The European Championships – 2004

Depending on who you ask, Greece’s victory at Euro 2004 was either a victory for the footballing romantic or a dour triumph of defensiveness over attacking flair. Greece, who had only ever qualified for the tournament once before, in 1980, arrived in Portugal with a pretty straightforward philosophy – we know our limitations and will [...]

The European Championships – 1996

Time, then, to debunk a couple of old myths about Euro 96. First of all, the tournament was not the stunning success that many of the history books would tell you that it was. It was certainly a success when compared with the worst, most doom-laden prophecies that the media could come up with, but [...]

The European Championships – 1992

The years between 1988 and 1992 were the most eventful in the history of Europe since the end of the Second World War. The collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe meant that the 1992 European Championships saw the first entry of a reunited German team and, in the light of the dissolution of the Soviet [...]

The European Championships – 1988

So, Euro 88. That was the one that the Dutch won at a canter, all crowned by Marco Van Basten’s magnificent volley against the USSR in the final, right? Well, yes and no. The Netherlands were, in their pomp, an extraordinary team to watch when in full flow. However, they were beaten by the USSR, [...]

The European Championships – 1984

After a fairly disastrous opening tournament, the European Championships were given a lick of paint for the 1984 finals, with rules being changed to prevent a repeat of the torpid affair that had taken place four years prior. It was still an eight team tournament, but this time there would be no pointless third/fourth place [...]

The European Championships – 1980

As you may have noticed, we’ve had a little lick of paint this afternoon ahead of this summer’s festivities and, to get you in the mood still further, we’ll bringing you a quick round up of the previous European Championship tournaments, along with some brief highlights of some of the great matches from the tournament’s [...]

Match Of The Seventies – 1974/75

All is quiet in the football world (apart, that is, from the financial crisis engulfing Rotherham United – more of which at a later date – and Celtic getting beaten at home by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup), so it’s time for another episode of Match Of The Seventies. This one is from the 1974/75 [...]

Match Of The Seventies – 1973/74

We’re up to 1973/74 on “Match Of The Seventies”, and what a peculiar season it was. Tonight’s episode features Leeds United’s record-breaking unbeaten run, Liverpool tearing Newcastle United a new hole in the FA Cup Final, England failing to qualify for the World Cup, Spurs fans rioting in Rotterdam at the UEFA Cup final and [...]

Match Of The Seventies – 1972/73

Match Of The Seventies – 1970/71

Many years ago, the BBC produced two (relatively) light-hearted TV programmes about football in the 1970s and the 1980s. Some enterprising soul has seen fit to put them up on YouTube so, over the next few weeks I’m going to be putting them up on here. Each episode is divided up into four ten minute [...]