I’ve linked to plenty of youtube videos of individuals and their goals but I wanted to reserve a place to compile videos of great matches. Obviously, there have been thousands of classics in the history of football so this will be a long and rewarding journey. I’ve decided to being with European competitions, then move to international competitions and then move to domestic competitions. Let me know if you have any suggestions (and add youtube links if you can find them). Also, I prefer original commentary in the clips over music, which never fits.
Champion’s League … UEFA Cup … World Cup
Champion’s League
AC Milan - Barcelona, 1994 Final, Athens, 4:0
The Barcelona team was cheekily known as the Dream Team but Johan Cruyff’s squad met a greater force in Milan. Perhaps the finest team in the modern UCL era, Milan stuffed Barcelona in a clash of titans. It’s amazing to see how many prominent football figures were involved in this match.
Manchester United - Juventus, 1999 Semi-Final, Second Leg, Turin, 3:2
Everyone remembers the last-minute heroics from the final in 1999 but the magical treble year would not have been possible without this remarkable semi-final second leg fightback in Turin.
Manchester United - Bayern Munich, 1999 Final, Barcelona, 2:1
This is possibly the best experience for a fan. Manchester United fans probably still wet their beds thinking about how great this moment was for them. Two goals in the dying minutes to win the European Cup - does it get any more dramatic?
Galatasaray - Real Madrid, 2001 Quarterfinal, First Leg, Istanbul, 3:2
Galatasaray are my hated rivals but I have to admit they field perhaps the finest Turkish team ever for a few years, led by the under-rated superstar Gheorge Hagi and Turkish legend Hakan Sukur. They regularly held their own with European giants and won the UEFA Cup the year before. This match is a great comeback but ultimately they would fall in the second leg. If you understand Turkish, the video has a great story about Hagi.
Bayer Leverkusen - Liverpool, 2002 Quarterfinals, Second Leg, Leverkusen, 4:2
For a couple of years, Bayer Leverkusen came oh so close to glory but if I’m not mistaken they never won a trophy - be it domestic or continental. This team was loaded but within a few years most of them had defected to Bayern Munchen and other teams. In this match, Lucio scores a last-minute goal to secure progress.
Real Madrid - Bayer Leverkusen, 2002 Final, Glasgow, 2:1
In a final best remembered for Zidane’s wonder strike, Madrid’s young keeper Iker Casillas also came up big, as this cheesy video emphasizes (please let me know if there is a better one out there).
Manchester United - Real Madrid, 2003 Quarterfinals, Madrid 1:3, Manchester 4:3
In the second leg, David Beckham’s last European game for the Red Devils, it’s Ronaldo who stars for the galacticos with a stunning hat trick. United won but lost the tie on aggregate. I’ve added the first leg as well mostly because of Figo’s delightful goal.
AC Milan - Ajax Amsterdam, 2003 Quarterfinals, Second Leg, Milan, 3:2
Inzaghi’s injury-time heroics won the tie for Milan and crushed a young and precocious Ajax side. Milan would win the title that year in a borefest, penalty shootout against Juventus.
Deportivo La Coruna - AC Milan, 2004 Quarterfinals, A Coruna, 4:0
Once upon a time Deportivo were a great team. In this tie, they overcome a 4-1 deficit from the first leg to eliminate the rossonieri.
Chelsea - Barcelona, 2005 Round of 16, Second Leg, London, 4:2
This was the tie where Chelsea entered the European elite (thanks mostly in part to Abrahahmovich’s billions). After some controversy in the first leg, the second leg was intensely exciting.
Monaco - Deportivo La Coruna, 2004 First Round, Monaco, 8:3
Monaco used this festival of goals to propel them all the way to the final, beating Real Madrid and Chelsea along the way. Deportivo would get over the disappointment and reach the semi-finals but both teams would lose to eventual champions Porto.
Liverpool - AC Milan, 2005 Final, Istanbul, 3:3 aet, Liverpool win on penalties
Liverpool pulled off the most improbable of comebacks in what may be the best CL final ever. What makes Liverpool’s achievement even more incredible is the motley crew they had playing for them, people like Milan Baros, Vladimir Smicer and the hero Jerzy Dudek.
