I didn't want to be seen as biased so thank you for posting it. Euro 1980 was also a good one in my opinion, Germany was fairly enjoyable during their prime years, all the other teams had genuinely good players too.
Was Euro 2020 the best Euros ever?
- Thread starter BusbyMalone
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
I didn't think it felt like a Euros.
Personally I prefer it when a country hosts the tournament as it feels a bit more unique and theres more atmosphere. This one felt flat with no real identity, hopefully they never do this experiment again.
Personally I prefer it when a country hosts the tournament as it feels a bit more unique and theres more atmosphere. This one felt flat with no real identity, hopefully they never do this experiment again.
Yeah that Brazil team in 02, one of Europe's best teams ever.
Don't really think so, especially as it wasn't hosted by a specific country.
Also the quality of the games was very questionable at times. Added to that, the refs were more than questionable. Bar a few games here and there, I found the tournament rather dull.
Hopefully the next one is hosted by a single country and we're all past this covid stuff so we can enjoy it. Until then maybe the VAR thingy will mature as well as some of the decisions during this tournament were outrageous.
Also the quality of the games was very questionable at times. Added to that, the refs were more than questionable. Bar a few games here and there, I found the tournament rather dull.
Hopefully the next one is hosted by a single country and we're all past this covid stuff so we can enjoy it. Until then maybe the VAR thingy will mature as well as some of the decisions during this tournament were outrageous.
Sucked. 2004, 2008 and 2012 were better.
Worst Euros.
Too many countries, not enough fans.
Too many countries, not enough fans.
Some really smashing games. Plenty of high scores, penalties, comebacks, upsets, celebrations and tears (at the end especially)
One of the things that also made it enjoyable for me was following the reaction to the matches on the Caf. Really smart people here and great banter.
One of the things that also made it enjoyable for me was following the reaction to the matches on the Caf. Really smart people here and great banter.
I happen to think it's the best Euros i've seen (as i said in the OP), but yeah, the format was not good at all. And i think they've acknowledged that by saying they won't do it again. How they couldn't see that it would severely disadvantage some teams is beyond me. It was just so random and ill- conceived.
As for what happened on the pitch, i still think it's the best.
Us and Belgium should host it again by the looks of it.
Ok I’m trying to give balanced view, it definitely was better than 2008 2004 and 2016 but Euro 96 and 2000 were outstanding, what we did see and I genuinely hope it stays for future world cups and Euros was.a new 26 man squads that allowed Managers to pick more attacking talent , less games went to penalties because the 5/6 man sub rule really freshened up the tournament, and probably the bravest team, Italy won and definitely the bravest manager, Mancini won in the end.
Fortune favours the bold, so with France, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and England all having such deep talented squads please bring this same rule to the next world cup.
We might even find a great African side and a surprise US , Japanese or South Korean side who play with high energy benefitting from this rule change too, all true fans around the world want more attacking football, if the biggest pragmatists in football history can change so can all the others and Fifa have to change this rule and whilst doing so, also allow all 15 squad players to sit on the bench not 12 !!
Fortune favours the bold, so with France, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and England all having such deep talented squads please bring this same rule to the next world cup.
We might even find a great African side and a surprise US , Japanese or South Korean side who play with high energy benefitting from this rule change too, all true fans around the world want more attacking football, if the biggest pragmatists in football history can change so can all the others and Fifa have to change this rule and whilst doing so, also allow all 15 squad players to sit on the bench not 12 !!
Euro 84 with Platini in his pomp…made me fall in love with football
No.
1. Very few fans
2. France, Germany and Portugal not making it deprived us of real competitive matches
3. No wonder goals, no emerging talent
1. Very few fans
2. France, Germany and Portugal not making it deprived us of real competitive matches
3. No wonder goals, no emerging talent
I only remember Euro 2004 for England matches to be honest.
I really enjoyed 2008 and this and this one over 2012 and 2016.
I really enjoyed 2008 and this and this one over 2012 and 2016.
I liked the Euro's with the silver ball.
These three literally all played each other in the group stages.
What was so special about it? I know for me from Sweden we really sucked that tournament before doing fairy well in the next 3.
Is it the final that stand out? I have seen some highlights, but not the full game.
The standard of football was just class. The Holland games against France & Italy really stood out
Euro 2008 was an absolute goal fest, I was on a two week holiday in Fuertventura and they were doing a BOGOF deal every time goal went in at the bar in the hotel.
Every fecker was smashed out of their heads in the hotel bar because they were flying in left right and centre. The second week we were there they had to stop the promotion due to the fact they'd given away so many free drinks.
Every fecker was smashed out of their heads in the hotel bar because they were flying in left right and centre. The second week we were there they had to stop the promotion due to the fact they'd given away so many free drinks.
Euro 2000 for me also. That Holland side were a great watch. Best team never to win a major trophy for me.
