1
- 5 weeks ago
Belgium, as co-hosts, kick off Euro 2000.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00number nine Emil Mpenza has the pace and the potential of 21 to break the ice here
00:06alongside Derby County's Branko Stroupa who has held off the challenge of
00:10Aston Villa bound Luke Nillis and Gilles the Builder of Sheffield Wednesday in attack
00:15both of those players amongst the Belgian substitutes for Sweden
00:21Sweden who played their part in helping England to the finals by a dispatching
00:25Colin eight months ago include four British-based players Marcus Hedman, Freddie Jungberg, Nicholas Alexandersson and Johan Mjelby
00:32the game has come just too early though in the remarkable comeback of his Celtic teammate Henrik Larsson
00:38but it is only a matter of time before he makes his entry
00:42the first qualifying match for Euro 2000 was played more than two years ago
00:4849 nations entered, 16 remain
00:52the winner will be crowned three weeks tomorrow by which time Ron Atkinson have told you everything you always wanted
00:57to know about European football
00:59like who's going to win tonight
01:01traditionally this is always a tight game the opening game
01:04here's Kenneth Anderson trying to give a light of that with an opening shot which forced an immediate save from
01:10Philip de Wilde and maybe this is going to be an exception
01:12I've just got to say that might be the quickest goal I've ever seen in a major tournament
01:15I mean he's clean through and it's a fair chance
01:17we saw him score one last two to similar on tape earlier against Brazil wasn't it
01:22that was a fair chance and you'd be disturbed you know if your defence got open up that easy like
01:27the Belgians do
01:31Kenneth Anderson looks the main danger here to Philip de Wilde
01:39these three to take that station within the wall
01:44it's going to be Patrick Anderson
01:46he found a way through and just passed de Wilde's post
01:48with a deflection to help it for a corner kick
01:53former Blackburn Rovers player Patrick Anderson
02:04Anderson has stayed forward
02:09Olof Melberg has come forward from the back too
02:19turned away as far as Daniel Anderson
02:23shot charged down by an army of covering Belgian players
02:35foul on Pettersson by Verheyen
02:42Melberg
02:43down by Kenneth Anderson
02:48Nelby trying to make something of it
02:49this is Pettersson
02:50just turned away from him in the nick of time by Lorenzo Stalins
02:54who almost found his own net but Pettersson had a sniff of goal there
02:58look how well Alex Anderson does there
03:00gets the header keeps it in play
03:01and you think for a minute there that Pettersson's got a chance
03:04and Stalins his heart must have been in his mouth
03:06it's a good defensive clearance
03:08but when that was in flight
03:09I bet he was wondering where that was going to be the biggest rick of his career
03:16anxious moments for Belgium at the moment
03:18brighter start than many anticipated here though
03:23Stalins has to deal with it again
03:28yeah we're talking amongst the lads before the game about
03:31about the Swedes and why they should be so good and you start looking at them on paper and they
03:35don't look that good aside on paper
03:36but it's amazing the results they've had and how convincing they won out of the group or when the group
03:40England win
03:43that's in towards Anderson then
03:44he's caught
03:46tell me well that was close
03:47for one moment I thought it had crept past the keeper and inside the post
03:51tell you what he beat me by a second there because I would have sworn that was
03:54well in it should have been
03:57I mean it's a great opportunity there good movement in the middle of the box
04:00he gets himself in on that and you'd have said well the keeper thinks that's in
04:04he had a good season I think Arsene Wengerfeld he was just about the most improved player at the club
04:08last season it was against England that Ron and I saw him make such an impact in the opening qualifying
04:13match
04:15Paul with a cross
04:17this is Verheer
04:19now van der Haage
04:20into Strupa turning
04:27familiar face of Derby County's Branko Strupa
04:30very strong there he's protected the ball well
04:33he's got his shot off and he's a bit unlucky
04:37encouraging
04:38from a match point of view that
04:40both sets of forward seem as if they're very much looking for goals
04:47van der Haage
04:48van der Haage
04:50De Claude has gone in the overlap
04:51De Haage
04:52in towards Strupa
04:53Wilmot's got there
04:57good surge from midfield by Mark Wilmot
05:01that's a decent ball this time for Hayen
05:04he just plays it into a danger zone
05:06strikers are split and who's arriving there but Wilmot's
