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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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Sport, Football, pic: October 1989, World Cup Qualifier in Dublin, Republic of Ireland 3 v Northern Ireland 0, Republic of Ireland’ s Ronnie Whelan brings down Northern Ireland’s Nigel Worthington who goes flying (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
Sport, Football, pic: October 1989, World Cup Qualifier in Dublin, Republic of Ireland 3 v Northern Ireland 0, Republic of Ireland’ s Ronnie Whelan brings down Northern Ireland’s Nigel Worthington who goes flying (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images) /

Ronnie Whelan’s volley

Ronnie Whelan might not have exuded the same sense of glamor as van Basten, but his incredible volley against USSR in the same tournament was every bit as magical.

Following a triumphant win over neighbors England in their first ever major competition, the Irish team continued to display their talents on the world stage with a hard-fought 1-1 draw over eventual runners-up Soviet Union

And they had Whelan to thank after the Liverpool captain connected with the ball from a long throw-in and spectacularly struck it from just inside the penalty area into the top right hand corner of the net.

Replays later indicated that the ball actually came off Whelan’s shins, but whether it was a stroke of luck or an act of footballing genius, Ireland didn’t care. Sadly, a defeat to Holland ended their Euro 88 dream, although they did go onto reach the quarter finals of the World Cup in Italy just two years later.

Next: Denmark sneak through the backdoor