This summer's Euros will see more teams taking part than ever before, and these against-all-odds upsets should give the lesser lights hope....
Bottom-seeds Turkey and Russia flourish
Turkey and Russia were ranked 15th and 16th respectively heading into Euro 2008, yet that did not stop either from embarking on a remarkable run to the last four.
Their achievement was even more impressive considering they each lost their opening matches at the tournament – with Turkey being defeated 2-0 by Portugal and Russia going down 4-1 to eventual winners Spain.
But successive wins in their final two group games – with Turkey overcoming Switzerland and Czech Republic and Russia defeating Greece and Sweden – were enough for each side to claim second spot and a place in the last eight.
There, a 122nd-minute equaliser from Semih Senturk allowed Turkey to knock out highly-rated Croatia on penalties.
Russia, meanwhile, produced the biggest shock of the tournament to overcome the Netherlands 3-1 following extra-time goals from Dmitri Torbinski and Andrey Arshavin.
Both teams were eventually stopped by Germany and Spain in the semi-finals, but their incredible efforts proved that even bottom seeds can go deep into the tournament.
Czechoslovakia seal glory with cheeky chip
Given that 1976 was the last Euros to feature just four teams – all of whom only secured their place after an extensive qualification process featuring 32 countries – it may seem strange to include Czechoslovakia’s triumph in our list.
If anything, though, the condensed format made the achievements of the Czechs – who had no household names – even more remarkable given the esteemed opposition they faced.
First up, they dispatched the Netherlands – still in the middle of a Total Football-inspired revolution that had seen them finish as World Cup runners-up two years earlier – in the semi-finals with two goals in the second half of extra-time to secure a 3-1 win.
They then beat West Germany – widely regarded as one of the greatest international sides of all time after winning both Euro 1972 and World Cup 1974 – in the final.
After the setback of conceding an 89th-minute equaliser, the Czechs went on to win the first ever penalty shoot-out to decide a major international tournament – with Antonin Panenka’s decisive dink from 12 yards providing an iconic moment that still endures to this day.
Czech Republic make final in tournament debut
If that achievement was notable, then the performance of the Czech Republic – competing for the first time since gaining independence four years earlier – in 1996 was even more impressive.
In the first tournament to comprise 16 teams, the Czechs made the worst possible start by losing to Germany.
A surprise 2-1 win over a weakened Italy and 3-3 draw with Russia was still enough to progress at the expense of the Azzurri, however.
They then overcame Portugal 1-0 in the last eight thanks to Karol Poborsky’s scarcely believable lob, before edging past France in the semis with a sudden-death shoot-out.
Facing Germany once again in the final, the Czech Republic took a second-half lead but were eventually defeated by an Oliver Bierhoff brace.
Those performances in finishing as runners-up, however, not only helped to earn young talents like Poborsky, Pavel Nedved and Patrik Berger cult-hero status at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but also immediately re-established the newly-independent nation as a credible footballing outfit.
Denmark make the most of late call-up
Denmark were only given a week’s notice to prepare for Euro ’92 after Yugoslavia – who they had finished second behind in the group – were disqualified.
Yet they needed no time to settle.
A 0-0 draw against England and 2-1 victory over France either side of a 1-0 loss to hosts and fierce rivals Sweden was enough to secure a semi-final against the Netherlands.
Denmark twice took the lead in their last-four encounter, but after Frank Rijkaard scored an 86th-minute equaliser had Peter Schmeichel to thank for saving Marco van Basten’s penalty in the resulting shoot-out.
The goalkeeper proved to be the hero once again in the final with a string of saves to keep a dominant Germany at bay during the early stages.
John Jensen – who had scored just one goal in his previous 48 internationals – then fired home for the Danes from the edge of the box to give them an 18th-minute lead before Kim Vilfort grabbed a second with 12 minutes left to give the most unlikely of stories the perfect ending.
Greece spoil the party…twice
Having previously qualified for just two major tournaments, only Latvia were given longer odds of lifting the trophy than Greece, who were ranked 19th in the world going into Euro 2004.
Yet coached by the pragmatic former German international Otto Rehhagel, the Greeks soon gave a glimpse of what they were capable of by stealing the show in the opening game with a 2-1 victory over Portugal.
An impressive 1-1 draw with Spain was therefore enough to earn a quarter-final spot, even after losing to Russia in their final group game.
They then dispatched defending champions France in the quarter-finals, before a set-piece goal by Traianos Dellas in extra time sealed a narrow victory over Czech Republic in the semis.
The pattern was continued in the final, with a headed goal from a corner by Angelos Charisteas in the second half enough to secure a third successive 1-0 win to end the tournament as they had begun by beating the hosts.
Their style may have been more efficient than exciting, but in terms of underdog stories to capture the imagination, there are none better.
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