 The final took place at De Kuip(pictured in 2014) in Rotterdam. | |||||||
| Event | UEFA Euro 2000 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Aftergolden goalextra time | |||||||
| Date | 2 July 2000 (2000-07-02) | ||||||
| Venue | De Kuip,Rotterdam | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Thierry Henry (France) | ||||||
| Referee | Anders Frisk (Sweden) | ||||||
| Attendance | 48,100 | ||||||
| Weather | Mostly cloudy 20 °C (68 °F) 68%humidity[1] | ||||||
←1996 2004 → | |||||||
TheUEFA Euro 2000 final was the final match ofUEFA Euro 2000, the eleventhEuropean Championship,UEFA's topfootball competition for national teams. The match was played atDe Kuip inRotterdam, the Netherlands, on 2 July 2000, and was contested betweenworld championsFrance andItaly.
En route to the final, France were drawn inGroup D, alongside hosts theNetherlands,Denmark, and theCzech Republic, and ended the group stage as runners-up to the Netherlands. They then defeatedSpain in the quarter-finals, before progressing to the final following a victory overPortugal in the semi-finals, won via agolden goal fromZinedine Zidane. Meanwhile, Italy were allocated toGroup B, alongsideTurkey,Belgium, andSweden, winning the group with maximum points. In the quarter-finals, they defeatedRomania, before a semi-finalpenalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands saw them progress to the final.
The final took place in front of 48,100 spectators, and wasrefereed by Swedish officialAnders Frisk. After Italy'sMarco Delvecchio opened the scoring in the 56th minute, France would equalise in the fourth minute of stoppage time throughSylvain Wiltord, sending the match toextra time. Just two minutes before the interval in extra time, France'sDavid Trezeguet would half-volley the ball into the top corner, netting a golden goal that confirmed France's 2–1 victory and their second European Championship title.
Following their1998 FIFA World Cup success on home soil, France became the first World Cup winners to go on to lift the subsequent European Championship. As winners, they would have qualified for the2003 FIFA Confederations Cup as UEFA's representative; however, they had already secured an automatic spot in the tournament as hosts. After both Euro runners-up Italy and2002 World Cup runners-upGermany both declined to participate, the spot was eventually given to World Cup bronze-medalistsTurkey.
UEFA Euro 2000 was the eleventh edition of theUEFA European Football Championship,UEFA's football competition for national teams.[2]Qualifying rounds were played on a home-and-awayround-robin tournament basis prior to the final tournament being co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, between 10 June and 2 July 2000.[3] The 16 qualified teams were divided into four groups of four with each team playing one another once. The winners of each group then faced the runners-up from the other groups in quarter-finals. The successful teams then progressed to the semi-finals and the winners there qualified for the final.[3]
In the previous international tournament, the1998 FIFA World Cup, France were champions, beatingBrazil inthe final. Italy were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by France, losing in apenalty shoot-out after the match ended goalless.[4] That match represented the last time prior to the 2000 final that the sides had faced one another. The 2000 final was the 31st meeting between the sides, with Italy winning 16, France victorious in 6, with the remainder ending in a draw.[5] Both sides had won the European Championship once before, Italy defeatingYugoslavia in the1968 final and France beatingSpain in the1984 final.[2]
| Opponent | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 3–0 |
| 2 | Czech Republic | 2–1 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 2–3 |
| QF | Spain | 2–1 |
| SF | Portugal | 2–1 (a.e.t.) |
France were assigned toUEFA Euro 2000 Group D where they faced theNetherlands,Denmark and theCzech Republic.[6] In the first group match, France played Denmark on 11 June 2000 at theJan Breydel Stadium inBruges, Belgium.[7] Within two minutes ofkick-off, a mistake fromMarcel Desailly allowedJon Dahl Tomasson to shoot but his strike was straight at France's goalkeeperFabien Barthez.Nicolas Anelka then hit the side-netting of the Denmark goal beforeLaurent Blanc scored in the 16th minute.[8] Midway through the second half,Thierry Henry doubled his side's lead after running half the length of the pitch with the ball following a pass fromZinedine Zidane and scoring pastPeter Schmeichel, the Denmark goalkeeper.Sylvain Wiltord made it 3–0 instoppage time from close range after across fromPatrick Vieira.[9]
