The Top 10 – Panini UEFA Euro 2000

Ruud van Nistelrooy was a clinical striker known for his finishing and predatory instincts in the penalty area. He is considered one of the greatest out and out strikers of his generation. He had exceptional positioning, sharp movement, and an uncanny ability to score goals from anywhere in the box. Van Nistelrooy possessed a powerful and accurate shot; he was highly effective at converting chances, often making the most of his opportunities with stone cold finishing.

During Euro 2000, didn’t actually feature due to a severe knee injury that sidelined him for an extended period. In truth he makes the list because he is a huge player and it is his international rookie sticker.

He has had a massive career playing for the likes of Herenveen, PSV, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Hamburger and Malaga. He racked up a whopping 349 goals in 592 games, winning 2 Eredivisie titles, 1 EPL title and 2 La Liga titles. Furthermore he is capped for the Netherlands 70 times, scoring 35. His best football came at Manchester United, where he bagged 150 goals in 219 games. Now back in the early to mid 2000s, that is prolific goal scoring!

Gianluigi Buffon is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, known for his exceptional shot-stopping ability, commanding presence, and leadership on the field. His agility, reflexes, and superb positioning, allowed him to make crucial saves, making it seem impossible to score!

During Euro 2000 qualifiers , Buffon played a key role in Italy’s campaign, showcasing his talent and resilience between the posts. He was set to be the goalie for the tournament but got injured and lost his place to Francesco Toldo.

Buffon is in the arguement for the greatest goalie of all time! He played an insane 975 matches, most of them for Juventus, where he won 10 Serie A titles! Furthermore, he won the 2006 World Cup, and also picked up a Ligue 1 title with PSG. Much like van Nistelrooy he made the list because he is one of the greats and this is his international rookie sticker.

Probably should have a better ranking on the list, but considering he didn’t feature in the tournament, I think the number 9 place is fair.

Sylvain Wiltord was a versatile and dynamic forward known for his speed, technical skills, and ability to play in multiple attacking positions. He could operate as a winger, forward, or attacking midfielder, making him a valuable asset for Bordeaux, Arsenal and the French National Team. He had a knack for scoring important goals.

During Euro 2000, Wiltord played a significant role in France’s successful campaign. His moment of the tournament came in the final against Italy. With France trailing 1-0 in stoppage time, Wiltord scored a dramatic equalizer, keeping France’s hopes alive and sending the match into extra time. France went on to win the final thanks to a golden goal by David Trezeguet.

While never a prolific goal scorer, Wiltord was an integral cog to the teams he played in. He was able to play anywhere, link up with others and play a selfless game. In 505 games he scored 146; naturally, this isn’t anything out of the ordinary for an attacking player, but his worth was far more than just goals. I think the best evidence of this is the number of caps he had for France; he featured a whopping 92 times! To think of the competition he had for places in the French squad, this is a huge achievement.

In his career, he won 4 Ligue 1 titles and 2 EPL titles, one being the 2003/04 invincibles season! In 1999 he won French footballer of the year, in a time when the likes of Zinedine Zidane was tearing it up! A really overlooked player and a really cool sticker!

Patrick Kluivert is a striker for his elegance, technical skills, and scoring ability. His playing style was a blend of physical strength, intelligence, and finesse. He possessed excellent ball control, could link up play effectively.

During the Euro 2000, Kluivert was a key player for the Netherlands. His performances were pivotal as the Dutch team reached the semifinals. Kluivert’s standout moment came in the quarterfinals against Yugoslavia, where he scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory. He ended the tournament as the joint top scorer with five goals, sharing the honour with Savo Milosevic.

Kluivert’s best football came at FC Barcelona after signing from AC Milan in 1998. Unusually, he formed a partnership with Barcelona’s defensive midfielder! Pep Guardiola often played the low midfield splitting pass into Kluivert’s feet (a pass through the middle of the pitch). Patrick had the technique and nimbleness to either one-touch to a teammate, trap the ball with his back to goal or turn opposition defenders. At Barcelona, he scored 113 goals in 6 seasons. He won the 1998/99 La Liga title. Additonally, he won the 1994/95 UCL title as a youngster!

This is a cool sticker to reflect Kluivert’s prime. In 2000, he scored 12 in 14 international appearances. He won the Euro 2000 Goldern Boot and made the TOT.

Freddie Ljungberg is an attacking midfielder, known for his versatility, work rate, and attacking movement. Primarily playing as a winger or attacking midfielder, Ljungberg was celebrated for his speed, clinical finishing, and intelligent movement off the ball. He had a knack for making well-timed runs into the penalty area, which often resulted in goals.

During Euro 2000, Ljungberg played in all three of Sweden’s group stage matches, displaying his trademark dynamism and work ethic. Unfortunately, Sweden failed to register a single win and were eliminated bottom of their group.

Ljungberg’s best football was without doubt at Arsenal, where he was a member of the ‘Arsenal Invincibles’. Deployed on the right wing, Freddie played 325 matches and scored 72. He was a hard-working player who went both ways, which was necessary as his counterpart on the left wing, Robert Pires, wasn’t the best going back. He won 2 Premier League titles and 3 FA Cups.

A really nice international rookie sticker which is close to his true rookie sticker year.

Nuno Gomes was a striker known for his goal-scoring prowess and agility. Gomes could find space in the penalty area, making intelligent runs, and finishing with precision. He was also known for his link up play, often assisting his teammates.

