As Europe’s top national football teams prepare for this summer’s UEFA European Championships, ESPN Classic is helping viewers get ready with a celebration of some of the tournament’s most memorable matches. Enjoy the exhilarating drama and legendary stories of Europhoria, only on ESPN Classic (Sky 429, Virgin 533).
Dream XI
28th May – 7th June, every night is at 10pm
As part of your Europhoria experience, ESPN Classic has put together a Dream XI from the tournament’s history. Starting on Monday 28th May, one of the 11 players at his peak will feature each night at 10.00pm.
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Mon 28th at 10.00pm
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Euro 1992 Final: Denmark v West Germany Dream XI Schmeichel: already a favourite with Manchester United supporters, the Danish goal-keeper cemented his international reputation with this display. |
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Tue 29th at 10.00pm
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Euro 1984: France v Portugal Dream XI Platini: the French-hosted 1984 tournament seemed destined to surrender to the home nation. But it took a super-human performance from Platini, here. |
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Wed 30th at 10.00pm
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Euro 2000: Italy v Romania Dream XI Totti: a legend in his own life-time at Roma, Totti’s form has often flattered to deceive at international level, but this was his big day. |
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Thu 31st at 10.00pm
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Euro 2004: England v France Dream XI Zidane: great players never give up. Even when 1-0 down with just a few minutes to go. And that was precisely the scenario that faced ‘ZZ’, here. |
| JUNE | |
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Fri 1st at 10.00pm
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Euro 2008: Germany v Turkey Dream XI Lahm: this fast-raiding full-back emerged as a young star during Germany’s 2006 World Cup campaign. And cemented his reputation at Euro 2008. |
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Sat 2nd at 10.00pm
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Euro 1996: Germany v England Dream XI Sammer: This Italian-style ‘libero’ played 23 times for East Germany before joining Europe’s most successful international side in 1990. And peaked during Euro ’96. |
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Sun 3rd at 10.00pm
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Euro 1996: England v Scotland Dream XI Gascoigne: Many felt that ‘Gazza’ was finished after suffering a horrible knee injury in 1991. But ace coach Terry Venables revitalized him during Euro ’96. |
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Mon 4th at 10.00pm
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Euro 1996: England v Holland Dream XI Shearer: An old-fashioned English centre-forward, Alan Shearer was a Premier League goal-machine. His form translated to the international stage during Euro ’96. |
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Tue 5th at 10.00pm
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Euro 1988: Holland v Germany Dream XI Koeman: A physically imposing midfielder, blessed with a shot like a bullet from free-kicks, Ronald Koeman sparkled in Holland’s brilliant Euro ’88 side. |
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Wed 6th at 10.00pm
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Euro 2008 Final: Germany v Spain Dream XI Xavi: A man who lives and breathes Barcelona, this creative midfielder has now racked up over a hundred caps for Spain. And was named ‘Player Of The Tournament’ at Euro 2008. |
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Thu 7th at 10.00pm
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Euro 1988 Final: Holland v Soviet Union Dream XI van Basten: Marco van Basten entered Euro ’88 not even as Holland’s first-choice centre-forward, but put a hat-trick past England before saving his best goal for the Final. |
Finals
29th May – 7th June, every night is at 11pm
As part of your Europhoria experience, ESPN Classic has put together a re-run of every Final from 1972 to 2008, every night at 11pm from Tuesday 29th May.
| MAY | |
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Tue 29th at 11.00pm
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Euro 1972 Final: West Germany v USSR West Germany were at their arrogant best in the final, fronted by the imperious Franz Beckenbauer and goal machine Gerd Müller. |
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Wed 30th at 11.00pm
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Euro 1976 Final: Czechoslovakia v West Germany Would the reign of glory of West Germany, the reigning holders of the European Championship and World Cup, come to an end against Czechoslovakia? |
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Thu 31st at 11.00pm
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Euro 1980 Final: West Germany v Belgium A new generation of talented German stars such as Briegel, Hrubesch and Rummenigge faced the offensively minded Belgians. |
| JUNE | |
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Fri 1st at 11.00pm
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Euro 1984 Final: Spain v France France had the honour of staging the seventh Euro Championship, and they worked wonders on and off the pitch to make this the greatest yet. |
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Sat 2nd at 11.00pm
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Euro 1988 Final: Netherlands v USSR A game that is always remembered for that volley by Marco van Basten, but USSR and team of the tournament Holland produced a great final. |
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Sun 3rd at 11.00pm
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Euro 1992 Final: Denmark v Germany Amazingly, Denmark made it to the Euro ’92 final, despite only being allowed in at the last minute. Then they had to beat Klinsmann’s Germany. |
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Mon 4th at 11.00pm
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Euro 1996 Final: Germany v Czech Republic Not the final that the host nation or the football-loving public would have wanted, but this entertaining match went deep into extra time. |
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Tue 5th at 11.00pm
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Euro 2000 Final: France v Italy Technically Europe’s two best teams of the early 21st century, Italy and France made the Euro 2000 final a match to remember. |
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Wed 6th at 11.00pm
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Euro 2004 Final: Portugal v Greece It’s David versus Goliath. Portugal, with Deco and Ronaldo, were obvious favourites, but Greece’s tenacity could see them match anyone. |
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Thu 7th at 11.00pm
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Euro 2008 Final: Germany v Spain Partially due to England’s absence, many UK viewers found Euro 2008 to be an invigorating breath of fresh air. And its final tie thrilled, too. |