Liverpool - Arsenal, 2008 Quarterfinal, Second Leg, Liverpool, 4:2
Although Liverpool’s matches are usually borefests, they also participate in some truly magical matches. This one combined mesmerizing action, huge swings in momentum, tremendous goals and one very controversial penalty, especially considering a very controversial non-penalty the week before. These are the types of nights that fans of European football crave.
Up High … Champion’s League … World Cup
UEFA Cup
Liverpool - Alaves, 2001 Final, Dortmund, 5:4
A few years before the Milan epic, Liverpool beat surprise Spanish outfit Alaves in this UEFA Cup final. Liverpool seemed on their way to victory several times only for Alaves to fight back doggedly but at the end two red cards and a late goal were too much of a mountain to climb.
Feyenoord - Borussia Dortmund, 2002 Final, Rotterdam, 3:2
While UEFA Cup matches involve so-called lesser teams, they can be just as captivating and exciting as Champion’s League games. In this match, two former European Cup winners faced each other and Feyenoord was victorious in their own stadium.
Porto - Celtic, 2003 Final, Seville, 3:2
For the third consecutive year, the UEFA Cup final was a goal fest. This match was the world’s introduction to Jose Mourinho and began his dramatic rise to the title of Special One. He led this talented Porto Squad to the CL title the next year.
AZ Alkmaar- Sporting Lisbon, 2005 Semi-Finals, Second Leg, Alkmaar, 3:2
Alkmaar threatened to make noise in both Holland and Europe for a couple of years but their trophy cabinet remained empty. In this semi-final second leg, an extra time goal put Sporting through to the final on away goals. Despair greeted them there as they lost to CSKA Moscow in their own stadium.
Bayern Munchen - Getafe, 2008 Quarter-Finals, Second Leg, Madrid, 3:3 (Bayern win on away goals)
Spanish minnows Getafe almost dealt the Bavarian giant a huge shock. After a deserved 1-1 draw in Munich, the Madrid outfit seemed set to progress despite an early red card. But last minute equalizers at the end of regular time and the end of extra time ended the dream.
Up High … Champion’s League … UEFA Cup
World Cup
1966 England
England - West Germany, Final, London, 4:2 (a.e.t.)
This was the game best known for Geoff Hurst’s famous goal: did it cross the line? Hurst’s hat trick handed England their only triumph in international competition and it was on home soil.
1970 Mexico
West Germany - England, Quarter-Final, Leon, 3:2 (a.e.t.)
West Germany avenged their loss in the final match four years earlier with a dramatic extra time victory. Two Germans who starred in this game would go on to become Teutonic legends: Franz Beckenbauer, the Kaiser, and Gerd Muller, the best goal-poacher who ever was.
Italy - West Germany, Semi-Final, Mexico City, 4:3 (a.e.t.)
If only we had games like these nowadays in international tournaments. It’s difficult to conceive of an Italian team scoring four - or giving up three - but that they did in the remarkable match. Five goals in extra time! It’s games like this that show how silly the short-lived golden and silver goal rules were.
Brazil - Italy, Final, Mexico City, 4:1
Probably the greatest team in modern football, the 1970 Brazil squad swept away the competition with pure attacking prowess. Carlos Alberto’s strike - the fourth goal - was the culmination of what many consider the finest team goal in history.
1978 Argentina
Argentina - Netherlands, Final, Buenos Aires, 3:1 (a.e.t.)
The Netherlands lost their second consecutive World Cup final as Mario Kempes led Argentina to victory on home soil.
1982 Spain
Italy - Brazil, First Round, Barcelona, 3:2
One of the finest Brazilian teams ever was foiled by Paolo Rossi, newly returned from doping disgrace. His hat trick put the Italians into the Semi-Finals and he continued scoring as Italy won the World Cup in 1982.
