The EURO 2000 tournament remains etched in football history, not just for its thrilling matches and unforgettable moments, but also for crowning France as the undisputed kings of world football at the time. Fresh off their 1998 FIFA World Cup triumph, France, led by the maestro Zinédine Zidane, showcased a blend of skill, resilience, and sheer brilliance to conquer Europe. However, their path to victory in the final against Italy on July 2, 2000, was anything but straightforward, culminating in a dramatic finish that fans still reminisce about today. Italy, spearheaded by Marco Delvecchio’s goal, seemed poised for victory until Sylvain Wiltord’s late equalizer against Francesco Toldo in added time pushed the game into extra time. Then, in a moment of pure gold, David Trezeguet unleashed a ‘golden goal’ volley 13 minutes into extra time, securing the championship for Les Bleus.
“I hit the ball as it dropped,” Trezeguet fondly recalled. “It went in and we became the first team to win the European Championship after winning the World Cup. It was a great thing for our country.”
Watch EURO 2000 final highlights: France 2-1 Italy
Who Were EURO 2000’s Top Goal Scorers?
The EURO 2000 Golden Boot was shared by two exceptional strikers, both finding the net five times throughout the tournament:
- Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands)
- Savo Milošević (Yugoslavia)
Interestingly, the qualifying rounds saw Spain’s Raúl González dominate the scoring charts with an impressive 11 goals. His qualifying campaign included a remarkable four-goal haul in a 9-0 victory against Austria on March 27, 1999, followed by a rapid 19-minute hat-trick against San Marino just four days later. Despite his prolific club career with Real Madrid, winning the UEFA Champions League three times, Raúl’s EURO 2000 journey ended on a sour note. He missed a crucial quarter-final penalty against France, a moment that could have changed Spain’s fate in the tournament.
Savo Milošević in action for Yugoslavia against Norway at EURO 2000
Alt text: Savo Milosevic, Yugoslavia striker, celebrates a goal during the EURO 2000 match against Norway, showcasing his prolific scoring form in the tournament.
Where Did EURO 2000 Take Place?
EURO 2000 marked a historic moment as it was co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, a first for the European Championship. The tournament unfolded from June 10 to July 2, 2000, with each nation providing four host cities. Belgium’s venues included Brussels’ iconic Roi Baudouin Stadium, which hosted the opening match, along with Bruges’ Jan Breydel Stadium, Liege’s Stade Marcel Dufrasne, and Charleroi’s Stade du Pays de Charleroi. In the Netherlands, matches were held at Rotterdam’s Feijenoord Stadium, which famously hosted the final, as well as Amsterdam ArenA, Eindhoven’s PSV Stadium, and Arnhem’s GelreDome. This dual-nation hosting created a unique atmosphere and broadened the reach of the tournament.
Who Was the Winning Manager of EURO 2000?
Roger Lemerre was the man at the helm of the triumphant French team at EURO 2000. Having previously served as assistant to Aimé Jacquet during France’s 1998 World Cup victory, Lemerre stepped into the spotlight and achieved a remarkable feat. He became the first coach to lead Les Bleus to a major international title on foreign soil, adding to France’s EURO ’84 and World Cup wins on home turf. Lemerre’s background was unconventional; he spent a decade managing the French army team before transitioning to the civilian national setup. His coaching prowess extended beyond European success, as he later guided Tunisia to victory in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, completing an unprecedented continental double.
Watch Best goals of EURO 2000
Who Captained the EURO 2000 Champions?
Didier Deschamps, a midfield stalwart known for his leadership and tactical awareness, wore the captain’s armband for France’s EURO 2000 winning side. Between lifting the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000 trophies, Deschamps made a high-profile club move from Juventus to Chelsea. Coach Roger Lemerre recognized Deschamps’ crucial role, stating after the EURO 2000 final, “A team needs a great general. I hope he will stay on for a long time.” Deschamps retired from international football shortly after EURO 2000, holding a then-record of 103 caps for France. However, his association with the national team was far from over; he returned as coach in 2012, continuing his legacy with Les Bleus.
What Was the Tournament Format for EURO 2000?
EURO 2000 adopted the same format as EURO ’96, featuring a 16-team final tournament held from June 10 to July 2, 2000. The competition began with four groups of four teams each. A win earned teams three points, and a draw one point. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stages, commencing with the quarter-finals. The group winners – Portugal, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands – were paired against runners-up from other groups – Romania, Turkey, Yugoslavia, and France – setting the stage for thrilling knockout encounters.
How Many Teams Participated in EURO 2000?
The EURO 2000 final tournament showcased the talents of 16 nations, representing the elite of European football at the time. The qualifying process to reach the finals was extensive, involving 49 UEFA member countries, excluding the co-hosts Belgium and the Netherlands who automatically qualified. This large-scale qualification tournament highlighted the widespread interest and competitive nature of European international football.
