spain had not lost a finals fixture in exactly ten years going into this round of 16 tie. And didn't Italy, beaten 4-0 by the Roja in the 2012 final, just know it. Goals by Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pellè brought a measure of revenge for Antonio Conte's impressive side, and but for Spain goalkeeper David de Gea it could have been a rout.
01/07: Wales 3-1 Belgium
The Red Devils were many people's tips for the final, especially after ending up on what was supposed to be the easier side of the draw. It was all going to plan when Radja Nainggolan's screamer put them ahead, but, not for the first time at UEFA EURO 2016, debutants Wales had other ideas. Ashley Williams equalised, then out-of-contract Hal Robson-Kanu raised the spirit of Johan Cruyff as he turned and fired Wales in front early in the second half. Sam Vokes sealed a famous win with a fine late header.
02/07: Germany 1-1 (6-5) Italy
Germany have seven major titles to their name but remarkably, before this quarter-final meeting they had never beaten Italy in eight attempts at a FIFA World Cup or EURO. The hex ended in dramatic style in Bordeaux, after Leandro Bonucci converted from the spot to cancel out Mesut Özil's opener. A remarkable shoot-out featured more Germany misses in a few minutes than the previous 40 years combined, but still they triumphed.
03/07: France 5-2 Iceland
Iceland had beaten England the previous round and held Portugal in the group stage, but the dream died in Saint-Denis. They were 4-0 down by half-time. True to form, the Nordic side hit back through Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, and even when Olivier Giroud made it 5-1 they still managed the last word courtesy of Birkir Bjarnason. They departed after one last thunderclap, making their way to a hero's welcome in Reykjavik.