05:09been put off a bit by the Auckland
05:11but he's great
05:12it certainly hasn't been
05:13I mean both shows look as if they've been trying to try and get a goal
05:16particularly if you like the away side
05:18oh there's a mistake by Nelson
05:19yes this mistake
05:20this is Strupa
05:22went for glory himself
05:25and he's now being told by both Wilmot's and Penzer that they were better place
05:29Wilmot's number 7 in particular
05:31worth a crack though
05:32I mean he is a B
05:33he has got a good shot
05:34and that for me is worth a crack from there
05:38pre-kick to Belgium this time
05:42the Flaude with the Verheyen
05:43it's got in behind Sweden
05:46and Penzer with the header
05:51Wilmot's told he was better place but Impenza got up in front of him
05:54yeah I mean that's a good ball and good delivery
05:56there's been some good deliveries from wide areas
05:58Impenza can't wait for anybody else there
06:00he's got a gamble
06:01sees only the ball
06:03and the most relieved player on the field
06:05is actually Freddie Jungberg because he did sleep in
06:19Gilder
06:21turned into space
06:22shot from Jungberg
06:23tested to Wilder who just managed to hold on with Pettis the closing end
06:28not a good moment in the game though
06:30wide awake
06:31that time
06:31Jungberg took it
06:32got a hold of the short free kick
06:34a City shot well
06:35just gone into it
06:36we haven't quite got the story liners yet
06:40the Reds haven't quite come together for either team
06:45Thorne trying to change that
06:46Roland Nielsen put under pressure
06:47this is Bart Vaughan now for Belgium
06:52and the host nation have scored the opening goal of Euro 2000
06:57Bart Vaughan
06:58Bart Vaughan for Belgium
07:07wonderful celebrations inside Brussels
07:09but it was Roland Nielsen who had the bad moment
07:14we were saying earlier Bart Vaughan hasn't really had a contribution to the game
07:18the contribution he's had here is the all important one
07:21Roland Nielsen dwells in possession
07:23he's still got plenty to do
07:25steep angle
07:25keeper stood up
07:26tucks it away nicely
07:32but Bart Vaughan scored goals for Belgium
07:34against Holland and Italy last season
07:38he's shown his goal scoring potential in the very highest company
07:41and now on the very biggest stage for Belgium
07:44he is the man who's come up with a goal
07:46in the closing seconds of the first half
07:54Bar 4 of the Belgian champions
07:57the runaway champions
07:58Anderlecht
08:01Kenneth Andersen though
08:03Kenneth Andersen trying to turn
08:04Andersen's been penalised
08:15who knows what Robert Wassega's side can do
08:20Wilmot looking for Hoare again
08:22Roland Nielsen managed to deal with that
08:30well it's not quite Wembley of four years ago
08:32but as at Euro 96 it is the host nation who struck first
08:38let Arsenal in the Champions League earlier last season
08:42and Luchas has gone straight in at right back
08:51Strupa
08:56and Arsene court
09:10Strupa
09:12now time to turn
09:14and Penza
09:14suggestion to handball
09:16but who cares
09:19flashing finish from Emile and Penza
09:22and Belgium lead by two goals to nil
09:25within a minute of the restart
09:27it was a fantastic finish
09:29but there was a strong hit of handball about the control
09:32oh yes very much so that'll be interesting to see
09:35great movement
09:36great little flick
09:38and Penza in
09:39and a great swerving shot off the outside of his right
09:41look at a little flick from Strupa
09:44but this is a beautiful strike
09:46he hits across the ball
09:47gets enough swerve on it
09:50still not conclusive
09:52Penza appealing for
09:55to the handball
09:56to the handball
09:57beautiful strike
09:58they scored two minutes before the break
10:00they've scored within a minute of the restart
10:0221 year old Emile and Penza
10:06has
10:06double Belgium's money
10:08you also wonder you know
10:10they just made
10:10they just made the substitution Sweden on that side of the field
10:13maybe a little bit of lack of understanding allowed him to get into the space
10:21and Sweden who conceded one goal
10:24in the entire qualification process
10:26have now conceded two
10:29in the opening 46 minutes of the tournament
10:32two
10:32do challenge on drummots
10:39by this man Daniel Annes
10:41Henrik Larsson
10:42up by Leonhard
10:43and Andy Sanderson
10:44trying to take it off
10:47for the state by the goalkeeper
10:49and he's gifted a goal to Johan Nelby
10:52and sensationally
10:53Sweden are back in the game
10:56a catastrophe for Philippe de Wilder
11:01The biggest gift of the summer is handed to Celtics Johan Nielby
11:06and a chance to get back into the game for Sweden with it.
