With the final few fixtures of the group stages of the Euro 2016 Championship being concluded, we bet you know there have been a lot of unusual things about this tournament thus far. In terms of number of goals scored, one might be tempted to say this tournament has not been a fascinating one as compared to it’s predecessors. However, we have some facts and stats which might just tell you that all in all this has been an intriguing tournament nonetheless.
Late, Late Goals:
→ 16 out of the 58 goals have been scored in the last 10 minutes of the regular time (after 80’). This means over one-fourth (27.5%) of the goals scored have been scored in the last ten minutes of the game.
→ 14 (24.13%) out of these goals have been scored in the last 5 minutes (after 85’). Statistically, only one other European Championship – 2008, when the figure was 21.9% – has managed to cross half that.
→ Now, let us look at how relevant these late goals were, in terms of changing the outcome of the game:
– 7/16 were winners and changed the outcome of the game.
– 3/16 were equalisers and changed the outcome of the game.
– 5/16 were a brace, a second goal which led to a team’s 2-0 victory and did not change the outcome of the game.
– 1/16 was a consolation goal, scored by a team trailing and still lost and did not change the outcome of the game
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→ As we pointed out earlier, 14 goals have been scored after 85’ or to be precise in the 87’ or later, 8 of these goals have been scored in the 90’ or injury time or at times in the famous “Fergie Time”.
Dull Matches?
→ Only 58 goals have been scored in 32 games so far, and this accounts for 1.81 goals per game. This is much lower than in any World Cup History and in European Championships since 1980.
→ Only eight of the 58 goals have been scored inside the first half-hour (30’). Two countries in Wales and Switzerland have been involved in 5 among those.
Super Subs:
→ 12 goals out of the 58 have been scored by substitutes. This is 20.7% goals scored by substitutes. Highest in a full European Championship is 17.2% in 1996.
→ The game between Czech Republic and Croatia which ended in a 2-2 draw, was the only game out of the 32 games played thus far to have seen more than three goals scored in a single game.
The Complete List of Late Goals scored in the EURO 2016 until the last day group fixture:
- 80’ – Glushakov for Russia vs Slovakia to make it 1-2 (a late consolation goal)
- 81’ – Robson-Kanu for Wales vs Slovakia to make it 2-1 (a much needed winner)
- 87’ – Stieber for Hungary vs Austria to make it 2-0 (a late brace for Hungary)
- 87’ – Pique for Spain vs Czech Republic to make it 1-0 (a winner to finally break the deadlock) 6.
- 88’ – Eder for Italy vs Sweden to make it 1-0 (a winner that took Italy to six points and made them group toppers)
- 88’ – Persic for Croatia vs Spain to make it 2-1 (a winner against the defending champions that saw Croatia top group D)
- 88’ – An own goal for Saeversson for Hungary vs Iceland to make it 1-1 (an equaliser that got Hungary a crucial point)
- 89’ – Payet for France vs Romania to make it 2-1 (a winner for the hosts in the opening game of the tournament)
- 90’ – Griezmann for France vs Albania to make it 1-0 (the first of the two late goals to bring the points tally of the hosts to six points in two games)
- 90’+1’ – Sturridge for England vs Wales to make it 2-1 (a dramatic winner for England, their only win in the group stages)
- 90’+2’ – Berezutski for Russia vs England to make it 1-1 (a late equalizer for Russia to stun the English fans and deny them three points)
- 90’+2’ – Schwienstiger for Germany vs Ukraine to make it 2-0 (a late brace for Germany)
- 90’+3’ – Necid for Czech Republic vs Croatia to make it 2-2 (a late equalizer from a penalty to give Czech their only point in this year’s EURO campaign)
- 90’+3’ – Pelle for Italy vs Belgium to make it 2-0 (a late brace for Italy to complete a convincing victory over the tournament’s dark horses in Belgium)
- 90’+6’ – Payet for France vs Albania to make it 2-0 (the second of the two late goals to complete the joy of the excited home fans)
- 90’+6’ – McGinn for Northern Ireland vs Ukraine to make it 2-0 (a late brace that helped improve their goal difference and took them to the next round)of t
→ Interestingly, 20 out of the possible 24 teams have been involved in late goals, with the exception of: Switzerland, Portugal, Poland and Turkey. Hosts France have scored 3 late goals, whereas Russia, Hungary and Italy have scored two late goals.