West Germany - France, Semi-Final, Seville, 3:3 (penalties - 5:4)
Germany defeated the French twice in World Cup semi-finals in the 1980s but this first one was brutal for France. They seemed well on their way after scoring twice in extra time but the West Germans fought back and won in penalties. The match had plenty of controversy: German keeper and eventual hero Schumacher should have been sent off earlier in the game for violent conduct.
1986 Mexico
Argentina - England, Quarter-Final, Mexico City, 2:1
1986 was the Year of Maradona and this was his most famous and infamous performance ever. He scored one of the most controversial goals with the Hand of God and one of the finest goals ever in a single game. Incredible.
Argentina - Belgium, Semi-Final, Mexico City, 2:0
The Maradona Show continued with two superb goals to beat the bewildered Belgians.
Argentina - West Germany, Final, Mexico City, 3:2
Nothing could stop the Argentine juggernaut as they stormed to a two goal lead. The resilient Germans led by their injured captain Ruminegge fought back to equalize. But Maradona had the final word. A perfect pass sliced open the German defence and Burruchaga coolly slotted home the winner.
1990 Italy
England - Cameroon, Quarter-Final, Naples, 3:2 (a.e.t.)
In a forgettable World Cup, Cameroon was a breath of fresh air. They proved a shock victory over holders Argentina was no fluke by reaching the quarterfinals. They almost made it through but a talented England team equalized late and won in extra time.
1994 U.S.A.
Romania - Argentina, Round of 16, Pasadena, 3:2
Many thought this was a surprise upset but the wisdom of looking back proves differently. Argentina was reeling from the Maradona’s expulsion and the Romania squad was very talented.
Italy - Nigeria, Round of 16, Foxborough, 2:1
A very talented Nigeria team seemed on their way to the quarterfinals until the Divine Ponytail - Roberto Baggio - struck late in regular time then scored a penalty in extra time.
[no video]
Brazil - Netherlands, Quarter-Finals, Dallas, 3:2
In a tournament Brazil won in a non-Brazilian way, this was the only game they played the beautiful game the way only they can play. The Dutch were a powerful team that year and probably felt hard done by Brazil’s second but overall it was a great match. I’m having trouble finding a highlights video of this game.
1998 France
Spain - Nigeria, First Round, Nantes, 3:2
Two underachievers played a great first round game.
Argentina - England, Round of 16, Saint-Etienne, 2:2 [penalties - 4:3]
The English remember this game for a Michael Owen wonder-goal, David Beckham’s red card and typical misery in a penalty shootout.
[no good highlight videos]
Brazil - Denmark, Quarter-Finals, Nantes, 3:2
The Danes had a pretty talented team that dismantled Nigeria in the previous round. This was the Brazil team that made it to the final but lost decisively, leading to a government investigation back home.
Netherlands - Argentina, Quarter-Finals, Marseille, 2:1
The match of the tournament, this game was tremendously entertaining. Two scenes stick out: Ariel Ortega’s ignominious dive-headbutt combo and Denis Bergkamp’s sublime match-winner.
2002 South Korea/Japan
USA - Portugal, First Round, Suwon, 3-2
The tone for the tournament was set in the first game when Senegal beat holders France and this match continued the trend. Although this was a pretty good American team (reached quarterfinals, lost a close one to Germany), this result was an absolute shock at the time and the game was pretty entertaining too. The video quality is pretty poor on this one.
South Korea - Italy, Round of 16, Daejeon, 2:1
In an eventful and dirty match, South Korea pulled off the upset. Italians have a right to be displeased with the refereeing. A dubious second yellow for a supposed dive and a blown offside call were key but what this video doesn’t show is an unforgivable miss by Vieri in the last minute of regular time. Korea would win again in the next round against Spain, again with much controversy.
Brazil - England, Quarter-Finals, Fukuroi, 2:1
In typical Sven Goran Eriksson fashion, England took an early lead and then sat back to let Brazil come at them. Bad move. This was Ronaldinho’s coming out party - a wonderful dribble to set-up Rivaldo, a wonderful goal that made David Seaman look stupid, and a sending-off as the cherry on top.
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