WATCH: Eight biggest goalkeeping blunders seen at the Euros 

Oli Fisher
Nigel Martyn: Suffered one of many Euros howlers

Nigel Martyn: Suffered one of many Euros howlers

Every goalkeeper makes mistakes – and they usually lead to a goal. We remember eight of the most memorable seen at European Championships…

England fans could be forgiven for thinking it is only them that have to suffer the sort of comedy errors that can ruin a side’s tournament chances, but Czech Republic, Spain, Belgium, Russia and Yugoslavia have all been undone at the European Championships as a result of costly goalkeeping errors which could have been prevented. 

Here are the eight biggest goalkeeping blunders ever seen at the Euros…  

8. Stanislav Cherchesov (Russia 1-2 Italy, Group C, Euro 1996) 

Russia got their Euro ’96 campaign off to an awful start when Stanislav Cherchesov’s miskick allowed Italy’s Pierluigi Casiraghi to score after just five minutes. 

Although the Russians levelled through Ilya Tsymbalar, Casiraghi netted again early in the second half to seal a 2-1 victory for the Azzurri. 

7. Nigel Martyn (England 2-3 Romania, Group A, Euro 2000)

England only needed a draw to progress and were leading 2-1 in their Euro 2000 clash with Romania until calamity struck after the restart. 

Nigel Martyn opted to punch a cross under no pressure and the ball fell kindly for Dorinel Munteanu to volley level before Ionel Ganea’s last-minute penalty stole England’s quarter-final spot. 

6. Tomislav Ivkovic (Yugoslavia 0-5 Denmark, Group A, Euro 1984) 

A hapless Tomislav Ivkovic unwittingly pushed Frank Arnesen’s low cross into his own net to gift Denmark the lead after eight minutes. 

It was to be a long afternoon for Ivkovic, who conceded four more goals in a 5-0 rout which sent Yugoslavia crashing out of Euro 84. 

5. Jose Francisco Molina (Spain 0-1 Norway, Group C, Euro 2000) 

Jose Molina raced to the edge of his area to catch Thomas Myhre’s lofted ball in, but Steffen Iversen got there first to head in Norway’s winner and stun Spain 1-0. 

Thankfully for Molina his teammates recovered to win both their remaining group games and make the knockout phase.  

4. Petr Kouba (Czech Republic 1-2 Germany, Final, Euro 1996) 

History will show that Germany were the first Euro winners by Golden Goal. But had Petr Kouba got a stronger hand to Oliver Bierhoff’s effort, the outcome might have been different.  

Although Bierhoff’s shot struck Michal Hornak on its way through, Kouba will feel he could and should done better. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arrPEu7CNhE

3. Luis Arconada (Spain 0-2 France, Final, Euro 1984) 

Spanish captain Luis Arconada dived at Michel Platini’s low free-kick, but the ball spilled through his hands, under his body and across the goal-line to gift hosts France the lead. 

Bruno Bellone’s last-minute chip sealed it, but the damage was done when Arconada failed to stop Platini’s 57th-minute opener.  

2. Petr Cech (Czech Republic 2-3 Turkey, Group A, Euro 2008 & 2-1 Greece, Group A, Euro 2012) 

Czech Republic led Turkey 2-1 with three minutes left before the usually reliable Cech dropped a cross at Nihat Kahveci’s feet to level and then fire in the winner moments later. 

Cech was again at fault for Greece’s goal at Euro 2012, but luckily his mistake was not costly as the Czechs prevailed 2-1.  

1. Filip De Wilde (Belgium 2-1 Sweden & 0-2 Turkey, Group B, Euro 2000) 

The Belgium stopper had a home tournament to forget at Euro 2000 as he made high-profile errors against Sweden and Turkey, then got himself sent off! 

First De Wilde slipped on a backpass to gift Sweden’s Johan Mjallby a simple finish, then he was outjumped by Hakan Suker for Turkey’s opening goal and was red-carded for bundling over Arif Erdem six minutes from time. 

By Aron Hegarty (@AronHegarty)