I start with 2 words: Euro
2000. Words that are enough to excite enthusiasts of 'the Game' readily. That too when the
tournament is already over. Words that remind us of one full joyous rout of some of the
most enthralling, the most captivating football, dare I say, ever! Lets go to the basics
first. Lets look at the game itself. It's a heady combo of power, precision, technique,
beauty, passion, the list goes on. It calms and thrills, provokes and pacifies, and gives
rise to a whole ocean of emotions that I shouldn't even begin to explain. For 2 years,
since the World Cup, little international football has been played, and, as a result, what
we had was an extravaganza of unimaginable proportions. The European Championships were
under way. After gruelling qualifying, which some say are even tougher than that of the
World Cup, 16 teams descended to Belgium and Holland to play the world's second largest
football tournament and to vie for the coveted trophy and the inevitable 'champion'
tag.Pre tournament favourites were Holland and World Cup champions France. Both had sides
with superstars packed together like sardines. There were eternal under-achievers Spain,
and a power packed English side. |
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Italy's
goalkeeper Francesco Toldo (bottom) watches the ball roll into the net with Alessandro
Nesta after a goal from France's Sylvain Wiltord (rear) during the European Championship
Final in Rotterdam.
There was Germany, historic powerhouse and defending
champions, co-hosts Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Turkey, Romania, Norway, Denmark, last
years finalists, the Czech Republic, Yugoslavia, and first timer Slovenia. The stage was
set and the action doesn't get any better. Co-hosts Belgium started things off with a
winning note, playing some good football and beating Sweden 2-1. There was no looking
back.Holland too got of too a good start annihilating Denmark 3-0.This good form was to
continue over the tournament. Then went on to beat the Czechs 1-0 and the World Champions
3-2, in one of the most exciting games of the tournament. Excitement was hardly lacking
however, as England squandered a 2 goal lead to go down to a greatly talented Portugese
team, 3-2. Figo's 35 yard strike will be remembered for long by all who had the fortune of
seeing it. The Portugese lived up to their talents for once, maintaining their clean sheet
throughout the round. They beat Romania 1-0 in a overall dull game but for the final
minutes. They also defeated a struggling German team 3 nil.The Germans, on the other hand,
were a disappointment. They also played highly boring football, in a thin loss to Portugal
and England, not to mention the pathetic 0-0 draw with Romania.England did well to beat
rivals Germany through a typical 'Shearer' header, but belied their immense potential in
two brilliant games. Both were losses by the same margin to Romania and Portugal.
Siddhanth Aney |