France's second game in the group saw them face the Czech Republic at the Jan Breydel Stadium on 16 June 2000.[10]Pavel Nedvěd forced Barthez to make an early save and in the fifth minute,Jiří Němec crossed forJan Koller whoseheader was wide. Two minutes later, France took the lead through Henry who intercepted a weak backpass fromPetr Gabriel to strike the ball underPavel Srníček, the Czech Republic goalkeeper, and into the net. Both sides missed chances to score but in the 35th minute,Karel Poborský equalised for the Czech Republic from thepenalty spot afterDidier Deschamps was adjudged to have fouled Nedvěd inside the Francepenalty area. In the 60th minute, France retook the lead whenYouri Djorkaeff scored from a Henry pass, and although Koller hit the France crossbar, the match ended 2–1, securing France's progression from the group stages with a game to spare.[11]
The final group match saw France play the Netherlands atAmsterdam Arena inAmsterdam, the Netherlands. on 21 June 2000.[12] Despite having rotated much of the team following early progression,Christophe Dugarry gave France the lead in the eighth minute when he headed in acorner fromJohan Micoud. Six minutes later,Dennis Bergkamp passed toPatrick Kluivert who equalised with a shot across France goalkeeperBernard Lama. In the 31st minute,Jaap Stam made a clearing header which Wiltord struck goalbound: the ball was deflected byDavid Trezeguet and ended in the Netherlands' goal to make it 2–1. Dugarry missed a chance to score early in the second half beforeFrank de Boer struck a directfree kick into the top corner of the France goal in the 51st minute. Eight minutes later, Desailly failed to head clear a long goal kick fromSander Westerveld andBoudewijn Zenden scored to make it 3–2 to the Netherlands, which remained the final score.[13]
As runners-up in Group D,[6] France's quarter-final opponents wereGroup C winners Spain who they faced at the Jan Breydel Stadium on 25 June 2000.[6][14] Both Vieira and Dugarry missed headers early in the game beforePep Guardiola's free kick was punched away by Barthez. He then pushedRaúl's shot over the bar and thenPedro Munitis shot wide of France's goal.[15] In the 32nd minute,Agustín Aranzábal fouled Djorkaeff and Zidane struck the resulting free kick into the top corner of Spain's goal to give France a 1–0 lead. Six minutes later,Lilian Thuram brought down Munitis in the France penalty area andGaizka Mendieta scored the resulting penalty kick, striking the ball down the middle as Barthez dived to the right. With a minute of the half remaining, France re-took the lead when Djorkaeff struck the ball pastSantiago Cañizares, the Spain goalkeeper. In the final minute of the match, Barthez fouledAbelardo Fernández in the France box but Raúl struck the penalty high over the frame of the goal and the match ended 2–1.[16]
In the semi-final, France playedPortugal at theKing Baudouin Stadium inBrussels, Belgium, on 28 June 2000.[17] In the 19th minute,Sérgio Conceição dispossessed Deschamps and the ball fell toNuno Gomes who struck ahalf-volley past Barthez to give Portugal a 1–0 lead at half-time. Six minutes into the second half, Anelka passed to Henry whose shot clippedFernando Couto on its way into the Portugal goal to level the score.Vítor Baía saved a volley fromEmmanuel Petit and the match went into extra time, where early on,João Pinto's shot went wide. With six minutes of the additional 30 remaining, Wiltord's shot was handballed byAbel Xavier and after considerable protests from Portugal, includingLuís Figo leaving the pitch altogether, Zidane scored the resulting penalty, agolden goal, to send France to the final for the first time since 1984.[18]
| Opponent | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkey | 2–1 |
| 2 | Belgium | 2–0 |
| 3 | Sweden | 2–1 |
| QF | Romania | 2–0 |
| SF | Netherlands | 0–0 (a.e.t.)(3–1p) |
Italy were drawn inUEFA Euro 2000 Group B alongsideTurkey,Belgium andSweden.[6] Italy's first group match was against Turkey and took place at theGelreDome inArnhem, the Netherlands, on 11 June 2000.[19] In a goalless first half,Ogün Temizkanoğlu's speculative 60-yard (55 m) strike almost gave Turkey the lead. Seven minutes into the second half,Filippo Inzaghi missed with a header before his shot rebounded offAlpay Özalan, allowingAntonio Conte to score with anoverhead kick.[20] Nine minutes later,Okan Buruk equalised, beating the Italy goalkeeperFrancesco Toldo to the ball with his head from aSergen Yalçın free kick. Midway through the second half, Ogün fouled Inzaghi who scored the resulting penalty, and althoughAlessandro Del Piero struck the frame of the Turkey goal twice, the match ended 2–1 to Italy.[21]
