List of UEFA European Championship finals explained

UEFA European Championship final
Founded:1960
Region:Europe (UEFA)
Most Successful Team: Spain

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.

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

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

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
TournamentWinnersScoreRunners-upVenueLocationAttendanceReferences
1960Parc des Princes17,966[28] [29]
19642–179,115[30] [31]
196868,817[32] [33]
2–0 (re.)32,886
19723–0Heysel Stadium43,066[34] [35]
19762–2
(5–3 pen.)		30,790[36] [37]
19802–147,860[38] [39]
19842–0Parc des Princes47,368[40] [41]
19882–0Olympiastadion62,770[42] [43]
19922–0Ullevi37,800[44] [45]
1996Wembley Stadium73,611[46] [47]
2000Stadion Feijenoord48,200[48] [49]
20041–062,865[50] [51]
20081–0Ernst-Happel-Stadion51,428[52] [53]
20124–0Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex63,170[54] [55]
201675,868[56] [57]
20201–1
(3–2 pen.)		Wembley Stadium67,173[58] [59]
20242–1Olympiastadion65,600

Results by nation

TeamWinnersRunners-upTotal finalsYears wonYears runners-up
4151964, 2008, 2012, 20241984
3361972, 1980, 19961976, 1992, 2008
2241968, 20202000, 2012
2131984, 20002016
13419601964, 1972, 1988
11219761996
11220162004
1011988—
1011992—
1012004—
022—1960, 1968
022—2020, 2024
011—1980

