UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship. Commonly referred to as the Euros, it is the premier association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the member associations of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Held every four years since 1960, it determines the continental champion of Europe, with the winner earning the right to compete in the FIFA Confederations Cup. The tournament has grown from a four-team finals in its inaugural edition to a 24-team spectacle, becoming one of the most watched sporting events globally, alongside the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games.

History

The idea for a European nations' cup was first proposed by former French Football Federation secretary Henri Delaunay, with the inaugural tournament, then known as the UEFA European Nations' Cup, taking place in 1960. The first final was held in Paris and won by the Soviet Union, who defeated Yugoslavia. The competition was renamed in 1968. The tournament expanded to an eight-team finals for the 1980 edition in Italy, a format that remained until 1992. A landmark moment was the victory of Denmark at Euro 1992, having qualified only after the exclusion of Yugoslavia due to the Yugoslav Wars. The 1996 tournament in England introduced the 16-team format, while the 2016 edition in France saw a further expansion to 24 participants. The most recent tournament, Euro 2020, was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was uniquely hosted across multiple European cities, with Italy defeating England in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Format

The competition begins with a lengthy qualification phase, organized by UEFA, where national teams compete in groups for a place in the final tournament. The finals tournament features 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout stage, which consists of the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the final. If matches in the knockout stages are level after 90 minutes, they proceed to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out. The host nation or nations qualify automatically, a rule that applied to the pan-European hosting of Euro 2020.

Results

Germany and Spain are the most successful nations, each having won the title three times. Germany's victories came as West Germany in 1972 and 1980, and as a unified Germany in 1996. Spain won consecutive titles in 2008 and 2012, adding to their first win in 1964. France has won twice (1984, 2000), while Italy, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, and Portugal have each won once. Notable finals include the 2004 final where Greece caused a major upset, and the 2016 final where Portugal defeated France.

Records and statistics

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most goals in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record held by Michel Platini. Portuguese legend Ronaldo also holds the record for most appearances. The record for most goals in a single tournament is nine, shared by Michel Platini (1984) and Antoine Griezmann (2016). The highest-scoring match in the finals was the 2020 Group F game between Portugal and France which ended 2-2, though the quarter-final between France and Switzerland that same year finished 3-3. In terms of team success, Germany has reached the final a record six times.

Trophy

The winner of the tournament is awarded the Henri Delaunay Trophy, named in honor of the competition's founder. The original trophy was commissioned from Parisian silversmith Michel Chobillon and was used from 1960 until 2008. A new, larger trophy was unveiled for the 2008 tournament, crafted by the London-based Asprey company. The current trophy is made of sterling silver, weighs 8 kilograms, and stands 60 centimeters tall. The names of the winning nations are engraved on the back of the trophy. The winning team receives 40 gold medals, and the runner-up receives 40 silver medals.

Hosting

Traditionally, the finals tournament was hosted by one or two nations, such as Belgium and the Netherlands for Euro 2000 or Austria and Switzerland for Euro 2008. The selection process is managed by UEFA through a bidding procedure. In a unique decision, the 2020 edition was held across 11 cities in 11 different UEFA countries to celebrate the tournament's 60th anniversary. Future hosts include Germany for 2024 and a joint bid from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for 2028. Host nations gain automatic qualification and significant economic and infrastructural benefits from staging the event.