46 Fun Facts About UEFA European Championship

What was the UEFA European Championship originally called?

The European Nations' Cup began in 1960 without West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands or England, who had opposed creating it.

Which nation, at its first major tournament, knocked England out of Euro 2016?

Iceland won 2–1 in the round of 16, and England manager Roy Hodgson resigned that same evening.

Which city hosted the first European Championship final?

Paris staged the final, though hosts France had already gone out after blowing a 4–2 semi-final lead to lose 5–4.

Which England player's penalty was saved in the Euro 96 semi-final shootout against Germany?

Gareth Southgate's saved kick sent Germany through, and as England manager he later lost both the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals.

Where did hosts Spain beat the Soviet Union in the 1964 European Championship final?

The Santiago Bernabéu saw Marcelino's 84th-minute header win it, four years after Franco had pulled Spain out rather than face the Soviets.

How was Italy's 1968 European Championship semi-final against the Soviet Union decided?

By a coin toss after a goalless draw in Naples, and Italy went on to win the tournament on home soil.

How was the 1968 European Championship final settled?

A replay two days after a 1–1 draw, which a reshuffled Italy won 2–0 with goals from Gigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi.

Who scored twice as West Germany won the 1972 European Championship final 3–0?

Gerd Müller scored either side of Herbert Wimmer's goal, and two years later he hit West Germany's winner in the 1974 World Cup final.

Whose chipped penalty won Czechoslovakia the 1976 European Championship?

Antonín Panenka chipped it softly down the middle after Uli Hoeneß blazed over, and that penalty style now carries his name.

Which Soviet goalkeeper won the first European Championship, in 1960?

Lev Yashin was blamed for goals he let in at the 1962 World Cup, yet a year later he became the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or.

Which 'header monster' scored both goals in the 1980 European Championship final?

Horst Hrubesch was only called into the squad because Klaus Fischer was injured, and his late header won the final.

Which France playmaker scored nine goals at Euro 1984?

Michel Platini scored in all five games, including a free kick in the final that squirmed under Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada.

Whose overhead kick rescued England at Euro 2024?

Jude Bellingham's 95th-minute equaliser against Slovakia forced extra time, and Harry Kane scored the winner within a minute of the restart.

Whose volley sealed the Netherlands' win in the 1988 European Championship final?

Marco van Basten's volley made it 2–0 against the Soviet Union, the side that had beaten the Dutch 1–0 in their opening group game.

Denmark were invited to Euro 1992 as a late replacement for which country?

UN sanctions blocked Yugoslavia; the Danes then beat Germany 2–0 in the final.

Euro 1992 was the first major tournament to feature what on players' shirts?

Names on their backs debuted at Euro 1992, a tournament won by a Denmark side called up only ten days before kick-off.

Which Euro 96 song gave fans the 'It's coming home' chant?

Three Lions borrowed Euro 96's 'Football comes home' slogan, a nod to England having invented the modern game.

Who scored the golden goal that won the Euro 1996 final for Germany?

Oliver Bierhoff came off the bench with Germany a goal down, headed the equaliser and then struck the golden goal.

Which newly formed nation reached the Euro 1996 final?

The Czech Republic knocked out Portugal with Karel Poborský's goal and France on penalties before losing the final to Germany.

Euro 2000 was the first edition co-hosted by two countries: the Netherlands and which other?

Belgium won the opening game against Sweden but lost their next two and went out in the group stage.

Who scored the golden goal that won the Euro 2000 final for France?

David Trezeguet volleyed the golden goal in extra time after Sylvain Wiltord's stoppage-time equaliser against Italy.

Who scored the goal that won Euro 2004 for Greece?

Angelos Charisteas's header beat hosts Portugal, who had also lost to Greece in the tournament's opening game.

Which short-lived rule did Greece use to win their Euro 2004 semi-final?

The silver goal let Traianos Dellas's header in the last seconds of extra time's first half win it, and the rule was scrapped after Euro 2004.

