Euro 2000 in Belgium and Holland
Euro 2000 was the first European Championship to be co-hosted. It used the same system as Euro 1996 a 16 team format with four groups of four nations competing. Belgium one of the hosts kicked off the tournament against Sweden. They had a good start winning 2-1 but it was all downhill from there, they failed to get another point and finished third in group B.
The other host the Netherlands had a very different tournament they made it to the semi finals. They started their first game slowly but were able to overcome the Czech Republic 1-0 from the penalty spot in the 89th minute. They also defeated Denmark 3-0 and France 3-2 to top their group and make it through to the knockout stage.
Portugal and Romania progressed from a tough group A with Portugal winning all their group games. Romania beat England 3-2 scoring from the penalty sport in the 89 minute to progress. Italy made it through easily in group B and Turkey beat Belgium 2-0 to secure a runners up place in the same group. Spain made it through in group C after beating Yugoslavia 4-3 but Yugoslavia still managed to finish second. The Netherlands and France progressed from group D.
UEFA Euro 2000 Knockout Stages
All the Quarter finals produced goals, Portugal defeated Turkey 2-0 with Nuno Gomes bagging a couple, Italy defeated Romania 2-0 with Inzaghi and Totti getting on the score sheet, France defeated Spain 2-1 with all the goals coming within a space of 15 minutes. The co-hosts the Netherlands rolled Yugoslavia 6-1 in-front of a 50,000 crowd at Feyenoord Stadion. Kluivert scored a hat-trick and Overmars kicked 2 with Yugoslavia also scoring an own goal.
The Semi Finals were France vs Portugal and Italy vs the Netherlands. Nuno Gomes once again got on the score-sheet scoring in the 19th minute for the Portuguese. Henry then scored for France 5 minutes after half time the game ended at 1-1 and then went to extra time. France got a penalty in the 117th minute and Zidane put it away (Golden Goal rule applied). The co-hosts the Netherlands battled out a 0-0 draw with Italy once again in front of a 50,000 crowd. The game produced no goals at all so it went to penalties. The home side the Netherlands didn't convert well from the penalty spot losing the shoot-out 3-1.
Top Ten Goals of Euro 2000
2000 UEFA European Championship Final at Feyenoord
The 21st of June 2000, Feyenoord Stadium, Netherlands, France vs Italy. It was a scoreless 1st half of football but Italy started the 2nd strongly scoring in the 55th minute off the boot of Delvecchio. France then kicked a goal right at the death the scorer Wiltord this forced the game into extra time. The French netted a golden goal to win the game in the 103 minute Trezeguet was the scorer. This was the 2nd time that France had won the Euro Tournament. France's Zinedine Zidane was awarded UEFA Player of the Tournament.
