Euro 2012 Quarterfinals: 11 Best Goals of the Group Stage

The discussions, recriminations and memories will last a while yet, but otherwise, the group stage of the European Championships is over and done with.

The daily action at this early juncture of a tournament is a football fan's dream, providing a continuous fix of entertaining matches, unfolding storylines and some of the world's best players.

And with all three, that usually means plenty of great goals.

That has definitely been the case at Euro 2012, with plenty that will live long in the memory.

Narrowing that down to just 11 is not easy, and you might disagree as to what goals deserve their place on this list.

But here, anyway, are this writer's choice of the 11 best goals of the group stage from Poland and Ukraine.

Roman Pavlyuchenko, Russia vs. Czech Republic

You would be forgiven for not thinking it at the time, but this was as good as it was going to get for the Russians at Euro 2012—this goal sealing a 4-1 victory in their opening game.

Andrei Arshavin burst into the Czech Republic half, passing out left to Roman Pavlyuchenko.

The substitute had already set Alan Dzagoev up for his second and was clearly in the mood to grab a goal of his own.

Coming inside, he dribbled towards the penalty box where he was met by Roman Hubnik.

The Russian Roman twisted and turned, evading three challenges from Hubnik as he moved toward the D, where upon finding some space, he proceeded to blast it into the top corner beyond the reach of Petr Cech.

Michael Krohn-Dehli, Denmark vs. Netherlands

It was the goal that put the Netherlands on the ropes in this tournament, virtually from the off, recording a memorable if ultimately fruitless victory for Denmark.

Simon Poulsen's cross from the left wing was deflected to the feet of Michael Krohn-Dehli just outside of the penalty area.

He moved into it, shaping up like he might shoot, drawing the attention of Mark van Bommel and Johnny Heitinga who went to close him down.

Instead, Krohn-Dehli faked them both, changing direction and then firing between the legs of Maarten Stekelenburg in all one move.

It was the kind of brilliance none of the Dutch stars proved capable of summoning that day—a failure which cost them dearly.

Antonio Di Natale, Italy vs. Spain

While Andrea Pirlo scored a beauty of a free kick against Croatia, his role in this goal equally exemplifies his quality and served notice that Spain are not invincible as some may have feared.

Collecting the ball inside his own half, Pirlo accelerated past Sergio Busquets into open space and then laid a perfect pass behind the Spanish defence into the path of Antonio Di Natale.

The striker had not long been on but showed he needed little time to adjust to the pace of the game.

Checking his run so as not to veer into an offside position, that split-second adjustment put him in place to move forward behind Pirlo's pass without breaking his stride

He then opened his body up and placed it first time around despite the on-rushing Iker Casillas.

Cesc Fabregas, Spain vs. Italy

The Spanish will have faced tougher resistance over the course of this tournament than they did for this goal, but then again, the Italians were made to look helpless by the judgement and movement of their opponents.

Four of Spain's revered pass-masters (admittedly that list is long) were involved in finishing off this true team goal.

Xavi fed the ball to Andres Iniesta, who turned and briefly thought about running at his marker before choosing to lay it off to David Silva.

Unfolding like moves on a chess board, this led to Giorgio Chiellini moving forward to deal with the situation, which only played into Silva's hands.

The attacking midfielder controlled and turned in one movement before his second touch, a pass to Cesc Fabregas, who had made a brilliant run into the space left empty by Chiellini, where he proceeded to finish with ease.

Andriy Shevchenko's 1st, Ukraine vs. Sweden

For the sheer euphoria they caused among the co-hosts Ukraine alone, either of Andriy Shevchenko's two-headed goals against Sweden deserve mention.

But that clinical first, proving there was still life in the old dog yet, makes the list here.

Andriy Yarmolenko received the ball to the right of the penalty area, making space for himself, he then hit a cross with his left foot to the edge of the six-yard box.

Shevchenko had hovered unmarked just inside the area, and still escaping attention, he made his run to meet Yarmolenko's cross.