Which goalkeeper captained Spain to Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012?

Iker Casillas saved two Italian penalties in the Euro 2008 quarter-final shootout on the way to the first of those titles.

Euro 2008 was co-hosted by Switzerland and which other country?

Austria went out in the group stage with one point from three games, and coach Josef Hickersberger then resigned.

Which teenage England striker scored four goals at Euro 2004?

Wayne Rooney broke a bone in his foot in the quarter-final against Portugal, and England then went out on penalties.

Which England manager was sacked the day after a defeat by Croatia cost England a place at Euro 2008?

Steve McClaren rebuilt his reputation in the Netherlands, leading FC Twente to their first league title in 2010.

Who became the first player to score in two European Championship finals, in 2012?

Fernando Torres came off the bench and scored, as Spain became the first team to retain the European Championship.

Which Euro 2012 side had a goal denied when John Terry cleared from behind England's line?

Ukraine's Marko Dević had the goal denied, and the missed call reopened football's debate over goal-line technology.

Who won the Golden Boot at Euro 2016?

Antoine Griezmann scored six goals and was named Player of the Tournament, yet hosts France lost the final 1–0 to Portugal in extra time.

Who scored the extra-time winner for Portugal in the Euro 2016 final?

Eder scored in the 109th minute, long after Cristiano Ronaldo had gone off injured in the first half.

Where did Portugal finish in its group at Euro 2016 before going on to win the tournament?

Third place was enough because four of the six third-placed teams went through, and Portugal had drawn all three group games.

In which city were the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final played?

London's Wembley staged both semi-finals and the final, so England played their semi-final and final at home.

Which Euro 2020 host city was dropped because its Eurostadium was never built?

Brussels was struck off in December 2017, and the matches it had been due to stage moved to another host city.

Which city replaced Bilbao as a Euro 2020 host?

Seville took over because Bilbao could not guarantee that fans would be allowed into its matches.

Which Italy goalkeeper saved Bukayo Saka's penalty to win the Euro 2020 final shootout?

Gianluigi Donnarumma also stopped Jadon Sancho, then became the first goalkeeper to officially win Player of the Tournament.

Which country did Germany beat for the right to host Euro 2024?

Turkey lost that 2018 vote 12–4, but five years later it was named co-host of Euro 2032 with Italy.

Which Italy captain lifted the Euro 2020 trophy?

Giorgio Chiellini had hauled Bukayo Saka down by the shirt at the end of normal time in the final, taking a yellow card to stop England's attack.

Which match was set up between the Euros winner and the Copa América champion?

The Finalissima revived a fixture last played in 1993, but its 2026 edition in Qatar was cancelled because of war in the Middle East.

The Euros alternate with which UEFA competition?

The UEFA Nations League, launched in 2018 to replace most friendlies, also offers a play-off route into the Euros.

Which Spain midfielder was named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2008?

Xavi also set up the only goal of the final, slipping the ball behind Germany's defence for the winner.

Which German coach led Greece, who had never won a match at a major tournament, to the Euro 2004 title?

Otto Rehhagel was made an honorary citizen of Athens, and his old nickname King Otto, after Greece's first king, caught on there.

Which losing semi-finalists received bronze medals at Euro 2008?

Turkey and Russia both turned their quarter-finals in extra time, Turkey with a stoppage-time equaliser against Croatia before winning on penalties.

Which competition's 1966–67 and 1967–68 editions doubled as a qualifying group for Euro 1968?

The British Home Championship, the oldest international tournament, was scrapped in 1984 amid falling crowds and hooliganism.

Which Northern Ireland striker inspired Euro 2016's famous 'on fire' chant, sung to Gala's 'Freed from Desire'?

Will Grigg never played a single minute at Euro 2016, however loudly the fans sang about him.

Which Denmark star fell out with coach Richard Møller Nielsen and missed his country's shock Euro 1992 triumph?

Michael Laudrup's brother Brian had quit alongside him in 1990 but returned in time to help Denmark win the title.