Revisited .. EURO 2000 semi -finals

CAIRO – 8 July 2017: UEFA EURO 2000 remains one of the best International competitions with great players represent their national teams in the competition, Netherlands and Belgium hosted the event in 2000 summer.

16 teams participated in the competition but the strongest four teams qualified for the semifinals;

France with Zein Eldin Zidane,Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and punch of 1998 World Cup winners, Portugal with their attacking force, Luis Figo, Nuno Gomes, Rui Costa and Pedro Pauleta, Nethelands with Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, and Dennis Bergkamp and Italy with Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Marco Delvecchio are responsible for the goal scoring while Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta keeps the ball away from their goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.

The First semifinal was between France and Portugal, Nuno Gomes strike gave Portugal the lead but Thierry Henry equalized for France, both teams failed to score the second goal before the 90 minutes final whistle, the game went to Extra time.

Golden goal, as usual, was a good friend to the French after France won over Portugal in the semifinal with a penalty in the extra time scored by Zidane only 3 minutes away from the Final whistle.

The Second match between Netherlands and Italy continues to be remembered as one of the most dramatic matches ever, a real meaning of the famous quote “The ball decided the winner”.

Netherlands had many chances but they failed to score any goals including two penalties through Kluivert and Frank De Boer in the normal time, both teams failed to score any goal in normal time and extra time.

Toldo, Italian goalkeeper, saved Frank de Boer, Jaap Stam and Paul Bosvelt in Penalty Shootout to take Italy to the final.

Italy played France in the final, and it is another story to tell.
Cameras captured many great moments from the semi-finals, let’s remember the best ten photos of semi finals.


10 - Luis Figo and Emmanuel Petit fight for the ball


9- Nuno Gomes Celebrates scoring against France


8- Henry equalized for France


7 - Xavier and Portugal players oppose to Referee decision to give France a penalty


6 - Zidane late penalty took France to the final


5 - Toldo saved two penalties in the normal time and another three in Penalty Shootout


4-Totti celebrates his Panenka Penalty against Van Der Sar


3- Italy team stands for the penalties


2- Netherlands players after losing the match


1 - Italy players celebrate reaching the final with their hero, Toldo

Reviving great moments and remembering the great players and moments made the history of the game is what keeps football passion inside us.