Netherlands at home did really score many goals. Must have been fun to follow. Then go out on pens is just brutal.
How was that game against Italy. A 0-0 game or many chances still?
It was a good tournament but no, Euro 2000 was the best.
We missed two penalties in regular time. That's a match we never should've lost.
Which one was the one with Rooney and Ronaldo arguing?
Wasnt that whole turnament very good?
This was also up there.
Im not sure. I like 92 aswell.
Wasnt that whole turnament very good?
This was also up there.
Im not sure. I like 92 aswell.
Best Euro was 2000. As entertaining but higher quality. The best players really stepped up: Zidane was in his best form, Figo was excellent, Henry played well, Netherlands had its golden generation etc
This one was a candidate for second place along with euro 2008 and maybe 96. What it lacked was the best players turning up in their best form.
At the other end, euro 2016 and euro 2004 were the worst of those I watched. Euro 2004 was won by an ultra defensive side and the winner of the 2016 edition barely won any match in 90 months minutes. Plus most of the big teams fell by the way side
This one was a candidate for second place along with euro 2008 and maybe 96. What it lacked was the best players turning up in their best form.
At the other end, euro 2016 and euro 2004 were the worst of those I watched. Euro 2004 was won by an ultra defensive side and the winner of the 2016 edition barely won any match in 90 months minutes. Plus most of the big teams fell by the way side
it really wasn't. Most matches were low quality matches yet somewhat entertaining.
Exciting euros? Yes.
Best? No.
Exciting euros? Yes.
Best? No.
I wish tournaments still had that one outstanding talent dominating
Euro 2000 was phenomenal, likewise 2008. This year's edition was better than 1996, 2004, 2012 and especially 2016. I still maintain that European Championships are generally better than World Cups.
Crazy, crazy game. Netherlands by far the better side. Early red card, 2 missed pens (De Boer and Kluivert), missing loads of chances.
Then an abysmal PSO for the Dutch. Stam blasting it out of the stadium almost, De Boer missing again (!) and then Totti with a cheeky panenka ...
It was pretty average bar England losing. Nothing too special or memorable imo. I really enjoyed 2008, but more so because of my private situation I think.
Another vote for 2000 - heady mix of drama and quality.
2020 is one of the better tournaments though, much improved on 2016 and I'd probably place it ahead of 1996 and 2004 as well.
2020 is one of the better tournaments though, much improved on 2016 and I'd probably place it ahead of 1996 and 2004 as well.
I'd like to say 96 or 2000, but they were peak raving years for me so I don't really remember much of that time.
This year was ok, but theres no real stand out team. Only real surprises are France not getti.g so far and England making the final.
This year was ok, but theres no real stand out team. Only real surprises are France not getti.g so far and England making the final.
You’re welcome. When I cared enough to get really upset, that French team losing to Germany with the Battiston- Shumacher incident was a pretty exceptional one. Tresor was such a good defender
Yes, I meant they could not get far deprived us of great heavy weight matches. Instead of Ukraine, Denmark, Switzerland - would have loved to see France, Germany, Portugal or Netherlands. The hype and excitement of "big" matches was missing.
Nah, we didn't win.
Its fair to say that drawing a washed up German side, Ukraine and Denmark gave England their best ever opportunity to win the tournament, but it would take rather more to make it the best tournament in history. The lack of a host nation was also shit.
not saying it was the best ever, but Euro 2004 always sticks out in my mind
not saying it was the best ever, but Euro 2004 always sticks out in my mind
Not even close. Bullshit tournament.
Massive feck up with coronavirus thing.
Second massive feck up with the whole let's fecking play across Europe and Asia with zero hosts but actually letting most of the teams play at home.
No fans. No fan pits. Most fun i ever had was in the city centres and so called fan pits.
Third feck up was qualification - every team in Europe qualified ffs.
Fourth feck up - best third goes through crap.
Second team in the group vs second team in another group.
All that being said, some of the matches were ok.
Massive feck up with coronavirus thing.
Second massive feck up with the whole let's fecking play across Europe and Asia with zero hosts but actually letting most of the teams play at home.
No fans. No fan pits. Most fun i ever had was in the city centres and so called fan pits.
Third feck up was qualification - every team in Europe qualified ffs.
Fourth feck up - best third goes through crap.
Second team in the group vs second team in another group.
All that being said, some of the matches were ok.
Agreed that Euro 2000 probably just shades it. That said, Euro 2020 featured probably the single best day of international football ever with Croatia / Spain and Switzerland / France.
It’s not really traditional tournament football if you can qualify 3rd from a group of 4. Sure it made teams play a bit more expressively and made it nice and fun but that’s because there was no fear of failure. In fact you are rewarded for it. I don’t like the idea of being reward for failure when a trophy is on the line.
Also calling it 2020 in 2021 will never stop grinding my gears.
Also calling it 2020 in 2021 will never stop grinding my gears.