Co-hosts Belgium were Italy's opponents in their second group match, played at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on 14 June 2000.[22] Italy dominated the early stages with chances to score falling to Conte,Paolo Maldini and Inzaghi, beforeFrancesco Totti headed a free kick fromDemetrio Albertini to put Italy ahead. Belgium then took control and missed several opportunities to equalise and midway through the second halfStefano Fiore doubled Italy's lead, curling in a shot pastNico Van Kerckhoven, the Belgium goalkeeper, after playing aone-two with Inzaghi. Although Italy had further chances to extend their lead, the match ended 2–0, securing Italy's early progression after two first matches due to Sweden and Turkey were held to a goalless draw.[21]
The final group match saw Italy face Sweden at thePhilips Stadion inEindhoven, the Netherlands, on 19 June 2000.[23] Sweden initially controlled the match withJohan Mjällby's header being cleared off the Italy goalline byAngelo Di Livio andFreddie Ljungberg shooting wide with just Toldo to beat.Luigi Di Biagio put Italy ahead six minutes before half-time when he scored with a header from Del Piero's corner. With 13 minutes of the match remaining, Sweden equalised whenHenrik Larsson received the ball fromKennet Andersson, and took it round Toldo to score. In the 88th minute,Daniel Andersson conceded possession, allowingVincenzo Montella to pass to Del Piero who struck the ball pastMagnus Hedman, the Sweden goalkeeper, to secure a 2–1 victory for Italy.[24]
Italy finished as group winners,[6] and facedGroup A runners-upRomania at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on 24 June 2000.[25] Italy took the lead in the 33rd minute in what author Jonathan O'Brien described as a "one-sided affair".[26] Fiore passed to Totti who controlled the ball with his chest before striking it past the Romania goalkeeperBogdan Stelea.Gheorghe Hagi thenlobbed the ball over Toldo but it struck the post. Two minutes before half-time, Albertini passed for Inzaghi who ran on and scored past Stelea, to make it 2–0. Hagi wassent off in the second half after receiving two yellow cards within minutes of one another: the first for a foul on Conte which left the Italian injured and out of the remainder of the tournament, and the second fordiving. The match ended 2–0 and Italy progressed to the last four of the competition.[27]
In the semi-final, Italy's opponents were co-hosts the Netherlands who they played at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam on 29 June 2000.[28] The Netherlands dominated the early stages with Bergkamp's pass allowingPhillip Cocu to shoot off-target before Bergkamp himself hit the Italy goalpost. In the 34th minute, Italy were reduced to 10 players whenGianluca Zambrotta was sent off, receiving his second yellow card of the game, this time for fouling Zenden. The Netherlands were then awarded a penalty afterAlessandro Nesta fouled Kluivert but Frank de Boer's penalty was saved by Toldo. Kluivert had two chances to give the Netherlands the lead before half-time but his header was saved and his shot was wide. On the hour mark,Edgar Davids was fouled in the penalty area byMark Iuliano but Kluivert struck the resulting penalty kick against the post. The game went into extra time which the Netherlands controlled without scoring, and so a penalty shoot-out was required to determine the winner.[29] Italy scored their first three penalties while Frank de Boer's strike was saved and Stam's attempt was off-target.Edwin van der Sar, the Netherlands goalkeeper, then saved from Maldini but Toldo then keptPaul Bosvelt's shot out and Italy won the shoot-out 3–1 to progress to their first European Championship final since 1968.[2][30]
BritishbookmakersWilliam Hill considered France to be clear favourites to win the final.[31] France were designated as the "home" team and so wore their traditional bluekit, while Italy played in white for the first time in the tournament.[31] Italy made three changes to their starting line-up from the semi-final, with Pessotto coming in for the suspended Zambrotta, Totti replacing Del Piero, andMarco Delvecchio coming in for Inzaghi. France restored Youri Djorkaeff to their team in place of Petit, and Dugarry was preferred to Anelka.[32]