Teams such as Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic and England have been on the sending and receiving end, once each. It would have been disappointing for teams such as Ukraine, Slovakia and Albania to concede late goals twice in the tournament.
Sportskeeda’s Picks for the most dramatic late goals:
It was not easy to choose the best three among the host of late goals. Most of these goals not only changed the outcome of the match, but also impacted the qualification scenarios and group table standings of some of these teams.
Considering these factors, we have picked the three best, most dramatic and potent goals among them. Let us know if you agree with our list, or make sure to mention your favorite late goals among these in the comments section.
3. Robson-Kanu’s 87th minute winner for Wales against Slovakia to make it 2-1:Wales made their EURO finals debut when the played Slovakia in group B’s opening fixture. Though the Welsh team has star players like Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen in its ranks, it was goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey’s back injury, moments before the kick-off, which threatened to derail their tournament.
As the match progressed, Gareth Bale converted from the free kick the edge of the box in the 10’ but Slovakia drew level in the second half from substitute Duda’s first touch of the game.
Wales replaced Williams for Hal Robson-Kanu in the 71’ and ten minutes into his game, Robson-Kanu applied the finishing touch from an Aaron Ramsey assist to earn Wales back their lead.
Slovakia almost scored early in the game when Ben Davies denied them from an early goal-line clearance and late in the game when Nemec struck the post. This turned out to be a big victory for Wales, the celebrations said it all for anyone who wanted to know about this team and this journey was far from over.
Moreover, a late winner here ensured them three points and they went on to top the group, in spite of losing to England when they conceded in the injury time.
2. Ivan Perisic’s 87th minute winner against defending champions Spain to make it 2-1:
Croatia were one of the dark horses in this year’s EURO finals and they had been stunned by a Czech Republic comeback in the earlier game when Croatia conceded twice in the second half, the equalizer was a stoppage time penalty converted from Czech Republic.
More importantly, they had their star player Luka Modric injured for this game and they were facing the defending champions in Spain. When was the last time you saw Spain lose a game at a European tournament?
Spain had put themselves ahead early into the lead when Alvaro Morato put the ball into the next from a Cesc Fabregas shot. It looked Spain were certain of topping the group stages with at most ease.
Nikola Kalinic equalized just before the half time whistle from a great back heel flick to beat Manchester United’s goalkeeper at the near post after Perisic delivered the cross from the left.
Ivan Persic then went onto capitalize when Sergio Ramos had his penalty saved in the 72’, Croatia were on the counter attack and Perisic struck a low left-footed shot to beat De Gea on his near post again in the 87’ minute.
Croatia not only stunned Spain by defeating them by a late, dramatic winner but also won the group, and Spain will thus have to face Italy in the last sixteen of the EURO 2016.
1. Daniel Sturridge's stoppage time winner for England vs Wales to make it 2-1:
England were stunned by a dramatic, injury time equalizer by Russia in their opening fixture of Group B, whereas Wales picked up three points, courtesy of a late winner against Slovakia in their opening group game.
Going into this game, Gareth Bale opened the scoring for Wales again in the 42nd minute, as he struck from a free kick again, Wales lead England 1-0 at half time. Enter the second half, England’s manager Roy Hodgson made two substitutions straightway, he brought in Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge for Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling respectively, in one go. England had a decent first half and the substitute Vardy scored in the 56th minute to draw things level for England.
England pressed really hard in the second half, they brought in Manchester United’s wonder kid Marcus Rashford for his England International debut for Adam Lallana and they had a total of 11 shots attempted with ten minutes of regulation time left to play.
Wales went totally defensive in their approach as three minutes were added on for injury time. Daniel Sturridge then waltzed through the Wales defence and slotted home an injury time winner as he slid the ball past
Hennessey’s near post to give England a dramatic, but much needed and deserved victory. Wales went on to thrash Russia 3-0 in their last group game, whereas, Slovakia, who also beat Russia earlier, held England to a draw. England qualified from the second spot.
England eventually got through the qualifiers unbeaten and even did not lose a game in the group stage, but three points is what they needed to ensure a top-two finish from the group stages.