11:12Well, the long back pass hasn't done him any favs,
11:16but De Wilder in the book of gaps, page 7, chapter 5, that heads it.
11:22I mean, that is marvellous.
11:24You don't do drag-backs in front of unrushing tackers.
11:30Well, everybody else in football will somehow see the funny side of that.
11:34To Philippe De Wilder, it must seem like the end of the world now.
11:39It was comic-cut stuff.
11:42But it's wiped a few smiles off a few thousand faces inside the stadium.
11:49What it's also done is give Sweden a chance to settle down.
11:52I saw the coaches warming up another summer.
11:55Don't start drawing everything in yet.
11:57Let's sit back and settle and see what shape the game takes.
12:04Kenneth Anderson, down to Nicholas Alexanderson.
12:07McLaundra got in front.
12:09Nielby challenging the goalkeeper again.
12:11Well, an area that would have been.
12:15Good take in the circumstances by Philippe De Wilder.
12:18He's actually handled the ball very well tonight, but he's put control on him down badly.
12:25Very badly.
12:28Yeah, his nerves must have been going there a little bit as he...
12:33But it can happen to the most experienced and the most weathered of professionals.
12:38Daniel Anderson.
12:39Through towards Frederik Jungberg.
12:41Good control by Jungberg.
12:42Goalkeeper hesitated but got away with it.
12:45Came off the legs of De Wilder, whose luck suddenly turned there.
12:48But Freddie Jungberg with a great run.
12:51Quite a pilot finishing touch.
12:53Brilliant football from Sweden.
12:55Great up and through ball there.
12:58Daniel Anderson spots him in.
13:00Jungberg goes...
13:08It's full-file protected the ball, Matthew.
13:09In by Leonheim.
13:10Penza couldn't quite reach it.
13:12Comes out as far as Verheyen.
13:13Hit by De Flaunche!
13:15And hit very, very crisply.
13:24He looks a muscular guy and he certainly gives up the full.
13:27Full-fum.
13:29He's got a premiership pace and commitment about it the game, hasn't it?
13:32Just wondering.
13:33I mean, the odds are that we're going to have a shot here.
13:34But didn't they...
13:35Remember that great free kick they pulled with Thomas Broly from a not too dissimilar position?
13:39But they slid it down the side of the wall.
13:41Have they got one of those in the locker?
13:48It's Kenneth Anderson to curl it.
13:52Just ruffled the outside of the netting of De Wilder's goal.
13:58He's trying to curl it around the outside of the wall and catch the keeper napping.
14:02He's one of his strikers.
14:05That's from Villa fans.
14:07Luke Milius is imminent.
14:10Corner towards the head of Branko Strupa.
14:14The head somehow managed to pull it back.
