Not sure if this is the one you mean Excape Goat, but there are some quality goals in this Scotland-Belgium game in 1979: Scotland vs Czechoslovakia (European Champions) in 1977 could be worth a mention (WC qualifying): And vs Spain in 1984 (WC qualifying): Another really good Belgium-Scotland game from 1982 (Euros qualifying): I do think a lot of the best games happen when there are two teams with similar quality, and these probably all fitted that bill at the time (also Yugoslavia-France in 1988 and the Euros group for 1976 including Netherlands as mentioned - arguably Italy were a step below the other 2 at the time but they were still Italy).
More games to add. 1924 Holland vs Uruguay 1-2 (Olympics semifinal) Uruguay was invincible until they met the Dutch. The Dutch was leading before Uruguay scored 2 goals in the last 20 minutes. 1928 Uruguay vs Argentina 2-1 (Olympic Final replay) The first game ended in a draw. Uruguay won the replay and FIFA voted to award them the right the host the first WC Finals largely because of Uruguay's performance at the Olympics. 1938 Germany vs Austria 0-2 (friendly) The match was to "celebrate" Anschluss. Sandelar embarrassed the Nazis. 1955 Argentina vs Uruguay 6-1 (Copa America Final Round) Argentina's greatest win over Uruguay 1956 Chile vs Brazil 4-1 (Copa America Final Round) Brazil was upset. 1959 Argentina vs Brazil 1-1 (Copa America last match) Argentina claimed the title with the draw and Pele never won the Cup. 1967 Albania vs West Germany 0-0 (Euro 1968 Qualifier) Yugoslavia qualified ahead of the Germans. 1975 Brazil vs Peru 1-3 (Copa America Semifinal 1st leg) Peru would beat Brazil on away goal and went on to win the 1975 Copa America. 2005 Turkey vs Switzerland 4-2 (WC Qualifer Playoff) Turkey eliminated by away goal rule that sparked a big fight between the teams. 2014 Poland vs Germany 2-0 (Euro 2016 Qualifer) Poland had never been beaten Germany before. 2014 Serbia vs Albania 0-3 (Euro 2016 Qualifier) The result was awarded. The actual game was cancelled due to a drone quadcopter and a fight. 2015 Holland vs Iceland 0-1 (Euro 2016 Qualifier) Suddenly, Iceland could qualify and Holland might be out.
It was Holland-Belgium at the last match of the WCQers for 1974. Both team were tied with points. The match ended in 0-0 and Holland headed to the WC Finals. I got the Spain vs Yugoslavia, and I will add Czech and Holland. I am also thinking about this match. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union_v_Chile_(1974_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_play-off)
Ah yes. 2008 and 2000 are the two best euro tournaments imho. In 2004 that Czech vs Holland game was by many seen as one of the two best. BBC went into overdrive with this match.
That was an inofficial game that is not part of the record books. Austria had ceased to exist on 13th March 1938. The game was played on 3 April 1938, no anthems were played before the game. It was attended by 58,000. Lineups: Austria Platzer - Sesta, Schmaus - F.Wagner, Mock, Skoumal - Hahnemann, Stroh, Sindelar, Binder, Pesser Germany Jakob - Janes, Münzenberg - Kupfer, Goldbrunner, Kitzinger - Lehner, Gellesch, Berndt, Gauchel, Fath Scorers: 1-0 Sindelar (63.), 2-0 Sesta (71.)
From memory I'd say (to use a Clough-ism) that it was one of the one best! I'd agree with 2008 being good in general (as a few have said) and yeah 2000 certainly had some good entertainment as did Euro 96 but that was perhaps more sporadic and surrounded by other games with less goals and entertainment. Euro 88 and 84 were certainly good I'd say, at moments anyway.
In 1996 the matches involving England were certainly entertaining. The semi final, the Netherlands match and Gascoigne against Scotland. It's subjective of course (others are less convinced about the last two matches). I'm not so sure about the entire tournament.. Which games are you thinking of? I also liked some euro92 matches for the tense affairs, maybe also because of the memories, the country (wobbly pitches though), and the semi final against Denmark was a 'real' battle.. (it had a high 'fouls per game' density though). Euro68 and euro80 are imho the poorest ones (though I was positively entertained by Ceulemans his dribbles vs Spain for instance). I think at euro80 there was no team that played more than two good halves (unsuspicous source). Maybe Gascoigne vs Scotland is also 'made' by that moment, like the England vs France game of 2004 is made by that late Zidane comeback (while Zidane didn't do much in the rest of the game, but that's understandably overshadowed).
Yes, possibly Gascoigne played a better game vs the Dutch in general. Croatia and Portugal were both pretty good to watch in 96, intermittently at least.
