Euro 2000 - Belgium/Holland

High times in the low countries

French midfielder and captain Didier Deschamps (C) holds up the Euro-2000 soccer championships trophy after France won the final against Italy, 2-1, at Feijenoord stadium in Rotterdam, 02 July 2000.

Two years after winning 'their' World Cup, Zinedine Zidane again led the charge for a swashbuckling France side to also claim victory at Euro 2000, an unprecedented double.

The 'Blues' needed a golden goal to clinch their memorable win in the final over Italy, although most fans agree France were the best side in a tournament, one where some of the traditional talent failed to shine.

It was the first major football tournament to be hosted by two nations, in the neighbouring low countries of Belgium and the Netherlands.

German supporters clash with Belgian police in Charleroi, 17 June 2000 before the Euro-2000 soccer championship match between England and Germany. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)

Hooliganism once more raised its ugly head, notably before of the England v Germany clash in the Belgian city of Charleroi. Uefa had threatened the English with exclusion from the competition and even requested Prime Minister Tony Blair intervene to stop fans from travelling.

The football itself was often spectacular, France, Spain and Portugal standing out. The Italians showed once again how far the virtues of good defending can take a side and the Netherlands were left kicking themselves after their semi-final defeat to Italy, while England and Germany both underachieved.

Portuguese midfielder Abel Xavier argues with Austrian referee Gunter Benko after he awarded France with a last-minute penalty as Xavier deflected a shot with his hand during the Euro 2000 semi-final soccer match between France and Portugal in Brussels 28 June 2000. France won 2-1 as Zinedine Zidane scored the winning penalty. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO / SRDJAN SUKI

There were bags of goals (2.74 per match), dramatic penalty shoot-outs and of course, the cruel blow of the golden goal.

Uefa's clamp down on bad-boy antics from the players led to lengthy bans for three Portuguese stars; Abel Xavier, Nuno Gomes and Paulo Bento, who pushed a linesman around after a penalty decision (a valid one at that) had given France victory in their close fought semi-final.

That man Zidane

Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo saves the penalty of Dutch captain Frank de Boer (C, rear) during the penalty shoot-out of the semi-final match between Italy and the Netherlands at the Euro-2000 soccer championships in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 29 June 2000. Italy beat the Netherlands 3-1 to advance to the final against France, 02 July in Rotterdam. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO/TOUSSAINT KLUITERS

Patrick Kluivert and Dennis Bergkamp could and possibly should have won the competition but the Dutch, after two missed regular time penalties in their 0-0 semi-final, went down in a shoot-out against a stone-wall Italy.

Spain, like Portugal and Italy, were dispatched by the eventual victors France.

Iberian star Raul missed a last-minute penalty in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat and was put in the shade by Zidane, who curled home a free-kick when it counted most.

In the final Italy were heading for a 1-0 victory over the French and few doubted them after what had happened to another attacking side, Holland, in the semis.

However, in the dying seconds of the second half, substitute Sylvain Wiltord held his nerve to score an equaliser of the most cold blooded nature, leaving the Italians distraught and handing France an extra-time life-line.

French forward David Trezeguet (face to camera) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the 'Golden Goal' in extra time of the Euro-2000 soccer championhips final against Italy in Rotterdam, 02 July, 2000. France beat Italy 2-1. EPA PHOTO/TOUSSAINT KLUITERS (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)

France's Argentina-born striker David Trezeguet had the last word, scoring a blistering volley after 103 minutes for what was a truly golden goal.

It was generally agreed to have been a better tournament than Euro 96 and that France were certainly worthy winners, setting the stage for Europe's finest to reassemble as the next tournament in Portugal prepares to take centre stage in 2004.

Did you know ? - 2000

French forward David Trezeguet scores the 'Golden Goal' in the Euro-2000 soccer final between France and Italy in Rotterdam, 02 July, 2000. France beat Italy 2-1. EPA PHOTO/ED OUDENAARDEN (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)

GOLDEN TRADITION

The 2000 final was won 2-1, decided by a 103rd minute David Trezeguet golden goal. France's win over Italy was no first though; Four years earlier Germany beat the Czech Republic 2-1, also with a golden goal. The German win also came thanks to the centre-forward, Oliver Bierhoff sealing the Wembley final in the 95th minute.

French forward David Trezeguet (R) jubilates with his teammate Sylvain Wiltord, who scored the first goal, after scoring the golden goal in extra time during the Euro-2000 soccer final match between France and Italy at Feijenoord stadium in Rotterdam, 02 July 2000.

GOLDEN TOUCH

France coach Roger Lemerre made three substitutions in the 2-1 final win over Italy. Sylvain Wiltord came on after 58 minutes, David Trezeguet after 76 and Robert Pires after 86. They proved to be inspired moves as Wiltord got the equaliser after a Pires pass and Trezeguet of course got the winner.

THE HOT SEAT

A string of coaches, Turkey's Mustafa Denizli, Romania's Emerich Jenei, Yugoslavia's Vujadin Boskov, Germany's Erich Ribbeck, Frank Rijkaard of the Netherlands, Humberto Coelho of Portugal and Italy's Dino Zoff, were all left looking for a new job after Euro 2000. Denmark's Swedish coach Bo Johansson had avoided any unnecessary unpleasantness by announcing his departure way in advance.

UNDISPUTABLE

French fans were left with that rarest of treats after their Euro 2000 win. Added to their World Cup success in 1998 they could claim to be undisputably the best side around. They became the first nation to follow up on a World Cup win by lifting the European Championship. West Germany achieved this feat in reverse order in 1972 and 1974.

GOAL!

Neither the Dutch nor the French can be accused of being shy in front of goal, they both hit the back of the net 13 times. Denmark were the big chokers of Euro 2000 scoring no goals at all whilst conceding eight in three outings.

Pictures taken 13 June 2000 in Charleroi and 21 June 2000 in Amsterdam, of Yugoslav forward Savo Milosevic (L) and Dutch forward Patrick Kluivert. The Netherlands, co-host of the Euro-2000 tournament with Belgium, will play against Yugoslavia in a quarterfinal match, 25 June in Rotterdam. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO EPA/OLIVIER MATTHIJS/ma/rc

MARKSMEN

Patrick Kluivert of the Netherlands and Savo Milosevic of Yugoslavia were the tournament's top hitmen, bagging five goals apiece. The all-time record is nine, scored by Michel Platini in 1984.

HATS OFF

Two men scored hat-tricks at Euro 2000; Portugal's Sergio Conceiçao in a 3-0 win against Germany and Patrick Kluivert of Holland in the 6-1 destruction of Yugoslavia.

BOOK HIM!

Refs pulled out 126 yellow cards at Euro 2000, some 32 less than they did at the 1996 tournament. Portugal and Holland were the worst offenders with 13 each. The record for worst tempered match goes to the goalless slug out between Italy and Holland in the semi-finals, where ten yellows and one red card came out of the book.

THE RED MIST

Yugoslavia's Mateja Kezman's participation agains Norway in a group match was short-lived. He came on as an 87th minute substitute but barely had time to get warmed before being shown the red card after just 44 seconds.

FORCE JUVE

With 13 of their players in action at Euro 2000 Italian side Juventus were the best represented club. Liverpool and Galatasaray both had 11 and Barcelona had ten.

EURO 2000 PREVIEW / STADIUM

STATE OF THE ART

Eight stadiums were either built or rebuilt for Euro 2000 and many were with innovative touches. The Amsterdam ArenA for example has a roof that can be closed in just 20 minutes. At the Gelredome in Arnhem, Belgium there is a fixed roof that does not open. No problem. Sunny day? The pitch can be taken outside!