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List of UEFA European Championship finals

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UEFA European Championship final
The European Championship trophy
Founded1960
RegionEurope (UEFA)
Current champions Spain (4th title)
Most successful team(s)Spain Spain (4 titles)

The UEFA European Championship is an association football competition established in 1960. It is contested by the men's national teams of the members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the sport's European governing body, and takes place every four years.[a]

The European Championship final is the last match of the competition, and the result determines which country's team is declared European champion. It is a one-off match decided in regulation time. In the event of a draw, extra time is played. If scores are then still level, a penalty shoot-out determines the winner,[1] as per the rules since 1976; prior to that, finals still tied after extra time would be replayed, as was the case with the 1968 final. During extra time, the golden goal rule (by which the first team to score won the match) applied in 1996 and 2000, and the silver goal rule (by which a team could win the match by winning the first half of extra time) would have applied in 2004[2] but was not put in practice. The winners are awarded a replica of the trophy (the original remains with UEFA), while the losing finalists (and semi-finalists) are presented with a plaque.[3] Gold and silver medals are awarded to the players of the winning and losing finalists respectively.[4]

Spain is the most successful team in the history of the tournament with four titles, followed by Germany with three wins. France and Italy have won the competition twice, while six other teams, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, and Portugal, have triumphed once. Yugoslavia, Belgium and England have qualified for the final without success.

The winners of the first ever final, held in Paris in 1960, were the Soviet Union, who defeated Yugoslavia 2–1 after extra time, while in the latest one, hosted in Berlin in 2024, Spain defeated England 2–1.

History

[edit]

The first final of the UEFA European Football Championship (then referred to as the European Nations' Cup final) was contested in July 1960 in Paris between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Milan Galić scored for Yugoslavia just before half-time but Slava Metreveli equalised soon after the break, and the scores remained level, sending the game into extra time. With seven minutes left, Viktor Ponedelnik won the match for the Soviet Union, scoring the winner with a header.[5] The 1960 champions qualified for the final of the 1964 tournament, where they faced hosts Spain. Chus Pereda scored early for the home side, but the match was levelled two minutes later when Galimzyan Khusainov equalised. Nearly 80,000 spectators at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid had to wait for the winner which came six minutes from time, courtesy of a header from Spaniard Marcelino.[6]

The hosts, Italy, faced Yugoslavia in the final of the 1968 tournament, now rebranded as the European Football Championship. Italy had qualified for the final by virtue of winning a coin toss following their goalless semi-final against the Soviet Union. The final ended 1–1, forcing a replay to be conducted two days later. This time Italy triumphed, winning 2–0 with first-half goals from Gigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi.[7] Four years later, the final, held in Brussels, produced a record winning margin that would last for 44 years. The Soviet Union, finalists for the third time in four tournaments, were defeated 3–0 by West Germany with Gerd Müller and Herbert Wimmer scoring the winning goals.[8] The incumbent champions qualified for the final of the 1976 tournament, where they faced Czechoslovakia. A late equaliser from German Bernd Hölzenbein to make it 2–2 saw the game go into extra time and eventually to a penalty shoot-out. After seven successful conversions, Uli Hoeneß missed, leaving Czechoslovakian Antonín Panenka with the opportunity to score and win the tournament. An "audacious" chipped shot,[9] described by UEFA as "perhaps the most famous spot kick of all time" secured the victory as Czechoslovakia won 5–3 on penalties.[10]

Four years later, the final returned to the Stadio Olimpico where West Germany, in their third consecutive final, faced Belgium. Horst Hrubesch scored early in the first half before René Vandereycken equalised for Belgium with a penalty in the second half. With two minutes remaining, Hrubesch headed West Germany into the lead from a Karl-Heinz Rummenigge corner, securing his country's second victory in the championship.[11] The 1984 final, in Paris, featured hosts France against 1964 champions Spain. Two second-half goals, one each from Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone, secured a home victory;[12] Platini ended the tournament with nine goals, the most scored in the championship finals by any player to date.[13] The Netherlands qualified for their first final in the 1988 tournament in West Germany, where they faced the Soviet Union who were playing in their fourth final. Ruud Gullit scored in the first half and Marco van Basten doubled the lead in the second for the Netherlands with a volley which has since been described variously as "stunning",[14] "spectacular",[15] and the "best goal scored in the competition's history".[16] With a 2–0 victory, the Netherlands secured their first "major" title.[17]

