Golden goals: Zbigniew Boniek (1983)

Some times you just have to hold your hands up after a defeat in sport. You recognise that maybe your loss was more down to the skills of your opponent rather than your own failings. Sport hurts, but it can ease the pain a little when true quality or a genius such as Warne or Maradona do something that mere mortals can only dream of achieving. 

Take Aston Villa's defeat against Juventus in the 1983 European Cup quarter final first leg. Thousands of home fans would have left Villa Park on that March evening disappointed to have their club's grip on the European Cup loosened. Yet there was no disgrace in losing to that Juventus team, their calibre clear for all to see in the sublime winning goal that combined grace and power. 

1984 European Championships: Michel Platini's nine goals

As Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated scoring a penalty against Hungary in Portugal's opening match of Euro 2020 - in that typical understated way of his - the goal that clinched three points for his country contained added significance. 

The successful spot kick broke a record held by a man who played a big part in the organisation of Euro 2020. He may have been widely appreciated as a player, but Michel Platini was far from popular in his stint as UEFA President.

1984 European Championships: France v Portugal

There have been a number of memorable European Championship semi-finals in the years I've been immersing myself in all things football. Another chapter of the Danish story against the Netherlands in 1992; England's heartache at Wembley; more Dutch penalty shootout disappointment against ten-man Italy in 2000; the spectacle of Germany-Turkey in 2008.

But you never forget your first. And placing my England hat to one side for the moment, the sheer drama of the France v Portugal semi-final in Marseille during Euro 84 takes some beating. It would be a night dripping in tension, ecstasy and agony, an evening that almost saw a Portuguese pin pop the French bubble. 

1984 European Championships

Looking back on the 1984 European Championships, which despite the lack of British and Irish representation, managed to limp on nonetheless. A tournament involving French flair, an early exit for the holders, penalty anguish for one of the stars of the championships, and tragedy. Just a shame we didn't get to see more of it.