Remember When… The International Football Decade in Review (Part II)

As 2009 draws to a cold and snowy close we are looking back on a decade of international football here on Just Football. In Part I of our decade in review we looked at great moments from 2000 – 2002. Here is Part II of our Remember When… series, reminiscing on our best memories of the international football decade up to 2009:

Remember when Greece stunned the world (2004)

At the time I was a big fan of Greece. I loved the way the bigger nations at Euro 2004 simply couldn’t handle their compact, solid, counter-attacking style. I admired the spirit of defiance, the collective unity of the underdog and the remorseless, unapologetic, one-goal-is-enough, hang onto what you’ve got attitude. And I liked iron man Otto Rehhagel on the touchline, the German disciplinarian, treating football like chess – an intricate tactical battle where the strongest team is not the one with the best players but the most organised. So at the time I found Greece’s unexpected triumph both novel and refreshing. With time my love for the 2004 Greek team has worn off a touch though, simply because their success on such a grand scale ushered in a new era of negativity, where sub-standard sides substituted skills for destructive tactics. In other words Greece great, the countless copycat sides that followed them not so.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMXT7s9xHNc]

Remember when Argentina scored the perfect goal (2006)

My flatmate at the time and I possess not a single drop of Argentinian blood between us. But when Argentina’s 24 pass move culminated in one of the greatest international goals of all time I still remember how we both jumped off our chairs and hugged in a moment of spontaneous, joyous celebration. I think it was as much out of disbelief as amazement. If Greece showed the world in 2004 how not to play football and win, the Argentina side of 2006 were their complete antithesis, namely how to play some of the most beautiful football witnessed and lose. I blame Pekerman, but that’s another story. This goal against Serbia & Montenegro was pure gold.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0O7KkZn4rk]

Remember when Grosso did his very own Tardelli as Italy ambushed Germany (2006)

The 2006 World Cup semi final between Germany and Italy was an epic. The game had a wonderful rhythm to it that balanced open, expansive football and powerful, committed defending with a nerve-jangling tension bubbling lightly beneath the surface. The pressure mounted, and as the game entered extra time in Dortmund you just sensed it would not go to penalties. There was a natural climax to be had here: the pressure had grown too intense, the dam was about to burst. With just minutes remaining before a penalty shootout enter Fabio Grosso, the left back whose winning goal prompts a celebration to emulate that of Marco Tardelli in 1982. Alessandro Del Piero’s magnificent breakaway goal but a minute later proves the final crushing blow for the hosts and Italy go to the final.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7_2qI-VQYM]

Remember when Zidane went out with a bang as Italy defied Calciopoli to become world champions (2006)

Zinedine Zidane underwent something of an Indian summer at the 2006 World Cup finals. It was to be the Frenchman’s last major tournament before retiring and it seemed he had been saving the best for last, producing a string of brilliant performances that saw Zizou named Golden Ball winner for best player of the tournament. As France progressed unexpectedly to the final the fairytale ending brewed: Was Zidane going to lift the greatest prize in world football in his last ever professional game? When his nonchalant penalty gave France a 1-0 lead against Italy in the 7th minute the dream looked like becoming a reality. But Zinedine Zidane was an enigma on the football field and as with any enigmatic character you never know what will happen next. We soon found out. He allowed Italy centre back Marco Materazzi to get in his head. Some petty name-calling followed, Zidane lost it, headbutted Materazzi, received a red card and walked off the world stage forever, head bowed. An incredible end to an incredible career, Italy win the World Cup on penalties.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAjWi663kXc]

Remember Spain overcame the perennial ‘dark horse’ tag to win Euro 2008

It only took them 44 years, but in 2008 Spain finally overcame their perennial ‘dark horse’ tag to win the European Championships in Austria/Switzerland. In the end it was more than deserved. Spain had the best player of the tournament (Xavi), the top scorer (David Villa), the best players (9 out of 23 of UEFA’s team of the tournament were Spanish) and the all-round most cohesive and entertaining team. Fernando Torres was the hero in the final. His goal separated the two teams in the final as Spain beat Germany 1-0.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFC1g68ScI]

What are your memories of this decade of international football? There are so many we didn’t include here, so let us know if any stand out for you.

Follow this link to head back to Part I of our Remember When… International Footall Decade in Review,

and this one for the first part of our Premier League Decade in Review.

All-Time Greats, Argentina, Euro 2008, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Zinedine Zidane