The Euro Cup of own goal, snipers and faith

The technology of the Adidas Fussballiebe – ‘love of football’ in German, is vital both for canceling the goals of the failed Romelu Lukaku and for making the snipers shine in a Euro Cup that is on its way to the record of goals in own goal and in those that occur beyond the 90th minute. These are the three most common types of goals in a continental tournament that is attractive and eye-catching in the eyes of the spectator. 44.6% of the 65 goals scored to date are from outside the area (14), own goals (6) or in added time (9).

In fact, in the 115 extra minutes played in the last 18 games, six vital goals have been scored to unbalance the games for the leading teams. Zaccagni destroyed the dream of an eternal Modric in the 98th minute, Csoboth gave hope to Hungary in the 100th minute against Scotland, Füllkrug put Germany in Spain’s way in the 92nd minute, Jovic left Serbia alive against Slovenia in the 95th minute – same minute in which Gjasula painted the face of the Croatian checkers – and Conceiçao unblocked Portugal against the Czech Republic in the 92nd minute. The combative spirit is present in a Euro Cup in which everyone believes until the end. Faith moves mountains, they say, and a goal in the last seconds can be worth a classification…or an elimination. Wait in your seats, or on the couch. 13.85% of targets in Germany occur at the end.

Having a ticket for a match in this Euro Cup competition is guaranteed so far by shouting a goal. Only in the Netherlands – France has it ended with a draw at nothing. Who and how the goals were scored is curious. The top scorer to date is being ‘own goal’, a meme that circulates on social networks with the Belgian Lukaku following him with three goals disallowed by the VAR. Belgium’s all-time top scorer is officially the jinxed man of the tournament.

The national team event in the Old Continent is moving towards the record of own goals, as well as the number of successful shots from outside the area. More goals have already been scored from far from the front in this European Championship than in the entire World Cup in Qatar, where 12 goals were seen in the 64 matches that were played. From Florian Wirtz’s first goal of the championship in Germany’s rout of Scotland to Youri Tieleman’s last goal for Belgium against Romania, there are up to fourteen awards for those who shoot from long distances. 21.5% of the goals scored have been scored in this way.

Another fact that is on the way to a record is those who had no intention of scoring a goal. The grotesque mistake by the Turkish Samet Akaydin against Portugal was the sixth own goal of the tournament, which translates to 9% of the goals scored. In the previous Euro Cup in 2021, 10 own goals were scored in this style in the entire championship. Only on the first day three were scored accidentally: Rüdiger for Scotland, Wöber for France and Hranac for Portugal. Then came Calafiori from Italy to give the victory to Spain after a center from Nico Williams, and that of the Albanian Gjasula for Croatia.