During Euro 2000, Nuno Gomes was a standout performer for Portugal. He emerged as one of the tournament’s top scorers, netting four goals. His most notable performance came in the quarter-finals against Turkey, where he scored both goals in Portugal’s 2-0 victory. In the semi-final against France, Gomes again found the back of the net, giving Portugal the lead. Although Portugal eventually lost the match 2-1 due to a controversial golden goal. Considering he scored 3 of his 4 goals in the quarter and semi final, Nuno’s 4 goals were very impressive!

Nuno Gomes is a Benfica icon and legend, scoring 166 goals over 12 seasons! He won 2 Primeira Liga titles with the club and also won a Copa Italia with Fiorentina. He was the main striker for Portugal in the 2000s, and in his Portugal career, he was capped 79 times, scoring 29. An interesting rookie and a really top performance in the tournament.

Luis Figo was a legendary midfielder, capable of scoring assisting and single handedly win a game on his own, He possessed a blend of speed, balance, and technical abailitythat allowed him to glide past defenders to go onto score or assist.

During Euro 2000, Figo was the driving force for Portugal and one of the standout performers of the tournament. He played a crucial role in Portugal’s run to the semi-finals, showcasing his creativity and leadership on the field. Figo’s most memorable moment came in Portugal’s group stage match against England, where he scored a stunning long-range goal that sparked a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2! He went onto make the team of the tournament with compatriots Nuno Gomes and Rui Costa.

Figo had a ridiculous career playing for Sporting, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Now that is an impressive list of teams! He totalled 792 club appearances, scoring 172 times. For Portugal, he was capped 127 times, scoring 32, and this doesn’t take into account the numerous assists he had! He won 4 La Liga titles (2 for Barca and Madrid) and won the Serie A title 4 times. Additionally, he won a UCL title with Madrid and won the 2000 Ballon d’Or!

This sticker corresponds to that Ballon d’Or award and a fantastic tournament in the Euros.

David Trezeguet was a prolific striker known for his exceptional finishing ability, aerial presence, and sharp instincts inside the penalty area. Standing at 6’2, Trezeguet combined physical presence with technical skill, making him a constant threat to opposing defences. He was the model poacher, often being in the right place at the right time to convert chances into goals. He could score with both feet and his head.

During Euro 2000, Trezeguet featured prominently throughout the tournament, but his iconic moment came in the final against Italy. The match was tied 1-1 and went into extra time. During extra time, Trezeguet scored the golden goal, securing a 2-1 victory for France and winning the championship. His goal came from a superb volley following a cross from Robert Pires. The finish itself was a piece of beauty! He cross was slightly behind him, he balanced himself, and volleyed the ball into the net, leaving the goalie with no chance! I will note that a lot of credit should go to Robert Pires. He made an amazing dribble, passing 3 defenders, before giving the assisting cross.

Trezeguet is a Juventus legend, scoring 171 goals for the Italian giants. He spent 11 seasons there, winning the Serie A twice and even a Serie B title, following Juventus’ relegation to the Serie B in 2006. A World Cup title in 1998 and the Euro 2000 title, is a real testament to Trezeguet’s quality and his career. The fact he scored the golden goal makes this sticker all the more special!

Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest footballers of all time, was renowned for his elegance, vision, and technical brilliance on the field. Playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, Zidane had exceptional ball control, precise passing, and ability to dictate the tempo of the game. His creativity, dribbling skills, and ability to score crucial goals made him a constant threat to defences. An overlooked part of Zidane’s game was his strength. Because of his elegance, people don’t associate Zidane with strength and power, but he was tall and had a muscular build. He couldn’t be bullied on the pitch as many creative players are, rather he did the bullying!

During Euro 2000, Zidane was at the peak of his career and played a crucial role in leading France to victory. His performances throughout the tournament were marked by his ability to control the midfield and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Zidane’s vision and passing accuracy allowed France to dominate the midfield. Zidane’s performances earned him the Player of the Tournament, highlighting his impact and dominance throughout Euro 2000.

Zidane’s individual awards are so many that this blog would never end. Ill just chime in and say he won the 1998 Ballon d’Or, following his fantastic season with Juventus and his role in France’s 98 World Cup triumph. He won two Serie A titles with Juve and a La Liga title with Real Madrid. He won the 2002/03 UCL title by scoring in the final, in what I believe, is the greatest goal of all time! Look up “Zidane goal vs Leverkusen”

A really nice sticker and once thats already quite valuable.

Francesco Totti, an legendary footballer, is celebrated for his creativity, vision, and technical skill. Primarily playing as an attacking midfielder or forward, Totti was known for his exceptional ball control, precise passing, and ability to score from any position on the pitch! Totti’s flair and inventive play made him a constant threat to opposing defences.

During Euro 2000, Totti was one of Italy’s standout performers, showcasing his talent on the international stage. He played a pivotal role in Italy’s journey to the final, contributing with 2 goals. In the final, he provided a backheel that led to the the assist for Marco Delvecchio’s opening goal and continued to be a creative force throughout the match. Despite Italy ultimately losing to France in extra time, Totti’s performances throughout the tournament earned him a place in the team of the tournament.

In terms of club level, Totti to say he is an AS Roma legend is an under statement! He is Mr Roma and the heart and soul of the club! He spent 25 seasons at AS Roma; yes you heard right, 25 seasons! For Roma he played 786 games and scored 307. He famously helped Roma with the 2000/01 Serie A title and won the 2006 World Cup with Italy. Here his international rookie sticker is a huge one!