5 best goals at Euro 2012

In all,72 goals have been scored by the 16 teams that took part in Euro 2012.

Heading into Sunday8217;s European Championship final between Spain and Italy,72 goals had been scored by the 16 teams that took part. Here8217;s our pick of the top five hoping,of course,that goals in the final might be even better:< DANNY WELBECK8217;S FLICK

The Manchester United forward scored only once for England at Euro 2012,but his goal was brilliant for its cunning and exquisite timing. With England and Sweden at 2-2 in the 78th minute of their June 15 group stage match,winger Theo Walcott sent in a cross. His back to the goal,Welbeck met the ball with his right leg and flicked it behind him with his heel,stunning Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. A top five pick because the 21-year-old Welbeck8217;s execution was astounding and the goal secured the win for England.

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC8217;S FAREWELL

Sweden was already eliminated when it played France on June 19 in Group D,but its towering frontman was determined to go out with a bang. With a roundhouse kick Bruce Lee would have been proud of,Ibrahimovic met Sebastian Larsson8217;s cross and threw himself nearly sideways in the air to volley the ball with his right boot past Hugo Lloris. Thumping.

SUBLIME DAVID SILVA

Controlling the ball 12 meters yards out,the nippy Spain midfielder faced a seemingly impenetrable wall of three Ireland defenders blocking his route to goal. So he improvised,dancing right then left before hitting the ball with pinpoint precision past one defender,through the legs of two others,and beyond 8216;keeper Shay Given. It was Spain8217;s second goal in a 4-0 win Group C on June 14. Laser-like.

SPAIN8217;S ONLY LAPSE

The same team Spain will face on Sunday,Italy,was also the only team that managed to score against the world and defending European champions at Euro 2012. Antonio Di Natale8217;s chip at speed past Iker Casillas in the 61st minute in their opening Group C match on June 10 wasn8217;t the prettiest goal of Euro 2012,but it8217;s a top five pick for its rarity.

COOL-HAND DUKES

Having the gall to softly chip a penalty over a diving 8216;keeper,rather than firing to his left or right,is such the height of cool that this technique is named after its pioneer,Antonin Panenka. He used it to win the 1976 European Championship for Czechoslovakia against West Germany in a penalty shootout. At Euro 2012,Andrea Pirlo did it in Italy8217;s quarterfinal shootout victory over England,and Sergio Ramos performed a 8221;panenka8221; to help defending champion Spain beat Portugal in their semifinal penalty shootout. Brave.