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Ten of the best goals so far
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Roman Pavlyuchenko opens the score against the
Netherlands (¿Getty Images)
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The goals have been flying in at just over two-and-a-half
per game at UEFA EURO 2008T. There have been 76 already in 30 games, the
same number as at this stage four years ago, with the quality matching
the quantity. euro2008.com takes its pick of ten of the best so far. Do
you agree with our selection? Have your say below.
Philipp Lahm
Germany 3-2 Turkey, Semi-final, 25 June
Semih Senturk's 86th-minute equaliser might have floored a lesser side,
but not Germany. They quickly regrouped and within four minutes had won
with a goal that will live long in the memory. Thomas Hitzlsperger's pass
split the Turkey defence and Lahm smashed the ball over the advancing
Rustu Recber to send Germany to their sixth final.
Roman Pavlyuchenko
Netherlands 1-3 Russia, Quarter-final, 21 June
Pavlyuchenko had made the most of the chance afforded to him by Pavel
Pogrebnyak's injury and he made no mistake when Sergei Semak found him
with a cross eleven minutes into the second half in Basel. The FC Spartak
Moskva striker thumped a first-time volley beyond Edwin van der Sar.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Portugal 2-3 Germany, Quarter-final, 19 June
Schweinsteiger had been told by his coach Joachim Low that he had a "debt"
to his team-mates after being sent off against Croatia. The midfielder
went a long way to repaying it at St. Jakob-Park when he slid in at the
near post to touch in Lukas Podolski's low cross to round off a blistering
break down the left.
Michael Ballack
Austria 0-1 Germany, Group B, 16 June
After losing to Croatia the pressure was on Germany and though they never
totally convinced against the co-hosts one moment of magic from their
inspirational captain was all they needed. It came four minutes after
the break, Ballack drilling a rising shot from a free-kick high past Jurgen
Macho in the Austrian goal.
Nihat Kahveci
Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic, Group A, 15 June
Turkey scored a succession of stunning late goals but this was the pick
of the bunch. Released by Hamit Alt?ntop's precise pass Nihat looked up
before sending a curling shot around Petr Cech and in off the underside
of the crossbar, completing a remarkable recovery and sending Turkey through
to the quarter-finals.
Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands 4-1 France, Group C, 13 June
Arjen Robben's third goal for the Netherlands deserves special mention
but better still was their fourth. Sneijder picked up the ball on the
edge of the area, waltzed round Jeremy Toulalan then shot high over Gregory
Coupet and in off the crossbar.
Robin van Persie
Netherlands 4-1 France, Group C, 13 June
Another Dutch counterattacking masterpiece started with a superb piece
of skill from Ruud van Nistelrooy on the halfway line which sent Robben
haring down the left. He crossed for Van Persie who volleyed in first
time. Coupet got a hand to the ball but it was just too powerful.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Greece 0-2 Sweden, Group D, 10 June
The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until a moment of brilliance
from Ibrahimovic. After exchanging passes with Henrik Larsson on the edge
of the area the FC Internazionale striker fired a thumping drive into
the top right corner of Antonis Nikopolidis's net.
David Villa
Spain 4-1 Russia, Group D, 10 June
David Silva retrieved a loose ball on the edge of his own area and set
in motion a lightning-quick counter that saw Joan Capdevila and Andres
Iniesta combine brilliantly before the latter released Villa who sprinted
into the box then shot low beyond Igor Akinfeev.
Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands 3-0 Italy, Group A, 9 June
Giovanni van Bronkhorst started the move by clearing off his own goalline
from an Italy corner. He then raced upfield before hitting a crossfield
pass to Dirk Kuyt who cushioned the ball perfectly for Sneijder to hook
past Gianluigi Buffon.
Euro2008.com,
27 June 2008
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