Germany 1996: Bierhoff's Golden Goal

The 1996 European Championship final between Germany and the Czech Republic provided one of the most dramatic conclusions in the tournament's history. The match, held at Wembley Stadium in London, was the first European Championship final to be decided by the golden goal rule, which had been introduced for this tournament.

The Czech Republic took the lead in the 59th minute through a Patrik Berger penalty after Karel Poborský was fouled in the box. Germany, coached by Berti Vogts, found themselves trailing and in danger of losing their chance to win their first major tournament as a unified nation.

In the 73rd minute, Vogts made a substitution that would change the course of the match. He brought on Oliver Bierhoff, a relatively unknown striker who played for Udinese in Italy. Just four minutes later, Bierhoff justified his manager's faith by heading in the equalizer from a Christian Ziege free-kick.

The match went into extra time, and in the 95th minute, Bierhoff struck again. He received the ball with his back to goal, turned, and hit a shot that took a deflection and squirmed past Czech goalkeeper Petr Kouba. As the golden goal rule was in effect, Germany were immediately declared the winners, securing their third European Championship title.

Bierhoff's golden goal was historic not only for being the first to decide a major international final but also for its significance to German football. It marked Germany's first major tournament victory since reunification and cemented their status as one of Europe's footballing powerhouses.

Denmark 1992: The Fairy Tale of the Team That Wasn't Even Supposed to Be There

The story of Denmark's triumph in the 1992 European Championship is one of the most remarkable in football history. The Danish team hadn't even qualified for the tournament; they were only invited to participate less than two weeks before it began when Yugoslavia was disqualified due to the outbreak of civil war.

Many of the Danish players were already on holiday when they received the call to report for duty. They had no preparation time, no expectations, and seemingly no chance against the established powers of European football. Their coach, Richard Møller Nielsen, had to hastily assemble a squad, many of whom were not in peak physical condition.

In their first match, Denmark drew 0-0 with England. They then lost 1-0 to hosts Sweden before securing a crucial 2-1 victory over France in their final group match to advance to the semi-finals. There, they faced the defending European champions, the Netherlands, led by stars like Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard.

In a tense semi-final, Denmark took the lead through Henrik Larsen, only for Dennis Bergkamp to equalize for the Netherlands. Larsen scored again to restore Denmark's lead, but Frank Rijkaard equalized in the 86th minute to send the match to extra time. With no further goals, the match went to penalties, where Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel saved Marco van Basten's spot-kick, allowing Kim Christofte to score the winning penalty for Denmark.

In the final, Denmark faced the newly unified Germany, who were heavy favorites. Against all odds, Denmark took the lead in the 18th minute through John Jensen. In the 78th minute, Kim Vilfort secured a 2-0 victory with a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area. The final whistle confirmed one of the greatest upsets in football history.

Denmark's victory was a true fairy tale. A team that wasn't even supposed to be in the tournament had defeated the reigning European champions and the newly unified Germany to claim their first major international trophy. It remains one of the most unexpected and romantic triumphs in the history of the European Championship.

Portugal 2016: Eder's Unexpected Heroics

The final of Euro 2016 between Portugal and France was expected to be a showcase for stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann. Instead, it became the stage for an unlikely hero: Eder, a striker who had struggled to make an impact at club level and was not even a regular starter for Portugal.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 25th minute when Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's captain and talisman, suffered a knee injury following a challenge from Dimitri Payet. Despite attempts to continue, Ronaldo was eventually forced to leave the field on a stretcher, tears streaming down his face. For Portugal, losing their best player and leader seemed like a devastating blow.

Without Ronaldo, Portugal adopted an even more defensive approach, frustrating France's attempts to break them down. The match remained goalless through 90 minutes and headed into extra time. In the 109th minute, Eder, who had come on as a substitute, received the ball about 25 yards from goal. He held off a challenge from Laurent Koscielny, created space for himself, and fired a low shot beyond the reach of Hugo Lloris into the bottom corner of the net.

France pushed desperately for an equalizer, but Portugal's defense held firm. When the final whistle blew, Portugal had secured their first major international trophy, and Eder, a player who had scored just three goals in 28 previous appearances for his country, had written his name into Portuguese football folklore.

What made this victory even more remarkable was that Portugal had only won one match in normal time throughout the entire tournament. They had finished third in their group with three draws and advanced through the knockout stages with a combination of extra-time victories and penalty shootout success. Their triumph was a testament to their resilience, defensive organization, and ability to find a way to win even without their superstar captain on the field.

Spain 2008: Torres' Winning Goal

The 2008 European Championship final between Spain and Germany provided a fitting conclusion to a tournament that had seen the emergence of a new generation of Spanish footballers. The match, held at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria, was a showcase for the technical superiority of the Spanish team, who were coached by Luis Aragonés.

