EURO on this day: 20 June

EURO on this day: 20 June
Sunday 20 June 2021

On this day: Sérgio Conceição scored a memorable hat-trick for Portugal against Germany.

EURO On This Day: Classic goals from 20 June
Portugal 3-0 Germany
(Sérgio Conceição 35 54 71)
2000 group stage, Rotterdam

A Sérgio Conceição hat-trick earned a largely second string Portugal side an eye-catching third victory in as many Group A outings to end Germany's UEFA European Championship defence.

The Lazio man ended growing German optimism with the opener on 35 minutes and by the time he completed his haul midway through the second half, even fans of the holders were applauding Portugal's flamboyance. On a day that saw Lothar Matthäus, Thomas Hässler and Ulf Kirsten win landmark caps, Germany's UEFA EURO 2000 campaign came to a mediocre end.

"It was our third game and we were managing the playing time of the guys who had featured the most before then," recalls forward Nuno Gomes. "Still, we were able to produce a big win against a good Germany side. It gave us the boost in energy which can prove crucial at the EURO."

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Watch every Panenka penalty at EURO
Other EURO fixtures on 20 June
1964 third-place play-off: Hungary 3-1 Denmark (aet)
1976 final: Czechoslovakia 2-2 West Germany, Czechs won 5-3 on pens
1984 group stage: West Germany 0-1 Spain 
1984 group stage: Portugal 1-0 Romania 
2000 group stage: England 2-3 Romania 
2004 group stage: Spain 0-1 Portugal
2004 group stage: Russia 2-1 Greece 
2008 quarter-finals: Croatia 1-1 Turkey, Turkey won 3-1 on pens
2016 group stage: Slovakia 0-0 England
2016 group stage: Russia 0-3 Wales

Wales stormed through to the knockout phase of their first UEFA EURO finals as they eliminated Russia and won Group B into the bargain.

No team in France had been as quick out the traps as Wales in their first two games and they were at it again in Toulouse, Gareth Bale forcing Igor Akinfeev into an early save. Come the 11th-minute mark they led as Joe Allen's perfect ball sent Aaron Ramsey clear to calmly chip over the challenging Akinfeev and in.

Watch the top ten goals of EURO 2016
If the Wales fans were joyful then, nine minutes later they reached new stratospheric heights of elation when Neil Taylor, who had not scored a competitive goal above England's fifth tier – six years ago – was played in by a deflected Bale pass and poked the ball past Akinfeev at the second attempt. It could have been more before the interval, with Akinfeev denying Sam Vokes, preferred to Hal Robson-Kanu and Jonathan Williams up front with Bale.

Allen: 'Special moment' for Welsh football
At half-time Leonid Slutski tried swapping the Berezutski twins – having an unhappy 34th birthday – as Aleksei replaced Vasili. But there was little Russia could do to stem the Welsh tide, and Bale made it three with the outside of his boot. With England held by Slovakia, Chris Coleman's side are, in the words their supporters constantly chanted, "top of the league".

Man of the match: Aaron Ramsey (Wales)
Not for the first time in these finals, Ramsey was the real engine room of the Wales attack and the way he took his goal set in motion what happened tonight at the Stadium de Toulouse. The blond bleach seems to have given him extra powers; move over Super Victor!

Wales combine passion and poise
Whereas most teams have been content to start matches cautiously in this tournament, Wales have gone for it from the off and have netted four first-half goals, twice as many as any other side. Bale is the star yet, as so many have written and said about this squad, it is far from just him. Witness how Allen and the tireless Ramsey combined for the first goal, the graft put in by Taylor and Joe Ledley's incredible recovery from a leg fracture just a few weeks ago to start tonight. Remember, only one man has ever scored a knockout finals goal against Wales – Pelé.

Taylor delight at 'lethal' Wales
Taylor-made timing
Taylor needed two bites at the cherry to hit the target, but consider this: he had last scored in April 2010, for Wrexham in an English fifth-tier fixture at Grays Athletic. He had not got a goal in 65 previous internationals, not just for Wales seniors but the Under-21, youth and semi-professionals as well as Great Britain's 2012 Olympic team. Not to mention his never having scored in 156 appearances for Swansea City since joining six years ago. One incredible story among many for Wales.

Russia must regroup
For the seventh time in eight major championships that they have reached since the end of the Soviet Union, Russia are out in the group stage. In qualifying Slutski was able to take over the squad and turn around a faltering campaign but, save for the late equaliser against England in Marseille, there have been no consolations here. They at least have two targets to aim for: hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup next summer and the FIFA World Cup the year after that. Preparations begin now.

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Team reporters' views from Stadium de Toulouse

Berezutski: Russia were second best
Richard van Poortvliet, Russia (@UEFAcomRichVP)
The post mortem will start in the morning as Russia were deservedly humbled by Wales to crash out of a second straight EURO group stage. The heights of UEFA EURO 2008 seem a long way away, and ultimately Russia were just not good enough. They were comprehensively outplayed by a ferociously committed Welsh side, who appeared to want the victory more than their opponents. 

Mark Pitman, Wales (@UEFAcomMPitman)
A night that will live long in the memory of Welsh football fans. Manager Coleman handed forward Vokes an unexpected start, but once Ramsey and Taylor had secured the early advantage, there was only going to be one winner. Russia were clearly deflated, and there was more to come. Backed by incredible support, Wales were relentless, Bale striking his third goal in as many outings to seal victory in the second half. With the Real Madrid star at his creative and attacking best, Wales head into the last 16 on the back of their best display for a long time.