See also

References

General

Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Regulations, p. 10.
  2. News: Golden goal rule downgraded to silver . . Guardian News and Media . London . 28 April 2003 . 4 January 2012.
  3. Regulations, pp. 3–4.
  4. Regulations, p. 4.
  5. Web site: EURO cult heroes: Viktor Ponedelnik, 1960. 6 January 2011. UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 12 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212001745/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d81157caa40-968cb49649f3-1000--cult-heroes-ponedelnik/. live.
  6. Web site: Spain savour home comforts . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 11 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150411060131/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1964/overview/index.html . live .
  7. Web site: Italy make most of good fortune . UEFA.com . . 14 March 2013 . 3 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200303061157/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1968/overview/index.html . live .
  8. Web site: West Germany make their mark . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 5 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200305164643/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1972/overview/index.html . live .
  9. News: Abreu's 'Panenka' penalty revives 1976 classic . . . 2 July 2010 . Graham . Dunbar . 6 January 2012 . 9 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100709221241/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-07-02-917701650_x.htm . live .
  10. Web site: Panenka the hero for Czechoslovakia . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 17 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200217175557/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1976/overview/index.html . live .
  11. Web site: Hrubesch crowns West German win . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 11 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200311055324/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1980/overview/index.html . live .
  12. Web site: Platini shines for flamboyant France . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 4 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200304073425/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1984/overview/index.html . live .
  13. Web site: Euro History . 6 January 2012 . UEFA.com . . 6 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120106041027/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/index.html . live .
  14. News: Van Basten heaps praise on Hiddink . 20 June 2008 . . . Dublin . 6 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429044004/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/euro2008/2008/0620/vanbastenm.html . 29 April 2009.
  15. News: Van Basten baffled by bad luck . 6 January 2012 . . . . 2 December 2007 .
  16. News: Final-week crescendo . . . New York . 6 January 2012 . 29 June 2004 . . 1 July 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040701033358/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/soccer/06/29/euro.semis/ . live .
  17. Web site: Van Basten sparks Netherlands joy . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 26 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200226123028/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1988/overview/index.html . live .
  18. Web site: Denmark late show steals spotlight . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 15 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130215045820/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1992/overview/index.html . live .
  19. Web site: Football comes home for Germany . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 28 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191228184424/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1996/overview/index.html . live .
  20. Web site: 1998 FIFA World Cup France . . FIFA.com . 6 January 2012 . 14 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180414063911/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/index.html . dead .
  21. Web site: Trezeguet strikes gold for France . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 28 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151228113608/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2000/overview/index.html . live .
  22. Web site: Underdogs Greece have their day . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 15 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130215045611/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2004/overview/index.html . live .
  23. News: The Word is Greece . . . New York . 6 January 2012 . 4 July 2004 . . 10 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111010182956/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/soccer/07/04/euro.final/ . live .
  24. Web site: Spain deliver on promise at last . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 15 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130215045518/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2008/overview/index.html . live .
  25. Web site: Euro 2012 final: Spain v Italy . . . 1 July 2012 . 1 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120701180724/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17875873 . 1 July 2012.
  26. News: Phil . McNulty . Portugal 1–0 France (AET) . BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation) . 11 July 2016 . 30 June 2017 . 21 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021051944/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36696772 . live .
  27. Web site: Phillips . Mitch . Sublime Spain strike late to win record fourth Euro crown . Reuters . 15 July 2024 . 15 July 2024.
  28. Web site: UEFA Euro 1960 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 28 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130528132735/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1960/matches/all/index.html . live .
  29. Web site: France 1960 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 4 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090504055236/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3078333.stm . live .
  30. Web site: UEFA Euro 1964 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 25 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151125053230/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1964/matches/all/index.html . live .
  31. Web site: Spain 1964 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 12 July 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040712075454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3078417.stm . live .
  32. Web site: UEFA Euro 1968 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 12 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151112201901/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1968/matches/all/index.html . live .
  33. Web site: Italy 1968 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 15 June 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040615201016/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3078455.stm . live .
  34. Web site: UEFA Euro 1972 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 3 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141103161859/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1972/matches/all/index.html . live .
  35. Web site: Belgium 1972 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 27 April 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060427081355/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3078533.stm . live .
  36. Web site: UEFA Euro 1976 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 17 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150917004911/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1976/matches/all/index.html . live .
  37. Web site: Yugoslavia 1976 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 17 July 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040717123946/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3078649.stm . live .
  38. Web site: UEFA Euro 1980 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 24 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141024092435/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1980/matches/all/index.html . live .
  39. Web site: Italy 1980 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 1 July 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040701222300/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3083203.stm . live .
  40. Web site: UEFA Euro 1984 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 3 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151203211719/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1984/matches/all/index.html . live .
  41. Web site: France 1984 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 22 June 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040622160040/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3083327.stm . live .
  42. Web site: UEFA Euro 1988 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 25 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151125053759/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1988/matches/all/index.html . live .
  43. Web site: West Germany 1988 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 5 July 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040705104336/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3083427.stm . live .
  44. Web site: UEFA Euro 1992 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 14 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141014071513/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1992/matches/all/index.html . live .
  45. Web site: Denmark's greatest moment . . . Paul . Fletcher . 4 January 2012 . 24 May 2004 . 18 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090518073036/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/denmark/3683597.stm . live .
  46. Web site: UEFA Euro 1996 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 8 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150508062946/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1996/matches/all/index.html . live .
  47. Web site: England 1996 . . . 4 January 2012 . 17 May 2004 . 22 February 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060222144334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3083531.stm . live .
  48. Web site: UEFA Euro 2000 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 25 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151125054224/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2000/matches/all/index.html . live .
  49. Web site: Belgium/Holland 2000 . . . 4 January 2012 . 24 May 2004 . 5 July 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040705040704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/history/3083683.stm . live .
  50. Web site: UEFA Euro 2004 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 28 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150928084924/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2004/matches/all/index.html . live .
  51. Web site: Greece win Euro 2004 . Phil . McNulty . . . 4 July 2004 . 4 January 2012 . 19 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090219163535/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3860105.stm . live .
  52. Web site: UEFA Euro 2008 – History . UEFA.com . . 3 January 2012 . 9 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509225322/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2008/matches/all/index.html . live .
  53. Web site: Germany 0–1 Spain . Phil . McNulty . . . 4 January 2012 . 29 June 2008 . 12 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312194357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363545.stm . live .
  54. Web site: Euro 2012 final: Spain 4–0 Italy . . British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2024 . 1 July 2012.
  55. Web site: Stars struck by spectacular Olympic Stadium . Linnyk . Igor . Popov . Boris . 12 November 2011 . 14 March 2013 . UEFA.com . . 5 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200305224727/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/hosts/france/news/newsid=1715726.html . live .
  56. News: John . Sinnott . Euro 2016: Portugal crowned champions after Cristiano Ronaldo goes off injured . . . 10 July 2016 . 11 July 2016 . 11 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160711080311/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/10/football/france-portugal-euro-2016-final/ . live .
  57. News: Erik . Kirschbaum . Portugal stuns France, 1–0, in extra time to claim first European Championship title . . 10 July 2016 . 11 July 2016 . 10 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160710230647/http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-euro-soccer-final-20160710-snap-story.html . live .
  58. Web site: Full Time Summary – Italy v England . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 11 July 2021 . 11 July 2021 . 11 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210711224309/http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/euro/2020/2024491_fr.pdf . live .
  59. News: England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2021-07-11. 11 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210711170405/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51198762. live.

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