14:16Stalins jumping with the goalkeeper and Penza poking it.
14:19Goal was...
14:20Woke out.
14:22The charge on the keeper by Stalins is illegal.
14:25Or was it?
14:25Well, you're right, you look sometimes and I think Magnus Hedman's ridden his look here.
14:31He didn't do anything wrong, did he?
14:32No.
14:35Van der Haag.
14:37Oh, by Dele, such a lovely layoff to the floor.
14:43Anderson got to him.
14:44Now, Patrick Anderson's already been shown a yellow card.
14:47And here comes the first dismissal of the tournament.
14:59Launched a lunge at Barthoer and, in the opinion of the referee, didn't get to the ball.
15:05And Patrick Anderson of Bayern Munich, one of those veterans of 92, is sent off.
15:10And no complaints about that at all.
15:17No, referee spot on.
15:18I must have...
15:18My first reaction was, did he half get there?
15:21No, he missed it by miles.
15:23Second yellow card for Patrick Anderson.
15:25Yeah, he can have no complaints.
15:27If you're going to make last-ditch tackles like that, you've got to make sure you get the ball.
15:32Fully enough, once again, I was just watching Hoare there because, you know, we heard so much about him.
15:37Good strong burst for the goal.
15:38That was only his real second-strong burst of the game.
15:41And I was looking to see what sort of ball he might have crossed in.
15:48Nilles will try to curl it in himself.
15:52He's thriving on this, Nilles.
15:54Teams up, the stadium's alight.
15:57Massive match, and he's...
16:03He hasn't got much longer left.
16:05Approaching the last four minutes.
16:08Now and ever for Sweden.
16:11Alexanderson takes.
16:12Mjölbi with a header, and it was smartly tipped over by De Wilder.
16:17Good header, that.
16:18Came out the clouds for that one.
16:21Good delivery.
16:23Climbs right up above everybody.
16:25Gets it on target.
16:26Full marks for the keeper.
16:33Cater's into Mpenza.
16:35Back to Wilmots.
16:41Just about being valued for it, hasn't it, overall?
16:43Yeah.
16:44I mean, the ten minutes either, or the five minutes either side of half-time really swung the game.
16:51Sweden got themselves the lifeline, or were given the lifeline.
16:54Cater's with a cross.
16:58Four.
17:01To his least favoured right foot.
17:20Yellow card for Van Kerkhoen, resting tight.
17:25I'm not sure he thinks he was waiting, though.
17:27I think he felt he's just let the ball work, shouldn't he?
17:44Hedman himself takes the free kick.
17:48Port header by Van Kerkhoen.
17:50Turn away to Wilmots.
17:52Sweden a bear at the back here.
17:54Wilmots on the ball.
17:55And Pensa making a run ahead of him.
17:58Can't quite get in behind Bjorklund.
18:01Bjorklund did brilliantly there defending.
18:03He held a position that made it difficult for them to put a telling pass in.
18:08He's outnumbered, but he just held a great position defensively.
18:12Three-pick to Belgium.
18:13They're very close now with success.
18:17Jürgenberg trying to encourage Van der Ager to get to his feet.
18:26Nearly to four.
18:31Crossed in towards Mark Wilmots.
18:34Couldn't quite improvise on the header.
18:38Last of the additional minutes.
18:56Three-pick to Sweden.
18:58The last throw of their dice.
19:05It's a poor free kick.
19:07Stalins heads away comfortably.
19:09It's going to be some night in Brussels.
19:13Belgium are off and running.
19:15And the city of Brussels will be up and jumping.
19:20Tournament always benefits when the home support is mobilised and motivated.
19:26And the Belgian supporters are both and more tonight.
19:29by the goals from Bart Hoare and Emil Mpenza.
19:33Either side of half-time.
19:34And despite the error by Philippe de Wilder.
19:37Which gave a goal to Sweden.
19:39It's Belgium who win the opening game.
19:42And a good opening game.