Following Yugoslavia's expulsion from the competition in 1992, Denmark were invited to take their place and qualified for the final where they faced a team from the newly reunified Germany. Goals from John Jensen and Kim Vilfort secured a 2–0 victory for the Danes in their first and only European final.[18] Wembley Stadium hosted the final of the 1996 tournament, where the Czech Republic and Germany were forced into extra time after an Oliver Bierhoff goal equalised Patrik Berger's penalty for the Czech Republic. Five minutes into extra time, Bierhoff scored his and Germany's second, and the first golden goal in the history of the tournament, securing Germany's third European title 2–1.[19] The 2000 tournament was also decided by a golden goal. France, who had won the 1998 FIFA World Cup,[20] met Italy in the Feijnoord Stadion in the Netherlands, both nations making their second appearance in the final. A second-half goal from Marco Delvecchio saw Italy take a 1–0 lead into injury time, when Sylvain Wiltord scored a "last-gasp" equaliser to send the match into extra time. David Trezeguet's volley 13 minutes into extra time ensured that France were both European and World champions.[21]

The 2004 competition saw, according to UEFA, "one of the biggest shocks in tournament history" as Greece defeated hosts Portugal 1–0 in the final.[22] Despite never having won a match in a "major tournament", a second-half goal from striker Angelos Charisteas caused "one of the biggest upsets in soccer history".[23] Germany qualified for their sixth final in 2008, and faced Spain in a tournament co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland. A first-half strike from Fernando Torres was the only goal of the game, and helped Spain win their first European trophy in 44 years.[24] The 2012 tournament final saw reigning European and World champions Spain face Italy in Kyiv. Two first-half goals, one each from David Silva and Jordi Alba put the defending champions 2–0 ahead at half-time. Fifteen minutes into the second half, and four minutes after being brought on as a substitute, Thiago Motta was stretchered off as Italy were reduced to ten men for the remainder of the second half. Fernando Torres scored a third, becoming the first player to score in two European Championship finals, and then provided an assist for Juan Mata who scored with a minute to go, the final ending 4–0. Spain's third victory in the final equalled Germany as the most successful team in the tournament's history, and they became the first team to defend the European Football Championship title.[25] Portugal became the 10th different team to win the European Championships in 2016, when they beat France 1–0 in the final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis; the match went goalless after 90 minutes, before Eder scored the winning goal four minutes into the second period.[26]

In UEFA Euro 2020, which was actually held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, Italy won their second title after beating first-time finalists England on penalties. England renewed their participation in the UEFA Euro 2024 final, held in the Olympiastadion in Berlin, where three–time winners Spain won 2–1 courtesy of a Nico Williams strike at the start of the second half and a 86th-minute winner by Mikel Oyarzabal, after a Cole Palmer equaliser for England. As a result, Spain won a record–breaking fourth European Championship and their third since 2008.[27]

List of finals

[edit]
Key to the list
a.e.t. Result after extra time
g.g. Match was won with a golden goal during extra time
pen. Match was won on a penalty shoot-out
re. Match was won after a replay
List of finals of the European Championship
Tournament Winners Score Runners-up Venue Location Attendance References
1960 Soviet Union  2–1 (a.e.t.)  Yugoslavia Parc des Princes Paris, France 17,966 [28][29]
1964 Spain  2–1  Soviet Union Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Madrid, Spain 79,115 [30][31]
1968 Italy  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Yugoslavia Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy 68,817 [32][33]
2–0 (re.) 32,886
1972 West Germany  3–0  Soviet Union Heysel Stadium Brussels, Belgium 43,066 [34][35]
1976 Czechoslovakia  2–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 pen.) 		 West Germany Stadion FK Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, Yugoslavia 30,790 [36][37]
1980 West Germany  2–1  Belgium Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy 47,860 [38][39]
1984 France  2–0  Spain Parc des Princes Paris, France 47,368 [40][41]
1988 Netherlands  2–0  Soviet Union Olympiastadion Munich, West Germany 62,770 [42][43]
1992 Denmark  2–0  Germany Ullevi Gothenburg, Sweden 37,800 [44][45]
1996 Germany  2–1 (g.g.)  Czech Republic Wembley Stadium London, England 73,611 [46][47]
2000 France  2–1 (g.g.)  Italy Stadion Feijenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands 48,200 [48][49]
2004 Greece  1–0  Portugal Estádio da Luz Lisbon, Portugal 62,865 [50][51]
2008 Spain  1–0  Germany Ernst-Happel-Stadion Vienna, Austria 51,428 [52][53]
2012 Spain  4–0  Italy Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex Kyiv, Ukraine 63,170 [54][55]
2016 Portugal  1–0 (a.e.t.)  France Stade de France Saint-Denis (Paris), France 75,868 [56][57]
2020[a] Italy  1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 pen.) 		 England Wembley Stadium London, England 67,173 [58][59]
2024 Spain  2–1  England Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany 65,600 [27]