The final took place on 2 July 2000 atDe Kuip in Rotterdam in front of 48,100 spectators and wasrefereed by the Swedish officialAnders Frisk.[a][34][38] After three minutes, Totti headed wide from a Fiore corner.[39] Two minutes later, Henry struck a half-volley which hit the Italy goalpost.[39] Both Di Biagio and Cannavaro were booked in the first half for fouls on Henry.[39] Zidane then took a free kick which he shot over the goal.[40]
Shortly into the second half, Zidane passed to Henry who ran with the ball butFabio Cannavaro blocked his shot. Italy then made the firstsubstitution of the match with Del Piero coming on to replace Fiore. In the 56th minute, Italy took the lead: Totti back-heeled the ball toGianluca Pessotto whose cross beat both Blanc and Desailly, allowing Delvecchio to score from close range. Totti then found Del Piero who, under pressure from Thuram, struck his shot wide.[40] Dugarry was then replaced by Wiltord whose close range shot was blocked by Toldo.[39] In the 68th minute, Henry was denied a shooting opportunity by Toldo who dived at his feet to gather the ball.[39] With six minutes of the match remaining,Massimo Ambrosini passed to Del Piero but his shot hit Barthez's foot. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Barthez took a long free kick which was headed on by Trezeguet to Wiltord who controlled the ball with his chest before striking it under Toldo's left pinkie. The strong shot was slightly touched and crept past Toldo into the far corner to make it 1–1 and sent the match into extra time.[40] In the 94th minute, Toldo saved fromRobert Pires, sustaining an injury to his nose in the process.[39] Two minutes before the interval in the additional period, Albertini mis-controlled a pass from Cannavaro, allowing Pires to take the ball past Albertini and Cannavaro before crossing for Trezeguet who half-volleyed it into the top corner, a golden goal for France who won their second European Championship 2–1.[41]
          France |     Italy |
|  |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Man of the Match: Assistant referees:[46] | Match rules[47]
|
| Statistic | France | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 2 | 1 |
| Total shots | 19 | 10 |
| Shots on target | 12 | 3 |
| Ball possession | 48% | 52% |
| Corner kicks | 7 | 4 |
| Fouls committed | 18 | 29 |
| Offsides | 6 | 7 |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 3 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Henry was named as theman of the match while Zidane was selected as UEFA's player of the tournament.[42][3] He and five of his teammates, alongside six Italy players, were also selected for UEFA's squad of the tournament.[3] In winning the tournament, France became the first World Cup title holder to also win the European Championship title.[3]
After the match, Henry remained defiant, noting that "everybody thought we were dead, but with the French team it is never over."[49] FrancemanagerRoger Lemerre commented on his side's determination to hold both the European Championship and World Cup titles: "It is the willpower of the team that did it ... The team wanted this trophy since the day it won the World Cup. We said that, if there was a second left, we had to go all out for it. The miracle happened and we caused it."[49] Cannavaro described Desailly as "a horse" after he had been elbowed in the face by the France player, and registered his disappointment in how he felt the France team had behaved, noting that the "French had no respect for the defeated. They are extremely arrogant."[50] Zoff, the Italy manager, said "we were sure of the victory and that victory slipped away in the last minute ... This, of course, is very serious. But you cannot say my players did not put up a fight."[51] Two days after the final, Zoff resigned as manager of Italy.[52]
The France team were greeted by thousands of supporters upon their return to Paris, at thePlace de la Concorde. Desailly said, "I have my medal around my neck. I'm happy", while French presidentJacques Chirac said, "Tonight, I am proud of France and I am proud of the French. The French team has kept its genius."[53]
In the next international tournament, the2002 FIFA World Cup, France failed to progress fromtheir group, finishing bottom of the table without scoring a goal. Italy were knocked out in the round of 16, losing 2–1 in extra time toSouth Korea.[54] The two teams met again in the2006 FIFA World Cup final, which Italy won 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra time.[55]
| Tournaments | |
|---|---|
| Qualifying | |
| Finals | |
| Squads | |
| Bids | |
| Statistics | |
| Broadcasting rights | |
| Other records | |
| Miscellaneous | |