How Did EURO 2000 Qualifying Work?
With Belgium and the Netherlands granted automatic qualification as hosts, the remaining 49 UEFA member nations engaged in a comprehensive qualifying competition to secure their spots at EURO 2000. The qualifying draw divided these nations into nine groups – four groups of six teams and five groups of five. The winners of each of the nine groups, along with the highest-ranked runner-up (Portugal), earned direct qualification to the finals. The remaining eight runners-up entered play-off ties, battling for the final four places at EURO 2000. England, Denmark, Slovenia, and Turkey emerged victorious from these play-offs, completing the 16-team lineup for the tournament.
Who Was Named in the EURO 2000 Squad of the Tournament?
Zinédine Zidane’s exceptional performances throughout EURO 2000 earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh famously remarked, “I’m quite certain he has printed somewhere on his head ‘made in heaven’,” highlighting Zidane’s otherworldly talent and impact on the tournament. Beyond individual honors, UEFA’s technical team also selected a 22-man squad representing the best performers across all teams at EURO 2000.
Zinédine Zidane of France, EURO 2000 Player of the Tournament
Alt text: Zinédine Zidane, EURO 2000 Player of the Tournament, orchestrates play for France against Italy in the EURO 2000 final, demonstrating his exceptional skill and vision.
EURO 2000 Squad of the Tournament:
Goalkeepers:
- Fabien Barthez (France)
- Francesco Toldo (Italy)
Defenders:
- Laurent Blanc (France)
- Lilian Thuram (France)
- Marcel Desailly (France)
- Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
- Paolo Maldini (Italy)
- Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
- Frank de Boer (Netherlands)
Midfielders:
- Demetrio Albertini (Italy)
- Patrick Vieira (France)
- Josep Guardiola (Spain)
- Rui Costa (Portugal)
- Edgar Davids (Netherlands)
- Luís Figo (Portugal)
- Zinédine Zidane (France)
Forwards:
- Thierry Henry (France)
- Savo Milošević (Yugoslavia)
- Raúl González (Spain)
- Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands)
- Nuno Gomes (Portugal)
- Francesco Totti (Italy)
Who Scored the First Goal of EURO 2000?
The opening goal of EURO 2000 was scored by Belgium’s Bart Goor in the 43rd minute of the tournament’s inaugural match against Sweden. Goor’s goal set Belgium on their way to a 2-1 victory, although the co-hosts ultimately missed out on progressing to the knockout stages. At the time of the tournament, Goor was a rising star, fresh from winning the first of four domestic league titles with Anderlecht. Later in his career, Goor gained attention for a different venture, promoting a hangover cure he had developed with a business partner.
In the EURO 2000 qualifying campaign, the very first goal was scored by Kristen Viikmäe for Estonia against the Faroe Islands on June 4, 1998. Viikmäe’s early goal, scored just 12 minutes into the match, contributed to Estonia’s dominant 5-0 win. This qualifying match took place well in advance of the main tournament, marking the early beginnings of the EURO 2000 journey. Viikmäe, then a young 19-year-old striker for Flora Tallinn, went on to achieve the milestone of becoming the youngest player to reach 100 caps for Estonia in 2006 at the age of 27, though this record has since been surpassed. More recently, he has transitioned into coaching, leading Estonia’s beach soccer national team.
Watch Conte’s acrobatic goal against Turkey at EURO 2000
Five Key Facts About EURO 2000
- Group of Champions: Group D at EURO 2000 was uniquely composed of teams that had all previously won the European Championship title: Netherlands, France, Czech Republic (as Czechoslovakia), and Denmark.
- World and European Champions: France’s EURO 2000 victory made them the first and only World Cup holders to also win the UEFA European Championship. An impressive seven players started in both the 1998 World Cup final and the EURO 2000 final, highlighting the core continuity of this golden generation.
- Yugoslavia’s Comeback Thriller: Yugoslavia staged a remarkable comeback against Slovenia in their Group C opener. Despite having Siniša Mihajlović sent off, and trailing 3-0, they fought back to draw 3-3 in a dramatic encounter.
- Toldo’s Penalty Heroics: Italy’s goalkeeper Francesco Toldo delivered a heroic performance in the semi-final against the Netherlands, saving an incredible three penalties – one in regular time and two more in the penalty shootout, leading Italy to a 3-1 shootout victory.
- Brotherly Competition: EURO 2000 featured four sets of brothers, adding a familial dimension to the tournament: Patrick and Daniel Andersson (Sweden), Gary and Phil Neville (England), Frank and Ronald de Boer (Netherlands), and Emile and Mbo Mpenza (Belgium).
