Match of the Day's 60th anniversary celebrations may have ended, but with this week being an international week I've decided to do some top 10's on international topics that Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have discussed on their podcast Match of the Day top 10.
Todays top 10 is Euros winners.
CONTENDERS:
France - 1984
Netherlands - 1988
Denmark - 1992
Germany - 1996
France - 2000
Greece - 2004
Spain - 2008
Spain - 2012
Portugal - 2016
Italy - 2020
LINEKER, SHEARER AND RICHARDS' TOP 10
Spain - 2012
Spain - 2008
France - 1984
France - 2000
Greece - 2004
Italy - 2020
Netherlands - 1988
Portugal - 2016
Germany - 1996
Denmark - 1992
MY TOP 10:
Spain - 2012
Spain - 2008
France - 1984
France - 2000
Italy - 2020
Netherlands - 1988
Germany - 1996
Portugal - 2016
Greece - 2004
Denmark - 1992
THE VERDICT:
The two Spain sides just had to be in the top two because of the dominance they established on the international stage and how special both teams were. In the lead up to Euro 2008, all England fans were asked who they wanted to win Euro 2008 as England didn't qualify. I went for Spain because Fernando Torres was my favourite player for Liverpool at the time. After that I began to like the other players they had. They had the best keeper in the world at the time in Iker Casillas and had arguably the best midfield duo ever in Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Their 2012 winning side wins it though as that was them in their prime. 2008 marked the start of their journey where they were relatively unknown and they made themselves known by winning that tournament. 2012 was them at their best and what made that win more impressive was they played most of their games without a recognised striker.
France's sides from 1984 and 2000 come in next and it's their team from 84 that takes 3rd spot. They won every game in the group stage that year and had an incredible striker in Michel Platini, who scored a record breaking 9 goals at that tournament. Their 2000 side had great side which included players like Henry, Zidane, Vieira and Desailly, but they lost one game in the groups to the Dutch and needed a golden goal to win the semi final and final.
Italy's 2021 winning side complete the top five as they were very good to watch in that tournament and looked strong all over the pitch. Defensively they were very solid with the experienced duo of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci at the back, and they also had a top up and coming keeper in Gianluigi Donnarumma. They also had a well drilled midfield which included the likes of Jorginho and Nicolo Barella. Unfortunately for them, they haven't been the same team since.
Netherlands' 88 and Germany's 96 winning sides were quite similar in that they had identical records in the group stages and had a striker who scored the majority of their goals in Marco Van Basten and Jurgen Klinsmann respectively. Netherland's 88 winning side just pips it though as their team had slightly better individuals including Ronaldo Koeman, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. I wasn't around when they both won their respective titles, but if I had to pick the better team it would be the Netherlands' side from 88.
Greece and Denmark surprised everyone when they won the Euros in 2004 and 1992 respectively. Both wins were completely unexpected and I can somewhat understand why Gary, Alan and Micah have Greece in their top 5. That achievement was of course incredible, but their team and Denamrk's didn't have the potential of the others on this list.
Portugal I thought were very lucky to win the Euros in 2016 after drawing all three of their group games and winning just once in normal time - their semi final win over Wales. But their side did have Cristiano Ronaldo and it's having someone like that which puts them above the two shock winners in Denmark and Greece.
OTHER POTENTIAL CONTENDERS: Spain - 2024
Had this list been done a few years later and after the Euros from this summer, I think Spain's winning side could've been on this list. They became the first side to win all their games in normal time at the Euros and were the better side throughout the entire tournament. They had some exciting young talent in the likes of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal and were strong in every department. Had they been on this list, they might've been in and around the top near their predecessors.
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