I like 2000 the best. There were a numnber of dramatic matches. England-Germany England-Portugal Spain-France Italy-Holland Holland-Yugoslavia Spain-Yugoslavia
Yes agreed. For Holland games I think Excape Goat has the best of them. Maybe I'd add Poland vs Holland 4-1 in 1975 (for a long time the biggest euro defeat). It's a high for that Poland team, at a great atmosphere. I'd certainly add England vs Holland in 1977 (when Denmark beat them in 1983, they all referred back to this match and the 1953 Hungary match), sadly it has become erased a bit over time. Maybe one of the 2nd round 1978 matches (Italy, Austria or West Germany), Holland vs Germany at euro92 (the best game of that tournament; foreign press called it the best national team match of the last 10 years) and the 1953 France vs Holland match (which was unofficial because it included banned professionals).
I forgot about the Poland-Holland match in 1975. That was definitely a big match for Poland. Meanwhile: 2007 Denmark vs Sweden 3-3 (Sweden awarded 3-0 victory) (Euro 2008 Qualifier) Sweden led by 3-0, but Denmark came back and tied it. On the 89th minute, Sweden was awarded a penalty, but the match was stopped due to pitch invasion. 1989 Egypt vs Algeria 1-0 (WC Qualifer) Algeria needed one point to qualify for Italia 1990, but Egypt beat them to reach the WC Finals. Fights broke out after the game. Belloumi was later convicted of blinding one of the Egyptian team doctor's eye. 1994 Nigeria vs Zambia 2-1 (African Nations' Cup Final) Most of Zambian team were killed only months ago. The new team surprised everyone by reaching the Final. I forgot about this one. 2000 Yugoslavia vs Slovenia 3-3 (Euro 2000 Group Stage) Slovenia led by 3 goals with less than 30 minutes to go, and Yugoslavia was down to 10 men. Yugoslavia came back to tie the game. 2009 Egypt vs Algeria 2-0 (WC Qualifier Final Group) Egypt scored the second game deep into injury-time. Both teams became tied in points, goal difference, etc. A playoff match was required for a spot in South Africa. 2013 Croatia vs Serbia 2-0 (WC Qualifier) The first ever match between them.
How about CA89 final, Brazil 1 - Uruguay 0. Romario and Bebeto win their first tournament for Brazil.
I looked briefly into it. I do not know the story behind it. Perhaps, Brazil rarely won the Cup until that year.... that is good enough for a tagline.
1937 Germany 8-0 Denmark(Friendly) Sepp Herberger made Breslau-Elf. 1968 Paraguay 0-4 Brazil(Copa Oswaldo Cruz) Return of 'O Rei' with 2 goals. 1982 Spain 0-0 England(WC 2nd round) King Keegan played only 26 minutes for WC. 1985 Netherlands 2-1 Belgium(WC qualifier playoff) "Red Devils" qualified for away goals. 1996 S.Korea 2-6 Iran(Asian Cup) Korea had been leading 2-1, but Persian scored 5 goals in 2nd half. 1997 Japan 1-2 S.Korea(WC qualifier) Korean reversed the game after 82 min. 1997 Iran 2-3 Japan(WC qualifier playoff) Japan qualified for the first time thanks to Okano's golden goal. 2004 Iran 7-0 Laos(WC qualifier) Ali Daei scored his 100th international goal. 2006 Trinidad & Tobago 0-0 Sweden(WC group stage) Dwight Yorke made debut WC final. 2010 China PR 3-0 S.Korea(East Asia Championship) China's only official victory against S.Korea(1W 12D 17L) 2014 Germany 2-1 Algeria(WC round of 16) Algeria drove eventual world champion to the corner. Neuer save Germany.
1991 USA vs Mexico 2-0 (Gold Cup semifinal) The Americans rarely beat the Mexicans. This game changed. This marked a new beginning for the rivalry. 1998 USA vs Brazil 1-0 (Gold Cup Semifinal) Keller kept the Brazilians from scoring. 2000 Cameroon vs Nigeria 2-2 (PK 4-3) (African Nations ' Cup Final) Cameroon led by 2 goals, but Nigeria equalised. Nigeria had a "winning" goal, but was called back. 2000 Canada vs Colombia 2-0 (Gold Cup Final) The Canadians broke the dominance of Mexico and the USA at the Cup. 2007 Honduras vs Guadeloupe 1-2 (Gold Cup Quarterfinal) It started a cinderella run for Guadeloupe. 2011 USA vs Mexico 2-4 (Gold Cup Final) The Americans led by 2-0, but Mexico came back and beat them. 2011 Brazil vs Paraguay 0-0 (PK 0-2) (Copa America Quarterfinal) Brazil missed all of their penalties. 2011 Chile vs Venezuela 1-2 (Copa America Quarterfinal) Venezuela made a run at Copa America.
Not sure what is your criteria, but lots of these Gold Cup and Copa America matches are nowhere near to be called classics.
I tried to look beyond Europe and looked at each region in the world. Obviously, i have not watched most of the matches.
@Excape Goat I just spotted it now but you've switched around some of the scorelines. For example: That was 3-1 for England, thanks to two goals from Johnson, one goal by Keegan and a penalty by Passarella.
2003 Intercontinental cup Boca Juniors vs AC milan skill, speed , power , tactics were all involved in that match. Boca Juniors was very strong in those 5 years.