FORMER Celtic striker Henrik Larsson’s brilliant diving header in Sweden’s 5-0 victory over Bulgaria was the best goal in open play at Euro 2004, according to UEFA.
Sweden’s second goal in the group match followed a quick counter-attack that swept across the pitch ending in a pinpoint cross to Larsson - who also made UEFA’s all-star squad. The goal by the Barcelona player is included in a statistical breakdown o
f Euro 2004 in a technical report by European football’s governing body.
The data is something for national coaches - who attended a meeting on Friday to discuss the tournament - to pick over.
The best goal from a set piece came from Portugal midfielder Maniche, who scored the second goal in their 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands after receiving a short pass from a corner. UEFA’s official report into the tournament suggests international managers must come up with new ways to tackle the defensive tactics seen at Euro 2004, notably from champions Greece.
The report also resurrects the question of how to deal with the passive offside rule and player burnout caused by a welter of competitions.
"The lesson to be learned from Euro 2004 is that the teams who relied on slow build-ups, combination play and ball circulation struggled mightily to penetrate defensive barriers," said the report.
"The defensive barrier will not go away - so it is up to players and coaches to find a way round it. The Greeks created a major surprise by turning back the footballing clock and recycling ‘lost arts’," the report said.
"It remains to be seen whether [their German manager] Otto Rehhagel has pointed us back to the future." UEFA said teams relying on patient passing moves had struggled to penetrate defences sometimes boasting ten men.
However, individual brilliance, lightning counter-attacks and the odd long-shot showed attacking teams had answers to increasingly well organised defences. Man-marking, discipline and speedy counter-attacks were among the reasons for Greece’s surprise victory at Euro 2004, but their tactics were nothing new, UEFA said. Greece had an average of 3.5 shots on goal per match against 8.7 by Italy, 8.4 by the Netherlands and 8.2 from England.
Rules on passive offside - where a player in an offside position is not penalised if he is not interfering with play - look set to be revamped in the wake of Euro 2004. "None of the members are happy with it. It is a rule that is not clear. It is very much up to the referee to decide what is offside or not," said England manager Sven Goran Eriksson.
Some teams clearly got an advantage, and scored, from decisions that players involved in goals were not interfering with play, said former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh, who is now UEFA technical director.
"We really have to do something about it," said Roxburgh, before adding that leading players featured in too many matches and were often unable to hit top form for international tournaments.
Promoted Sicilian side Messina upset Serie A champions AC Milan with a 2-1 victory at the San Siro last night. For Messina - back in the top flight after 39 years - it was another shock win following Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Roma. Milan, who host Celtic in the Champions League next week, had not lost at home in the league for more than eight months and were heading for another positive result after Giuseppe Pancaro headed them in front after 54 minutes. But within a minute Messina levelled through Domenico Giampa and four minutes later they went ahead when Riccardo Zampagna headed home.
BBC Scotland will screen the UEFA Cup first-round, second-leg tie between Rangers and Maritimo live on Thursday, 30 September. The Ibrox side are attempting to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second-leg, which has an 8pm kick-off.