Results by nation

[edit]
Map of winning countries
Team Winners Runners-up Total finals Years won Years runners-up
 Spain 4 1 5 1964, 2008, 2012, 2024 1984
 Germany[b] 3 3 6 1972, 1980, 1996 1976, 1992, 2008
 Italy 2 2 4 1968, 2020 2000, 2012
 France 2 1 3 1984, 2000 2016
 Soviet Union 1 3 4 1960 1964, 1972, 1988
 Czech Republic[c] 1 1 2 1976 1996
 Portugal 1 1 2 2016 2004
 Netherlands 1 0 1 1988 —
 Denmark 1 0 1 1992 —
 Greece 1 0 1 2004 —
 Yugoslavia 0 2 2 — 1960, 1968
 England 0 2 2 — 2020, 2024
 Belgium 0 1 1 — 1980

See also

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b The UEFA Euro 2020 tournament was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. ^ Three final appearances as West Germany.
  3. ^ One final appearance as Czechoslovakia.

References

[edit]

General

  • "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2018–20". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021.
  • "European Championship". Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). 22 July 2021.

Specific

  1. ^ Regulations, p. 10.
  2. ^ "Golden goal rule downgraded to silver". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  3. ^ Regulations, pp. 3–4.
  4. ^ Regulations, p. 4.
  5. ^ "EURO cult heroes: Viktor Ponedelnik, 1960". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Spain savour home comforts". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Italy make most of good fortune". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  8. ^ "West Germany make their mark". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  9. ^ Dunbar, Graham (2 July 2010). "Abreu's 'Panenka' penalty revives 1976 classic". USA Today. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Panenka the hero for Czechoslovakia". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Hrubesch crowns West German win". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Platini shines for flamboyant France". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Euro History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Van Basten heaps praise on Hiddink". RTÉ.ie. Dublin: Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 20 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Van Basten baffled by bad luck". Sporting Life. Leeds: 365 Media Group. 2 December 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Final-week crescendo". Sports Illustrated. New York: Time Warner. Associated Press. 29 June 2004. Archived from the original on 1 July 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Van Basten sparks Netherlands joy". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  18. ^ "Denmark late show steals spotlight". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Football comes home for Germany". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  20. ^ "1998 FIFA World Cup France". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Trezeguet strikes gold for France". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 28 December 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  22. ^ "Underdogs Greece have their day". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  23. ^ "The Word is Greece". Sports Illustrated. New York: Time Warner. Associated Press. 4 July 2004. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  24. ^ "Spain deliver on promise at last". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  25. ^ "Euro 2012 final: Spain v Italy". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  26. ^ McNulty, Phil (11 July 2016). "Portugal 1–0 France (AET)". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  27. ^ a b Phillips, Mitch (15 July 2024). "Sublime Spain strike late to win record fourth Euro crown". Reuters. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  28. ^ "UEFA Euro 1960 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  29. ^ "France 1960". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  30. ^ "UEFA Euro 1964 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  31. ^ "Spain 1964". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 12 July 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  32. ^ "UEFA Euro 1968 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  33. ^ "Italy 1968". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  34. ^ "UEFA Euro 1972 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  35. ^ "Belgium 1972". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  36. ^ "UEFA Euro 1976 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  37. ^ "Yugoslavia 1976". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  38. ^ "UEFA Euro 1980 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  39. ^ "Italy 1980". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 1 July 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  40. ^ "UEFA Euro 1984 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 3 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  41. ^ "France 1984". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 22 June 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  42. ^ "UEFA Euro 1988 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  43. ^ "West Germany 1988". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 5 July 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  44. ^ "UEFA Euro 1992 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  45. ^ Fletcher, Paul (24 May 2004). "Denmark's greatest moment". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  46. ^ "UEFA Euro 1996 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  47. ^ "England 1996". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  48. ^ "UEFA Euro 2000 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  49. ^ "Belgium/Holland 2000". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 24 May 2004. Archived from the original on 5 July 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  50. ^ "UEFA Euro 2004 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  51. ^ McNulty, Phil (4 July 2004). "Greece win Euro 2004". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  52. ^ "UEFA Euro 2008 – History". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  53. ^ McNulty, Phil (29 June 2008). "Germany 0–1 Spain". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  54. ^ "Euro 2012 final: Spain 4–0 Italy". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  55. ^ Linnyk, Igor; Popov, Boris (12 November 2011). "Stars struck by spectacular Olympic Stadium". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  56. ^ Sinnott, John (10 July 2016). "Euro 2016: Portugal crowned champions after Cristiano Ronaldo goes off injured". CNN International. Cable News Network. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  57. ^ Kirschbaum, Erik (10 July 2016). "Portugal stuns France, 1–0, in extra time to claim first European Championship title". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 10 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  58. ^ "Full Time Summary – Italy v England" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 11 July 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  59. ^ "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
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