Euro 2024, Champions League, and World Cup Updates
The 2024 European Championship is currently underway in Germany, with 24 nations vying to lift the prestigious trophy. Since the first Euros tournament in 1960, the competition has witnessed its fair share of shock results over the 16 completed events.
In the latest edition, one of the biggest upsets occurred just four days into the tournament. Third-ranked Belgium, boasting stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, suffered a stunning 1-0 defeat against Slovakia, ranked 45 places below them. Ivan Schranz’s early strike and a resolute defensive display gave the underdogs a historic victory, statistically the biggest surprise in Euros history.
Another notable upset happened at Euro 2016, when Switzerland knocked out the reigning World Cup champions France in a dramatic penalty shootout. The Swiss had earlier lost 3-0 to Italy but managed to scrape through the group stage. In the round of 16 clash, France raced to a 3-1 lead, but late goals from Haris Seferovic and Mario Gavranovic sent the match to extra time and penalties, where Kylian Mbappe’s miss proved costly for the French.
Elsewhere, Wales’ quarter-final triumph over a highly-fancied Belgium side at Euro 2016 is considered one of the country’s greatest tournament achievements. Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu, and Sam Vokes scored in a 3-1 win, before the Welsh were eventually eliminated by eventual champions Portugal in the semi-finals.
The 2004 Euros witnessed another major shock, as Greece defeated the host nation Portugal in both the opening match and the final. Angelos Charisteas’ header secured the trophy for the Greeks, who became European champions for the only time in their history.
These are just a few examples of the dramatic and unexpected results that have defined the Euros over the years. As the 2024 edition continues to unfold, fans can surely expect more surprises and historic moments to be added to the annals of this prestigious football competition.
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