2000 UEFA Euro Championship, Belgium and the Netherlands
The 2000 UEFA European Championship, also known as Euro 2000, was co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from June 10 to July 2.
The tournament featured 16 teams divided into four groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Group A included Portugal, Romania, Germany, and England; Group B consisted of Italy, Turkey, Belgium, and Sweden; Group C had Spain, Yugoslavia, Norway, and Slovenia; and Group D featured France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Denmark. Portugal, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands topped their respective groups and advanced.
The semi-finals saw France defeat Portugal 2-1 with a golden goal from Zinedine Zidane, while Italy edged out the Netherlands 3-1 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.
France won the final, securing their second European title by defeating Italy 2-1, which took place at the Feijenoord Stadion in Rotterdam. The match was notable for its dramatic finish; Italy led 1-0 until Sylvain Wiltord equalized for France in stoppage time, forcing extra time. The golden goal rule came into play once again, with David Trezeguet scoring the decisive goal in the 103rd minute.
Trivia
- UEFA Euro 2000 was the first tournament to be hosted by two countries - the Netherlands and Belgium.
- France became the first team to hold both the World Cup (1998) and the European Championship titles simultaneously since West Germany in 1974 and 1972..
Related Pages
- UEFA Euro Home
- UEFA Euro Host Countries List
- UEFA Euro Winners List
- UEFA Euro Trivia
- The Year in Sport: 2000
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