SOCCER - EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
EURO 2008 - AUSTRIA / SWITZERLAND
2006
Qualifier - Andorra (0) @ (5) England - In coach Steve McLaren's 1st competitive match, England crushed Andorra with goals from Peter Crouch (2), Jermain Defoe (2) and Steven Gerrard (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)
2007
Qualifier - England (3) @ (0) Estonia - England manager Steve McClaren kept hs job with a comprehensive win over Estonia. The goals came from Joe Cole, Peter Crouch and Michael Owen but the catalyst for the win came from an outstanding offensive performance from David Beckham, in his 1st competitive game since the 2006 World Cup Quarter Final (9, No pre-game, edited post-game only, 2 Discs, SKY - Tyler/Platt, PAL)
Qualifier - Israel (0) @ (3) England - In a must-win match, England comfortably saw off Israel with goals from Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Owen and Micah Richards (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)
Qualifier - Russia (0) @ (3) England - England vaulted above Russia in the qualification table with a comfortable win. England's goals came from Michael Owen (2) and a rare goal from Rio Ferdinand (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)
Qualifier - Croatia (3) @ (2) England - In their final qualification game, England needed to win or draw to qualify for the Finals. Croatia, who had already qualified, took a 2-0 lead in the first 14 mins before England tied the game with 2 goals in the 2nd half through Lampard (Penalty) and Crouch. But a late goal from Croatia saw England knocked out. The next day, England coach Steve McClaren was sacked (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)
FINALS
Group A - Portugal (2) v (0) Turkey - One of the tournament favourites, Portugal, opened their campaign with a strong win. They controlled the game and were rewarded with debut goals for Pepe and Raul Meireles. Portugal also featured Ronaldo, who hit the post with a free-kick and set-up the 2nd goal (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Pleat, PAL)
Group A - Switzerland (1) v (2) Turkey - In a torrential 1st half rain-storm that flooded the field and made the pitch virtually unplayable, Turkey cameback from 1-0 down to win on a Ardan goal in injury time. The loss eliminated the co-hosts Switzerland from the tournament (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Wilson/Bright, PAL)
Group A - Turkey (3) v (2) Czech Republic - Turkey camback from a 2-0 deficit with 3 goals in the last 15 minutes to advance to the Quarter Finals. The Czech's had seemed in control with goals from Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil but Nihat provided the win with 2 goals, the last of which he scored in the 89th minute (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Drury/Beglin, PAL)
Group B - Germany (2) v (0) Poland - A highly charged match was settled by 2 goals from Polish-born striker Lukas Podolski. Germany controlled the 1st half and Poland controlled the 2nd half but Poland suffered from bad defending and bad finishing (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Pearce/Lawrenson, PAL)
Group B - Germany (1) v (2) Croatia - Croatia upset the favourites with goals from Srna and Olic in a dominating display. Germany pulled a goal back with 12 minutes left from Podolski, but couldn't find the breakthrough to tie the game (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Drury/Beglin, PAL)
Group C - Holland (3) v (0) Italy - In a game full of high class play, Holland stunned the World Champions with 2 goals in the 1st half and a fantastic counter-attacking goal in the 2nd Half. The first goal was a controversial poachers goal from Ruud Van Nistelrooy while the 2nd goal was a fanatastic break-away goal that swept from one end of the pitch to the other before Wesley Sneijder finished it off. The 3rd goal was a copy of the 2nd goal as the ball moved from one end to the other before Giovanni Van Bronckhorst headed in the deciding goal. The win was Holland's first against Italy for 30 years (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Pleat, PAL)
Group C - Italy (1) v (1) Romania - The current World Champions Italy knew that a loss would see them knocked out at the group stage. After a goal-less 1st half, Romania opened the scoring with an Adrian Mutu goal but Italy quickly equalised with a goal from full-back Christian Panucci. But with 10 minutes left, Romania were given a penalty and, with the Italians facing elimination, goalkeeper Buffon saved from Mutu (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Champion/Pleat, PAL)
Group C - Holland (4) v (1) France - Holland inflicted on France it's worst tournament defeat in 50 years with a stunning display of attacking football. Despite only leading 1-0 at the half courtesy of a Dirk Kuyt goal, Holland made 2 attacking substitutions and introduced Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie. Both players scored with Wesley Sneijder added a late 4th goal. The France goal came from Thierry Henry (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)
Group D - Spain (4) v (1) Russia - Spain opened their campaign with a resounding win, scoring 2 goals in each half. The goals came from a hat-trick from David Villa and one goal from substitute Cesc Fabregas (10, 2 Dics, BBC - Pearce/Lawrenson, PAL)
Quarter Final - Germany (3) v (2) Portugal - 2 of the pre-tournament favourites met with a place in the semi-finals at stake and it was Germany that took early control then held on to win. Goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack were too much for Cristiano Ronaldo to overcome and, despite goals from Nuno Gomes and Helder Postiga, Germany advanced (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Pleat, PAL)
Quarter Final - Croatia (1) v (1) Turkey - In a wild finish, both teams scored in the last minute of extra-time and then settled the game with a penalty shootout. Unfancied Turkey beat Croatia 3-1 on penalties to advance to the Semi-Final (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Wilson/Lawrenson, PAL)
Quarter Final - Holland (1) v (3) Russia - The underdog Russians stunned the Dutch with 2 goals in Extra-Time to advance to the Semi-Finals. Russia took the lead in the 2nd half through Pavlyuchenko but Holland fought back to equalise and force Extra-Time through Van Nistelrooy. But Russia moved up a gear and eased away with goals form Torbinski and Man-of-the-Match Arshavin (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Drury/Beglin, PAL)
Quarter Final - Spain (0) v (0) Italy - In a game of contrasting styles, it was the Spanish who held their nerve to win on Penalties. The Italians decided to play defensive football while the Spanish tried to attack and force the vital breakthrough. The stalemate continued through Extra-Time and was only settled when Spanish Goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved 2 Italian penalties and Cesc Fabregas scored with the winning kick (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)
Semi-Final - Germany (3) v (2) Turkey - An under-manned Turkey side, missing 6 players through suspension and injury, took the Germans to the very end but an 89th minute goal from defender Phillip Lahm saw Germany through to the final. Turkey opended the scoring through Boral but Germany took control with goals from Schweinsteiger and Klose before Turkey equalised with 4 minutes left through Semih. But the late heriocs from Lahm left Turkey with little time to reply and Germany advanced to their 6th final (10, Picture missing between 57:15 and 63:03 and also 76:26 and 79:19 due to power failure in Vienna - coverage filled in with radio audio, 2 Discs, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)
Semi-Final - Spain (3) v (0) Russia - Spain advanced to their 1st final since 1984 with an easy win in a thunder-storm in Vienna. 3 goals in the 2nd half from Xavi, Guiza and Silva ended the Russians dreams (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Pleat, PAL)
Final - Germany (0) v (1) Spain - A 1st half goal from striker Fernando Torres was enough to give Spain victory and their first trophy in 44 years. Spain played great attacking football and restricted Germany to only 3 shots on goal. Spain also featured Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Iker Casillas. Germany featured Michael Ballack and Jens Lehmann (10, 3 Discs including ITV Hi-Lites + News Reports + Spain Homecoming, BBC - Motson/Lawrenson, PAL)