Ten great EURO moments: Jensen's thunderbolt
Friday, June 3, 2016
Article summary
Seven days to go: Not known for his goals, John Jensen startled Germany and set Denmark on their way to a historic triumph with a venemous strike in the 1992 final.
Article top media content
Article body
The game: Denmark 2-0 Germany, 1992 final
The date: 26 June 1992
The location: Ullevi, Gothenburg
The protagonist: John Jensen
What made it special?
Jensen had built his reputation as something of a workhorse midfielder, making his thunderous opening goal against Germany all the more unlikely. The ball was cut back to him on the right-hand side of the penalty area by Flemming Povlsen in the 18th minute and Jensen sent an unstoppable, rising shot past German goalkeeper Bodo Illgner.
What did it mean?
It gave the Danes a shock lead in the final, for which few had them down as favourites. After withstanding a good deal of German pressure, the Danes were given fresh belief and sealed a famous win with Kim Vilfort's goal 12 minutes from time.
- 1992 history maker: Peter Schmeichel
- Snap shot: Denmark gatecrash EURO party
- The biggest shocks in EURO history
How Jensen remembers it …
"I had tried many shots in the earlier games, perhaps more than any of my team-mates. In most cases, the ball had either cleared the crossbar or gone wide, so it was special to see this one go in."
Richard Møller Nielsen, Denmark coach
"Before the final, I told him to look at his shoelaces when shooting, and obviously this was what he did!"
What the papers said
"Povlsen gave a short pass to John Jensen, who scored with a fine shot from 20 metres and beat Bodo Illgner. It was Jensen's second goal for the national team." Politiken
"His goal will make him one of the greatest heroes in Danish football." Jyllands-Posten
