Eurosport's games of the year

Eurosport - Thu, 01 Jan 10:48:00 2009

From the African Cup of Nations to Euro 2008 via the Champions League and a wealth of domestic delights, 2008 has been a year to remember for the football world.

FOOTBALL/Egypt Cup of African nations Final Yahoo - 0

Eurosport-Yahoo!'s team of football reporters take time to pick out their own personal favourites from the past 12 months.

Egypt 1-0 Cameroon - African Cup of Nations final, February 10

Egypt won successive African Cup of Nations titles in style with a 4-1 semi-final win over favourites Ivory Coast and a double over Cameroon, including a 4-2 group win and tense 1-0 final victory. Egyptians initially felt their side might struggle outside of North Africa after 2006's home win. Amr Zaki spurned an early chance, while Emad Metab and Hosni Abd Rabou forced saves from Carlos Kameni. The Pharaohs had to wait until the 77th minute for Mohamed Aboutrika to convert Mohamed Zidan's square pass. They shut the game out and held on for a record sixth all-time win. Can Egypt continue their slick dominance into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? A continent waits. (Reda Maher)

Barnsley 1-0 Chelsea - FA Cup quarter-final, March 8

Anyone inside Oakwell when Barnsley beat Chelsea will never forget the experience. Hairs stood on end in the encroaching South Yorkshire darkness and the growing excitement of the home fans as they realised they had a chance of repeating their success over Liverpool at Anfield was delicious to savour. Everything built towards that crucial moment when the run of Marciano van Homoet took Wayne Bridge away from Martin Devaney; the winger's cross hung for an age before Kayode Odejayi rose majestically above Carlo Cudicini to nod home and send the supporters wild. After a nerve-destroying final 25 minutes, Barnsley were in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. (Jonathan Symcox)

Tottenham Hotspur 4-4 Chelsea - Premier League, March 19

Chelsea arrived at White Hart Lane chasing leaders Manchester United and - inspired by a magnificent Joe Cole - led three times before a buoyant Spurs pegged them back. The final equaliser was a sublime Robbie Keane strike, before Carlo Cudicini pulled off a dramatic last-minute save from Dimitar Berbatov. But the match is best remembered for Ashley Cole's reaction to his booking for lunging dangerously at Alan Hutton. The footage of Cole turning his back on referee Mike Riley ("Ashley, turn around and face me. Ashley, you'll get sent off in a minute, show some respect") sparked the FA's 'Respect' campaign. (Tony Mabert)

Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal (5-3 on agg) - Champions League quarter-final second leg, April 8

Not since Maradona at the 1986 World Cup has a player simply flown through a defence in the way that Theo Walcott did to set up the Emmanuel Adebayor goal that made it 2-2 at Anfield and put Arsenal ahead on away goals. Then there was Kolo Toure's contentious foul in the box moments later that put Liverpool in front and Ryan Babel's late clincher. All that happened in the last six minutes, but what came before was pure excitement too. A dramatic finish to an exhilarating game played in a red-hot atmosphere. Football heaven. (Sean Fay)

Ebbsfleet United 1-0 Torquay United - FA Trophy final, May 10

A crowd of over 40,000 at Wembley saw Ebbsfleet United - probably the first club in the world to be re-branded after a new train station - run out 1-0 victors in the FA Trophy final against Torquay United. Shortly before half-time, Fleet's growing dominance was rewarded with a penalty when Chris McPhee was brought down. The midfielder took the kick himself but saw it saved; however, just minutes later, he made amends. John Akinde, who led the line so well that Bristol City bought him, laid the ball superbly across goal into McPhee's path for the only goal of the game - agony, redemption and elation within five minutes for Fleet. (Lee Walker)

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (6-5 on pens) - Champions League final, May 21

The first all-English final arrived in Moscow amid unprecedented hype and much fanfare; yet somehow the game didn't disappoint. A goal apiece, a reverberating post and a wobbling crossbar in normal time; deadlock, incredible tension and a red card in extra-time. All played out on a sodden pitch in the cold, driving Russian rain. And then of course there was the drama of the penalty shoot-out, when John Terry's unfortunate slip and Cristiano Ronaldo's exhausted, yet relieved, flop to the turf soon after provided two of the most enduring memories of the sporting year. Joy, tears, one raised trophy and two discarded medals followed - this game really did have everything. (Mike Hytner)

Hull 1-0 Bristol City - Championship play-off final, May 24

Not for the 90 minutes of football - play-off finals mean too much to be great displays of the beautiful game - but for the fact that it means romance in football is not dead after all. People have been saying for years that no modern team could ever 'do a Wimbledon' by going through the divisions in the space of just a few years, but the fact that Hull have done exactly that, and done so with three of the original players still in the squad, gives a little fragment of hope to every fan of every downtrodden, miserable team in the league. Supporting lower league clubs had begun to feel like a lottery that nobody ever wins; Hull have proven that it really can happen. (Toby Keel)

Netherlands 3-0 Italy - Euro 2008 group stage, June 9

England's failure to reach Euro 2008 was a great thing because we could all stop worrying about Steve McClaren's headless chickens and watch some great football instead. Exhibit A: Holland's destruction of the World Cup holders. The second Dutch goal was a thing of rare beauty as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, having just cleared off the line, galloped forward on the break and pinged a diagonal ball for Dirk Kuyt, who headed down to Wesley Sneijder and the little man volleyed in. Thrilling stuff. The Dutch being the Dutch, it proved to be another false dawn, but it was nice while it lasted. (Alex Chick)

Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic, Euro 2008 group stage, June 15

Petr Cech may be regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but the Chelsea man's horrendous gaffe played its part in a pulsating Turkey comeback victory. The Czechs were cruising at 2-0 up with 15 minutes to play thanks to early goals from Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil, although Arda Turan slid in to set up a tense finale. And Cech's 87th-minute clanger proved the turning point as Nihat Kahveci equalised when the keeper dropped a routine cross before beating the offside trap and brilliantly curling in a shot off the underside of the crossbar. The Turks were into the quarter-finals. (Alex Sharratt)

Villarreal 4-4 Atletico Madrid - La Liga, October 26

This one was an absolute humdinger. Atletico were ahead within a minute when Simao crashed a shot in off the bar. Forlan doubled their lead on 22 minutes, before Ever Banega got himself sent off for a ridiculous lunge. Goals from Marcus Senna and Joseba Llorente drew Villarreal level early in the second half, before Javier Gonzalo completed a remarkable comeback to put the home side 3-2 up. Giuseppe Rossi then compounded Atletico's woes with an impudent finish to make it 4-2. The visitors looked a broken side, but Simao finished with aplomb in the 83rd minute to give them hope. Three minutes later, Simao crossed for Raul Garcia to head home and bring Atletico level. Rip-roaring stuff. (Will Tidey)

Eurosport

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  1. but while we're on the subject, last year­ portsmouth 7-4 reading, absolutely stunning game

    From ken.coakley5, on Wed 31 Dec 5:55PM
  2. liverpool 5-1 newcastle, great game!

    From ken.coakley5, on Wed 31 Dec 5:54PM
  3. Even as an Arsenal fan, I thought the 4-4 against Spurs­ at the Emirates was an incredible game and should have­ got a mention.

    From , on Wed 31 Dec 5:40PM
  4. guess who?

    From squarehead64, on Wed 31 Dec 5:38PM
  5. what about nottingham forest against wolves;forest lost­ 5-1 but what a brilliant match!!!

    From jane.gracey, on Wed 31 Dec 5:38PM
  6. Love the way you included the Ebbsfleet game just to­ add a bit of lower/non league interest in there,­ despite the fact it was an absolutely awful game. So­ many better games , for example Rochdale and­ Darlingtons play-off semi-final had just about­ everything over the two legs. I dont like the way­ journalists feel obliged to include lower/non league­ sides in articles, but dont bother to research and­ simply go with their first instincts.

    From alan, on Wed 31 Dec 5:38PM
  7. Liverpool 2-1 Man Utd
    Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea
    Liverpool­ 4-2 Arsenal
    best games of 2008 by far but liverpool­ arsenal favourite

    From elizabeth.mccullum, on Wed 31 Dec 5:30PM
  8. how about the villa arsenal at villa park class game up­ the villa !!

    From scottkibble, on Wed 31 Dec 5:28PM
  9. even though there wasnt that many goals in the­ match...Man u and Chelsea was brilliant!!!! the tension­ was immence

    From J Bails, on Wed 31 Dec 5:21PM
  10. arsenal and liverpool champo league was deadly-wheres­ the spurs match??

    From ciaranirishgunner, on Wed 31 Dec 5:07PM
  11. liverpool vs arsenal quater final was amazing, passion,­ charachter, drive and goals what more can you­ want

    liverpol to win the premier league

    From matcardinal, on Wed 31 Dec 5:04PM
  12. how about juve milan 3-2? :O:O how come you missed­ that!

    From givargigure, on Wed 31 Dec 5:03PM
  13. where is charlton 4 reading 2 that will a good game.­ now Bali B you think JT is the big loser of 2008 you­ have not got brain have you John Terry is the best­ defender in world

    From Andrew K, on Wed 31 Dec 4:54PM
  14. derby county beating newcastle 1-0 at pridepark. it was­ our only win of the season. UP THE RAMS!!

    From Scott D, on Wed 31 Dec 4:52PM
  15. What about Exeter City beating Cambridge in the Blue­ Square Conference play off final, i was there, what a­ game.

    From ecfcfan, on Wed 31 Dec 4:29PM
  16. arsenal 2 man utd 1 lol.come on samir.

    From ryan.andrew, on Wed 31 Dec 4:21PM
  17. portugals game against turkey at euro with the­ portuguese playing some stunning football

    From Euan, on Wed 31 Dec 4:21PM
  18. seriously, man utd vs portsmouth in the 1/4 final of­ the FA Cup in January has got to be one of the best­ games of this year.

    From Lauren, on Wed 31 Dec 4:20PM
  19. Pompey's surprise win v Man U - at the­ "Theatre of dreams", in the FA Cup 1/4 Final,­ on the way 2 victory, 4 only the 2nd time in Pompey­ FC's history.
    Spain finally discarding their­ "nearly men" or "dark horses" tag,­ 2 win Euro 2008, beating the over-tactical Italians in­ an entertaining 1/4 final, and the Russians twice, inc.­ their semi-final.
    Raphael Nadal finally beating Roger­ Federer, in a great, great Wimbledon Men's singles­ final 3 sets to 2, after a good Federer­ comeback!
    .....and the great cyclists, swimmers, and­ sailors in the Olympics and Paralympics!

    From Tony H, on Wed 31 Dec 3:45PM
  20. No doubt, it was Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic...such a­ fantastic game: Hard to tell, better to live!

    From ONURE, on Wed 31 Dec 3:39PM
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