Jumping above the unsuspecting Olof Mellberg, Shevchenko finished with the most comprehensive of diving headers.

Jakub Blaszczykowski, Poland vs. Russia

After a bright first half in theirs and Euro 2012's opening game against Greece, Poland looked like a team ready to make some noise in the tournament they were co-hosting.

Instead, they never truly ignited again—this superb goal against Russia turning out to be a spark and nothing more.

Nonetheless, it was a darn good goal.

As Russia sleepily tracked back from an attack of their own, Poland attacked down the right wing.

Cutting in from that right-hand side, Jakub Blaszczykowski ran in behind Yuri Zhirkov taking a pass from a teammate.

The captain took one touch to move in towards a more central position along the edge of the box before curling a spectacular effort into the back of the net.

Mario Gomez's 1st, Germany vs. Netherlands

Both of Germany's goals against Holland were down to the joint efforts of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gomez, and while there's much to commend about the second, the first was especially easy on the eye.

Schweinsteiger found himself completely unopposed in the centre of the Dutch half, and given the time to do so, he superbly picked out Gomez between the haplessly disorganised Johnny Heitinga and Joris Mathijsen.

The work wasn't done yet, but Gomez made it look simple, turning skillfully and majestically in one motion with his left foot.

This opened it up for him completely now, and the striker comfortably slotted home.

Danny Welbeck, England vs. Sweden

Theo Walcott was, without doubt, the man of the hour for England against Sweden, coming on to rescue a game that for a little while looked like it was going to escape them.

While his own goal was very good in itself, it was his assist in Danny Welbeck's winner that was of particular note for the role it played in the latter's moment of brilliance.

Receiving the ball a few yards outside the Swedish penalty area, he moved into it before using his pace to burst between two defenders, then hit a delicately lofted cross toward the edge of the six-yard box.

Welbeck had ran towards the near post, but the ball was still heading behind him when it came his way.

Adjusting brilliantly, he turned as the ball came across him and flicked it off the back of his heel into the net.

Rafael Van Der Vaart, Netherlands vs. Portugal

Rafael van der Vaart was one of the few Dutch players to come away Euro 2012 with any credit.

After only making the bench for the first two games, he was at last given the chance to start in Holland's last Group B game against Portugal.

Wearing the captain's armband for the dropped Mark van Bommel, Van der Vaart led by example in giving his side the lead in their ultimately doomed effort.

Offering himself up as an option a few yards outside of the box, he took Arjen Robben's pass and set himself up to let go with a long-range shot that curled round the Portuguese defenders and pass goalkeeper Rui Patricio into the bottom corner.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 2nd, Portugal vs. Netherlands

While there's a strong argument to be made for the excellent combination between Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Pereira that led to Portugal's first goal; their superb counter-attacking second gets the nod here.

Ronaldo was involved in the mood early on, giving the ball to Joao Moutinho before continuing his own run forward.

Moutinho passed out wide right to Nani—the winger in acres of space.

He allowed the ball to run into his path before picking out Ronaldo coming in on the opposite side with an impeccably hit first-time ball across the breadth of the penalty area.

Having scored one already, Ronaldo had found his confidence in front of goal again. Here, he took Nani's pass and nonchalantly turned inside before firing into the bottom corner.

Giorgos Karagounis, Greece vs. Russia

Not as well worked or as spectacular as the other goals on this list, but for in providing one of the shocks of the tournament so far and in lifting a nation's gloom, Giorgos Karagounis' winner for Greece against Russia is well worthy of their company.

Just before halftime, Karagounis was alert enough to take advantage of Sergei Ignashevich's half-assed headed clearance.

The Greek captain promptly raced away into Russia's penalty box, steadied himself and fired hard and low underneath Vyacheslav Malafeev.

They had few shot opportunities before and would have few afterwards in the game, but Greece took their chance and put in a defensive effort that would make the "Boys of 2004" proud.