Leonardo Bonucci’s equalization in the final was the 142nd goal at EURO 2020 – we analyze how everyone did.
UEFA EURO 2020 set new landmarks for the most goals and the highest goals per game quota in all finals.
UEFA.com decided to dissect all 142 goals, analyze how, when and where they came from and noted changing trends from previous tournaments.
61: Right foot43: Left foot27: Head11: Own goals
Left-footed strikes accounted for less than a quarter of goals in 2008 and 2012, but that number jumped to more than 34% in 2016 and 30.3% here, a testament to the needs of the modern footballer and the desire to be as skilled as possible with each foot. The increase in own goals really caught the eye at the tournament with the 11 more than any previous final combined (nine). The quality of delivery to the area, especially the five-meter box, has undoubtedly been a contributing factor to the sharp increase in that figure.
Average time for first goal: 32 minutes Average goal per game: 2.78
The average time for the first goal dropped by nine minutes in these finals compared to the 2016 tournament, which featured lots of late strikes to postpone that figure. However, three of the five fastest goals in EURO history were scored here and the deadlock was broken inwards of eight minutes in three of the four quarter-finals. The average goals per figure was the highest of all 16 editions of the competition, highlighting a more attack-oriented approach from many quarters and the depth of quality that has become clearer since the tournament was expanded to 24 teams.
Inside the penalty area (including five meters box): 123 Outside penalty area: 19
The relatively low figure of 15.7% of the targets at EURO 2016 was out of the box and that number fell even further – to 13.4% – here. This seems to indicate a continued tendency to work the ball in areas that are more likely to produce a goal rather than the low percentage of hitting goals from distance. Add to that the fact that more teams are defending in numbers – and therefore have more bodies between the ball and the net – and looking towards counterattacks and it is not surprising to see the continued decline.
Open play: 132 Penalties: 9 Direct free kick: 1
You have to go back to 2012 for the last time only one free kick was made in the final and the agility of the goalkeepers shown in this tournament, along with defenders who go to the ground much less to win the ball around their own area, must come into play for this declining figure. When penalties are taken into account, the number of goals not scored from open play has decreased from 11.1% to 7%.
Penalties awarded: 16 Points: 9 Saved: 5 Missed: 2
Four more kicks were awarded compared to 2016 – the only second tournament with 51 matches – but only one more was converted. Another feather in the cap for the goalkeepers at the exhibition, but also a sign that guardians in a time of enormous performance and data analysis have more weapons in their arsenal to handle such situations. Record 16 penalties are also a pointer to the effects of VAR in major tournaments, with this being the first EURO to use the technology.
