Euro blog

Euro 2008 finally took to life with Holland’s thrashing of world champions Italy and Spain followed that up with a fine 4-1 victory over Russia. The other two favourites - Germany and Portugal - also secured comprehensive victories.

Four days in, Footballing World selects the best few goals from Euro 2008 so far.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates his stunning goal

1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Greece v SWEDEN, Tuesday 10 June)

Ibrahimovic is a thoroughly frustrating player for the purists. He possesses wonderful talent and can star in any game, but too often his moody nature overcomes him and he plays like a bad-tempered child who has been denied an ice cream.

His goal against champions Greece was a stunning indication of the better half of his game, however - a technically brilliant 20-yard strike. The unstoppable effort - Ibrahimovic’s first for more than two and a half years - was a rasping drive struck so that all the spin was taken off the ball and with such accuracy that Nikopolidis could do absolutely nothing.

2) David Villa (SPAIN v Russia, Tuesday 10 June)

Villa is a target for most of the peninsula’s top sides, and his value must have risen in the millions after a superb hat-trick for Spain against Russia. He joins a select list of players who have netted three times in one game at the championships, but his second goal shone above the rest.

Just before half-time, Spain seized on a poor Russian set-piece to counter. Barcelona sensation Andres Iniesta controlled the ball well before slipping it with the perfect amount of pace and with ample timing to Villa, who slid it under Akinfeev with one delightful touch. A second earlier, Villa would not have reached it; a second later, the Valencia hitman would have been offside. Perfection.

3) Pepe (PORTUGAL v Turkey, Saturday 7 June)

Defender’s efforts are usually wild and wide, and any goals they do score are seemingly by fluke only. Yet Real Madrid’s Pepe appears ready for promotion from defence into attack after scoring a marvellous goal to open Portugal’s account at the Euros.

Having already had a headed goal disallowed, he played a fabulous one-two with Nuno Gomes before tapping the ball home just ahead of Turkish goalkeeper Volkan Demirel. His endeavour to surge up the field and assist his team-mates was admirable, his ability on the ball exceptional.

4) Wesley Sneijder (HOLLAND v Italy, Monday 9 June)

The talk before Euro 2008 had surrounded on Holland’s new reliance on substance over style, but their unexpected victory over Italy changed those pessimistic views.

A fantastic performance earned them a commanding win, and Sneijder’s goal was the culmination of a great counter-attack from Marco Van Basten’s side. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst had just cleared a ball off his own goal-line before he charged up the field in a brilliant run, eventually sending a pinpoint long-distance cross to Dirk Kuyt. The Liverpool man found Sneijder who stole in ahead of Buffon and scored thanks to an excellent drive with his right foot.

5) Giovanni Van Bronckhorst (HOLLAND v Italy, Monday 9 June)

Having set-up Holland’s second goal with a lung-bursting run and a meticulous cross, Van Bronckhorst was rewarded by scoring the third.

It was another fine counter-attacking move, again after Italy had come close at the other end. Andrea Pirlo’s free kick was magnificently saved by Van Der Sar, but rather than simply boot the ball clear, Holland went in search of a goal for themselves. Van Bronckhorst was yet again at the forefront of the move, his terrific run moving the Dutch forward and setting up Kuyt once more. When Kuyt had his shot saved, he crossed for Van Bronckhorst who headed in with conviction.

Tags: David Villa, Euro 2008, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Holland, Pepe, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Wesley Sneijder, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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