In the 33rd minute, Fernando Torres scored the winning goal, latching onto a through ball from Xavi and rounding the German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann before slotting the ball into the empty net. This goal proved to be the difference between the two teams, as Spain went on to win the match 1-0 and claim their second European Championship title.

Torres' goal was a testament to the speed, skill, and tactical awareness of the Spanish team, who had dominated the tournament with their possession-based football. The victory marked a turning point in Spanish football history, as it ended a 44-year wait for a major international trophy and paved the way for future successes, including the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

Turkey 2008: The Comeback Kings

The Turkish national team at Euro 2008 earned the nickname "Comeback Kings" for their remarkable ability to rescue seemingly lost causes. Their journey through the tournament featured a series of dramatic late goals and comebacks that captivated football fans around the world.

Turkey's group stage campaign began with a 2-0 defeat to Portugal. In their second match against Switzerland, they found themselves trailing 1-0 until the 57th minute when Semih Şentürk equalized. The match seemed headed for a draw until Arda Turan scored a winner in the 92nd minute, giving Turkey a vital 2-1 victory.

Their final group match against the Czech Republic was even more dramatic. With both teams tied on three points, the winner would advance to the quarter-finals. The Czech Republic took the lead in the 62nd minute through Jan Koller, and as the match entered its final stages, Turkey appeared to be heading out of the tournament. However, in the 75th minute, Arda Turan equalized for Turkey. The match was now heading for a penalty shootout, which would decide which team advanced.

Then, in the 89th minute, goalkeeper Volkan Demirel's long clearance was flicked on, and Nihat Kahveci raced through to score, giving Turkey a 2-1 lead. Incredibly, just three minutes later, Nihat struck again with a spectacular curling shot into the top corner, securing a 3-2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

In the quarter-final against Croatia, Turkey's penchant for drama continued. The match remained goalless until the 119th minute of extra time when Ivan Klasnić headed Croatia into what seemed like a certain victory. However, in the final seconds of the match, Semih Şentürk volleyed home an equalizer to force a penalty shootout, which Turkey won 3-1.

Turkey's run finally came to an end in the semi-finals against Germany, but not before they had once again demonstrated their fighting spirit. Trailing 2-0, they pulled a goal back through Semih Şentürk in the 86th minute, but Philipp Lahm scored a winner for Germany in the 90th minute to secure a 3-2 victory.

Despite not reaching the final, Turkey's performance at Euro 2008 is remembered for their incredible resilience and never-say-die attitude. Their ability to score late goals and turn matches around made them one of the most exciting teams to watch in the tournament's history.

Other Memorable Last-Minute Goals and Comebacks

The European Championship has witnessed numerous other dramatic last-minute goals and remarkable comebacks throughout its history. Here are some of the most memorable:

Michel Platini vs. Portugal (1984 Semi-Final): In a thrilling semi-final that ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, Michel Platini scored the winner for France in the 119th minute of extra time. His goal, a close-range finish after a goalkeeping error, sent the host nation through to the final, which they would go on to win.

Sylvain Wiltord vs. Italy (2000 Final): With Italy leading 1-0 and the match deep into injury time, Sylvain Wiltord scored an equalizer for France in the 94th minute. This forced the match into extra time, where David Trezeguet's golden goal secured France's second European Championship title.

Greece vs. Czech Republic (2004 Semi-Final): In a tense semi-final, Traianos Dellas scored with a header from a corner in the first minute of silver goal extra time (the last tournament to use this rule). This "silver goal" immediately ended the first period of extra time and sent Greece through to the final, where they would complete their fairy-tale triumph.

Spain vs. Yugoslavia (2000 Group Stage): In one of the most dramatic group matches in European Championship history, Spain trailed Yugoslavia 3-2 as the match entered injury time. Gaizka Mendieta equalized with a penalty in the 94th minute, and then, incredibly, Alfonso Pérez scored a winner in the 96th minute to complete a remarkable comeback.

Netherlands vs. Soviet Union (1988 Final): While not a last-minute goal, Marco van Basten's spectacular volley in the 54th minute of the final against the Soviet Union is worth mentioning for its sheer brilliance. The goal, scored from an almost impossible angle, sealed a 2-0 victory for the Netherlands and their first major international trophy.

These moments of drama and excitement are what make the European Championship such a captivating tournament. The ability of teams to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, or of individual players to produce moments of magic when it matters most, creates memories that live long in the hearts of football fans.

As the European Championship continues to evolve, we can be certain that future tournaments will provide new moments of last-minute drama, incredible comebacks, and unforgettable miracles that will add to the rich tapestry of this prestigious competition's history.