FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
One thing is certain, even this European championship, we may have surprises from some "black cats" who can stun the well-known giants of European football in Germany.
The Euros have given fans some amazing moments since its inception as a competition. Despite expectations of a strong performance from the big teams, the Euros have always been in store for surprise results, from the Republic of Ireland beating England in their first major tournament to Greece winning the trophy with a remarkable victory over a Portuguese team full of legends. One thing is certain, even this European championship, we may have surprises from some "black cats" who can stun the well-known giants of European football in Germany.
The European Championship has been home to some of the biggest surprises in football history over the years. The tournament has offered some modest teams the opportunity to win against the giants of the beautiful game. But who are some of the biggest surprises in European Championship history?
Round of 16, Euro 2020: France 3-3 Switzerland, (4-5 on penalties)
France were the main favorites for Euro 2020, which took place in 2021 after being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Led by Kylian Mbappe, Didier Deschamps' star-studded side were the reigning world champions and nobody saw them losing in the first round of the knockout stages.
Les Bleus were 3-1 up with nine minutes remaining, but Haris Seferovic scored the second, before Mario Gavranovic equalized in the 90th minute to send the game into extra time. A Swiss side inspired by Yann Sommer then triumphed on penalties.
Euro 2016, Round of 16: Iceland 2-1 England
Eight years ago, Iceland handed England their most embarrassing defeat at a major tournament since the Three Lions were knocked out of the 1950 World Cup by the USA.
The statistics were not pretty. Iceland had a population of just 330,000 at the time and was ranked 34th in the world.
It all started so well, with Wayne Rooney scoring a fourth-minute penalty, but goals from Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson sent Roy Hodson's side out of Euro 2016.
It may have been the end of their tour, but England responded by creating a new era of success from the ashes of their most crushing defeat - five years later, the Three Lions would reach their first major final since 1966.
Euro 2016 Quarter-finals: Wales 3-1 Belgium
Wales' remarkable run in France came at the expense of Belgium's much-vaunted 'golden belt' as goals from Ashley Williams, Sam Vokes and an iconic Hal Robson-Kanu finish sealed a superb victory in the last eight.
Belgium was the no. 2 in the world at the time, while Wales were European Championship debutants competing in their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
A semi-final defeat to the eventual winners Portugal did little to dampen a stunning run from Chris Coleman's men.
Euro 2004, Final: Portugal 0-1 Greece
Olympiacos became the first Greek club to win a European club trophy this season, but no one will forget when the Greek national team reached the pinnacle of European football.
Greece suffered one of the biggest shocks in football history as Angelos Charisteas scored from a corner to win their first and only major international trophy.
Portugal's squad included legends such as Rui Costa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Deco, but they were undone on home soil as Greece became the first country to win their first title at a major championship since Denmark's triumph in 1992.
Euro 1996, Group stage: Czech Republic 2-1 Italy
After losing 2-0 against Germany in their first game of the Championship, few fans expected much from the Czech Republic when they faced World Cup finalists Italy at Euro 1996.
However, a masterclass from Radek Bejbl turned the game on its head, with Dusan Uhrin's side coming out on top in Liverpool.
Bejbl and the sensational Pavel Nedved scored either side of Enrico Chiesa's goal to secure a historic win.
Euro 1992, Final: Denmark 2-0 Germany
Denmark's victory in 1992 was surprising for many reasons. Not only did they knock out the most decorated and fancied opponents, a star-studded German side in the final, but they weren't even supposed to be there.
The Danes did not qualify for the tournament, but entered the competition two weeks before it started after Yugoslavia withdrew. John Jensen and Kim Vilfort were the scorers in their unlikely 2-0 win in the final.
Euro 1988, Group Stage: England 0-1 Republic of Ireland
Jack Charlton helped England to their biggest ever victory in 1966, but he also caused one of their worst defeats in 1988.
He led the Republic of Ireland to a 1-0 win over England in Stuttgart, with Ray Houghton scoring as the Three Lions got their tournament off to the worst possible start.
Things went from bad to worse for an England side that included John Barnes and Gary Lineker, with Bobby Robson's side suffering three defeats and finishing bottom of their group./ Eurosport
Lini një Përgjigje