With the group stages of Euro 2024 reaching its climax the Gentleman Ultra reflects on the highs and lows, heroes and vilians of past European campaigns.
Pirlo Panenka at Euro 2012
It was nearly 1.00am in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium and the tension was palpable.
England’s so-called “golden generation” were desperate to reach a semi-final of a major tournament. Italy also had a formidable team of mavericks and legends capable of anything.
Balotelli was cool as cucumber as he stepped up for the first spot kick as Joe Hart played the fool on his goal line. No mistake from Super Mario has he slotted home with barely a follow through.
Gerrard looked nervous but dispatched with aplomb as Roy Hodgson visibly aged on the touchline. Then Montolivo skewered wide to give England the advantage, to the delight of the baying England fans.
Wayne Rooney made no mistake to put England ahead and shift the momentum divisively in England’s favour. By now Hart was prancing on his line like a demented clown.
At this point Pirlo enters the fray.
Far from your quintessential footballer the midfield maestro was nonetheless the outstanding presence on the pitch that day. He knew he had to do something special to switch the momentum back in Italy’s favour.
With breathtaking self-belief and composure he dinked the ball gently towards the centre of the goal, leaving a flailing Joe Hart to pick himself up and wonder what had just happened. As Pirlo trotted nonchalantly back to his waiting team mates in the centre circle all confidence seemed to drain from the English camp, their fans seemingly hushed.
England missed their next two penalties while, with Hart still determined to act the goat, Italy scored both.
Italy progressed to a semi-final place against Germany thanks to Pirlo’s genius that changed the course of the penalty shoot out.
@richardhough
Cassano slips up at Euro 2004
“Just wait till you see him in action,” I remember telling my non-Calcio-loving friends ahead of Euro 2004.
Since joining Roma from hometown club Bari in 2001, I had been mesmerised by Antonio Cassano; his apparent telepathy with Francesco Totti, his wizardry with the ball, his impudence and nonchalance, he had it all – and it was time to showcase his talents on the European stage.
Cassano had to settle for 25 second half minutes in Italy’s opening game – a 0-0 stalemate against Denmark – but he headed the Azzurri in front in their next match, a 1-1 draw with Sweden. To have any chance of progressing from the group stage, Italy would have to defeat Bulgaria in their final match.
As the game reached its closing moments, and with the score tied at 1-1, Cassano crashed a close range shot beyond Bulgaria keeper Zdravko Zdravkov and into the net. He took off in celebration, face lit up, believing he had secured Italy’s place in the quarter-finals.
However, news reached the players that Sweden and Denmark had drawn 2-2, a result that secured both Nordic neighbours’ qualification at Italy’s expense. Cameras captured a dejected Cassano launching a furious kick at a water bottle but slipping on the rain-lashed surface in the process. It was all very Antonio.
Little did we know at this stage, aged only 22, that we had already seen the best years of his career.
@dunlop85
Iconic Balotelli at Euro 2012
Mario Balotelli arrived at Euro 2012 as a newly crowned English Premier League champion. The Azzurri however, were looking to bounce back from an early exit at the 2010 World Cup.
Italy came through their group, reaching the semi-final after a penalty shoot-out win over England. As they were in the 2006 World Cup, Germany were waiting in the last four.
Despite a slow start Italy began to turn the tide, going in front on twenty minutes. Antonio Cassano’s cross was met by Balotelli who thumped a header into the net.
Sixteen minutes later and Mario stuck again with probably the most memorable goal of his career. A Riccardo Montolivo pass found Balotelli in acres of space. The striker closed in on goal and thundered an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
The celebration was iconic as Mario tore off his number 9 shirt and posed like a boxer who had just stepped on the scales to weigh in for a big fight.
Balotelli later dedicated his performance to his mother who was at the game watching. He described it as the best night of his life and in footballing terms, he may well have been correct.
@mark-gordon
Mancini rages at Euro 1998
Before becoming a successful national team manager, Roberto Mancini had a tempestuous life with the Azzurri. In 1988, he got his chance as Azeglio Vicini – the then Italian gaffer – counted on the prominent Sampdoria player for the European championship that was played in Germany – then as now.
That tournament will be forever remembered for the stunning Marco van Basten volley goal against the Soviet Union in the final but, from an Italian point of view, also as a general test for the Azzurri, two years before the home soil World Cup of Italy ’90.
That team was a mixture of old guns (such as Carlo Ancelotti, Riccardo Ferri, Alessandro Altobelli and Franco Baresi) and the young blood that Vicini had brought with him from his former under 21 team (Walter Zenga, Paolo Maldini, Ferdinando De Napoli, Giuseppe Giannini, Mancini e Gianluca Vialli).
With the UEFA then allowing just eight sides to participate in the finals, the Azzurri are drawn in a Group with West Germany, Spain and Denmark. In the first game, against the hosts, Mancini was able to open the score for Azzurri. That said, it wasn’t the goal that made history, but rather the polemic exultation made by Mancini, with a blatant gesture towards the press tribune. It was a perfect symbol of the troubled relationship between the player and the journalists following the Azzurri.
Thirty-three years later, at Euro 2021, Mancini would get the last laugh as coach of winning Italian team.
@micheletossani78