Favourite Euros

[dontcloseyoureyes]

The one where Greece won :face:

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yugoslavia would have absolutely pissed 1992 if the country hadn't fallen apart.

Would have had some cracking teams throughout the 90s tbh.

Well that Red Star Belgrade side which provided most of the team was one of the best in Europe at the time. Savicevic, Prosinecki and Pancev would have got in virtually any side in the world at the time and they weren't short of others to back them up.

 

[vcs]

2000 and 2008 were excellent. I hate the one when Greece ruined it by winning the whole thing playing like Stoke. That sort of thing shouldn't be possible.

 

[Howe_zat]

I was in Greece during Euro 2004, that was fun

 

[sledger]

At the time I thought Greece winning was fantastic, but mainly for schadenfreude reasons. Not sure if I would feel the same if similar were to happen these days.

 

[GIMH]

Nah it was great because Ronaldo cried

 

[Furball]

Lol he was 19 at the time.

 

[wpdavid]

Prior to 1980 it was a four team tournament. 8 teams qualified from the groups but the quarter-finals were two legged. This is why it's not quite true to say Wales hadn't qualified for anything since 1958. In 1976 they made the quarter-finals but lost over two legs to Yugoslavia.

Although you can't really compare 1976 to the more recent versions, as only the semis and final were held in one country, perhaps it's worth mentioning that the final stages in 1976 were absolutely glorious; albeit brutally so at times. Obviously it's a shame that Holland didn't win the thing, but both semis and the final were wonderfully watchable affairs.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Obviously from an emotional investment point of view it has to be 96; smashed the Sweaties, beat an actual proper side in the Dutchistanis and, glory be and behold, won a penalty shoot out. IIRC it was Rafa Nadal's uncle who missed for the Spanish.

From a football standpoint I'd take 2008 though; the lack of leaden footed British and Irish players clodhopping about cannot be coincidental.

 

[GIMH]

Obviously from an emotional investment point of view it has to be 96; smashed the Sweaties, beat an actual proper side in the Dutchistanis and, glory be and behold, won a penalty shoot out. IIRC it was Rafa Nadal's uncle who missed for the Spanish.

From a football standpoint I'd take 2008 though; the lack of leaden footed British and Irish players clodhopping about cannot be coincidental.

I think there's an element for me where when we go out the tournament loses something for me. I realise not everyone is the same but it's like watching a great party through the window after being kicked out. Whereas the two tournaments in memory for me where we didn't qualify I could just sit back and enjoy.

With this new format, it's hard to see even England ever finding a way not to qualify again mind you.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Almost every side was commited to playing attacking, adventurous football and those that weren't (Germany, Norway and England) were swiftly knocked out before they stunk the tournament up.

Yugoslavia were twice as bad as any of those. I suppose they get some credit for not celebrating each goal with Četnik propaganda.

 

[Furball]

Yugoslavia were involved in some great games at Euro 2000, coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Slovenia, the game against Spain where Spain needed to win to go through and won 4-3 despite being 3-2 down in the 90th minute, and the annihilation at the hands of the Dutch.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

With this new format, it's hard to see even England ever finding a way not to qualify again mind you.

The Dutch have just managed it so don't count your chickens.

 

[GIMH]

The Dutch have just managed it so don't count your chickens.

fair point

 

[BoyBrumby]

The Dutch have just managed it so don't count your chickens.

Right enough.

Been a lot of talk about how 24 teams qualifying has made it too easy, but three former winners still managed to jib it.

 

[DriveClub]

I enjoyed 2012 very much

 

[OverratedSanity]

the game against Spain where Spain needed to win to go through and won 4-3 despite being 3-2 down in the 90th minute,

That was such an insane game.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

That was such an insane game.

sob

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I wonder if anyone who isn't Welsh will be saying 2016 in 20 years time.

 

[Adders]

I dare say the Icelandic's have rather enjoyed this one too,