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20 Greatest European Championship Moments of All-Time

By Jon O'brien

Famous figures from football history gathered on the pitch before the European Cup final between Leeds United and Bayern Munich, (back row from left) Marquitez, Matt Busby, Miguel Munoz and Keizer, (front row from left) Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, Jose Augusto, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Famous figures from football history gathered on the pitch before the European Cup final between Leeds United and Bayern Munich, (back row from left) Marquitez, Matt Busby, Miguel Munoz and Keizer, (front row from left) Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, Jose Augusto, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) /
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assistent trainer Marco van Basten of AZ during the Dutch Eredivisie match between AZ Alkmaar and Pec Zwolle at AFAS stadium on September 21, 2014 in Alkmaar, The Netherlands.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
assistent trainer Marco van Basten of AZ during the Dutch Eredivisie match between AZ Alkmaar and Pec Zwolle at AFAS stadium on September 21, 2014 in Alkmaar, The Netherlands.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images) /

Marco van Basten’s volley

You know you’ve produced a pretty special move as a player when it’s not only given your name, but when every football-mad kid in the school playground attempts to faithfully recreate it the next day.

Marco van Basten had already cemented his place alongside Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit in the holy trinity of late ‘80s Dutch footballers before his side’s final against the Soviet Union in Euro 88.

But his astonishing right foot volley, which the future national coach somehow managed to thump in the top corner of the net from an impossibly tight angle in the penalty area, assured his place in the list of all-time greats.

His sensational strike, which put Holland 2-0 up nine minutes into the second half and all but guaranteed victory at Munich’s Olympiastadion, may have not been the decisive goal but it’s certainly the one that everyone remembers nearly 30 years on.

Next: Ronnie Whelan’s volley