Ahead of the start of Euro 2024, Sports Mole looks back at one of the most memorable European Championship moments in history – David Trezeguet’s golden goal in the 2000 final.
It was probably one of the most iconic and famous moments in the history of the European Championship, but when David Trezeguet netted the winning goal in extra time against Italy in 2000, little did people know it would be the final golden goal strike at the Euros.
The golden goals rule was pretty simple and took place in football for a decade. If the game was level after 90 minutes, both sides would play out a further 30 minutes of extra time, and whichever side scored first from there would be victorious.
On July 2, 2000, people all over the world tuned into the Euro 2000 final, which saw France take on Italy at De Kuip after winning the World Cup just two years earlier. This provided an interesting side plot, as victory would see the French do something truly historic by winning back-to-back major tournaments.
David Trezeguet golden goal 2000
On Italy’s route to the final, they won every single game and only conceded two goals, so they were red-hot favourites to lift the trophy. On the other hand, France finished second in Group D behind the Netherlands, but that was only the start of France’s chaotic journey to the final.
Roger Lemerre‘s side looked destined to be dealing with a nervy penalty shootout when facing Portugal in the semi-finals, before they were awarded a penalty towards the end of extra time. Zinedine Zidane stepped up to score and secure their spot in the final thanks to the Golden Goal rule.
How France won Euro 2000
© Reuters
Many may have thought that the win over Portugal was the end of France’s good fortune, but with the two sides level at the end of 90 minutes in the final, it was once again down to the golden goal to settle the score. France could consider themselves experts in that field by now, and Trezeguet would ultimately be the hero.
The then-Juventus striker had only started one game all tournament, and failed to get off the bench in three games leading up to the final, so when he was found in the box with space to take a touch and volley home, a whole nation was left feeling euphoric.
It was an instinctive finish and one that has gone down in not just French footballing history, but world football, because nobody ever scored another golden goal in the Euros, although it did survive one more tournament – namely, the 2002 World Cup.
Why was the golden goal rule scrapped?
The 2002 World Cup saw three teams score a golden goal, including South Korea, who controversially knocked out Italy. The Asian nation ended up reaching the semi-finals, but if it wasn’t for the golden goal, they may well have been dumped out in the round of 16.
Senegal were a memorable beneficiary in the round of 16, when a golden goal effort saw them get past Sweden. However, they then got a taste of their own medicine at the hands of Turkey, who would eventually finish third.
Golden goal scrapped, but fear still remains
Golden goal was very exciting when it paid off for the winning side, but those in power eventually realised it was never a fully fair way to decide the game with time still left to play. It was not always about a team not getting a chance to score, but because teams were so reluctant to try and do just that.
Without the fear of conceding a golden goal, there should logically be more entertainment. Yet, ever since that Euro 2000 showdown in Rotterdam, there has only been one further goal in extra-time of a major tournament final, when Eder struck from long range in the Euro 2016 final – ironically against the French, on their own turf.