UEFA Euro 2016

UEFA Euro 2016
Name	UEFA European Championship
Year	2016
Countries	France
Dates	10 June – 10 July 2016
Num teams	24
Venues	10
Champion	Portugal
Second	France
Matches	51
Goals	108
Attendance	2003684
Player	Antoine Griezmann
Young player	Renato Sanches

UEFA Euro 2016 was the 15th edition of the quadrennial European international football championship organized by UEFA. The tournament took place in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016, expanded for the first time to 24 national teams, and culminated in Portugal defeating the France in the final. The competition featured numerous established international sides and emerging nations, produced notable performances from players associated with clubs such as Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United F.C., and Bayern Munich, and influenced subsequent UEFA Nations League discussions.

Background and qualification

Qualification for the finals involved 53 UEFA member associations competing in groups overseen by Michel Platini's successor at UEFA, with matches scheduled from September 2014 to November 2015 under rules ratified at UEFA Congress. The expanded 24-team format followed proposals debated after tournaments like UEFA Euro 1996 and UEFA Euro 2012, affecting seeding procedures used by FIFA and influencing UEFA Champions League club calendars. Hosts France qualified automatically, while qualification playoffs involved teams such as Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Venues and host cities

Matches were staged across ten venues in nine cities including the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, the Parc des Princes in Paris, the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, and the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne. Other host cities included Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Nice, with venue preparations coordinated by the French Football Federation and local authorities influenced by standards set for UEFA Euro 2000 and FIFA World Cup infrastructure projects. Security planning involved coordination with the French Ministry of the Interior and drew on experiences from events such as UEFA Euro 2012 and 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Teams and draw

The final draw, conducted in Paris with representatives from UEFA and former players including Didier Deschamps and Laurent Blanc, placed 24 teams into six groups of four using coefficients based on UEFA coefficients calculated from qualifying results and recent tournaments like UEFA Euro 2012 and 2014 FIFA World Cup. Notable qualified nations included Germany, Spain, Italy, England, and debutants such as Iceland and Albania. The draw procedures referenced precedents set at tournaments organized by FIFA and drew media attention from outlets covering UEFA competitions.

Tournament format and match officials

The tournament format featured a group stage with six groups feeding into a knockout phase that included round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, mirroring expansions discussed in UEFA competition committee meetings and adapting tie-breaking rules from IFAB approvals used in FIFA World Cup tournaments. Match officials were appointed by UEFA Referees Committee and included referees from Italy, England, Netherlands, Germany, and Spain, some of whom had officiated in 2014 FIFA World Cup matches or UEFA Champions League finals. Video technology debates referenced trials from competitions under IFAB auspices, although video assistant referee systems were not deployed at this event.

Group stage

The group stage produced a mix of predictable outcomes and surprises, with heavyweights like Germany and Spain competing alongside upset-minded sides such as Iceland and Wales. Key fixtures included matches at the Stade de France and the Stade Vélodrome that featured players from Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Juventus F.C., Arsenal F.C., and Chelsea F.C.. The ranking of third-placed teams used criteria consistent with UEFA tournament regulations and affected qualification into the round of 16 for teams like Republic of Ireland, Hungary, and Northern Ireland.

Knockout phase

The knockout phase saw elimination matches decided in regulation time, extra time, and penalty shoot-outs, with dramatic encounters involving Portugal against Poland and France overcoming Iceland. Semifinalists included Portugal and France, who both navigated fixtures featuring players affiliated with SL Benfica, Sporting CP, Atlético Madrid, and Manchester City F.C.. The final at the Stade de France ended 1–0 after extra time following an [injury]-time winning goal by a Portugal substitute, marking the nation's first major international title and prompting congratulations from figures associated with UEFA, FIFA, and national associations.

Statistics and awards

The tournament produced 108 goals across 51 matches, with leading goalscorers including players from France, Portugal, Belgium, and Poland. The UEFA Player of the Tournament award was given to Antoine Griezmann, while the Young Player Award went to Renato Sanches, who represented clubs such as Atlético Madrid's opponents and FC Bayern Munich's youth-scouted ranks. The Team of the Tournament and UEFA technical observers highlighted contributions from players plying their trade at Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Juventus F.C., and statistical analyses referenced data providers used by UEFA and broadcasters during coverage.

Category:UEFA European Championship tournaments