The European Soccer Championship, informally often known as ‘The Euros,’ is UEFA’s flagship competitors for its member nations.
The occasion boasts a wealthy historical past and has been a worldwide sporting attraction for many years.
Although the match first passed off in 1960, the concept behind it was shaped years earlier than.
UEFA’s first normal secretary, Henri Delaunay, proposed the concept of a European nationwide staff competitors within the Twenties.
Delauney’s dream grew to become a actuality when the primary version of the Euros was held in 1960 in France, however the Frenchman didn’t dwell to witness the achievement, having died in 1955.
In recognition of Delaunay’s function within the formation of the brand new competitors, the trophy – supplied by the French Soccer Federation – was named after him.
The inaugural Euros, a four-team competitors, ended with the Soviet Union rising as winners after beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in additional time within the remaining in Paris.
Spain hosted the following version in 1964 and gained the title by beating the holders Soviet Union 2-1 in Madrid.
The 1968 match was gained by hosts Italy, however their path to the ultimate was filled with drama.
The Italians reached the Euro 1968 remaining after a “coin-toss” victory over the Soviet Union within the semifinals – the one aggressive European worldwide to have been determined in such a way. The coin toss was finished after the groups performed out a goalless draw within the semifinals.
Within the title conflict, Italy and Yugoslavia drew 1-1 and compelled a replay two days later, which the Italians gained 2-0 to elevate the trophy on house soil.
The long-lasting ‘Panenka’ second
The Euros remained a four-team match in 1972 and 1976 as West Germany and Czechoslovakia emerged winners in respective editions earlier than the pool measurement expanded to eight groups in 1980.
Czechoslovakia’s 1976 title victory in opposition to West Germany gained recognition for Antonin Panenka’s penalty antics – the attacking midfielder softly chipped the ball up the center of the purpose, securing a 5-3 shootout win after the sport remained 2-2 on the finish of additional time.
His audacious penalty kick was the primary of its type in worldwide soccer and was later imitated a number of occasions by others, because the type got here to be often known as “a Panenka”, named after the Czech.
In 1980, eight groups participated because the match featured a bunch stage, a third-place playoff and the ultimate. West Germany gained their second European title by beating Belgium 2-1, due to a brace from Horst Hrubesch, together with a late header which sealed their win.
4 years later, France gained their first main title at house as they defeated Spain 2-0 within the remaining, with captain Michel Platini gaining limelight along with his 9 objectives in 5 matches.
The Netherlands gained the 1988 version in West Germany, beating the Soviet Union 2-0 within the remaining, which grew to become well-known for Marco van Basten’s volley over the goalkeeper from the correct wing.
The Euro 1992, held in Sweden, was gained by Denmark who pulled off a outstanding 2-0 victory over then-world champions Germany within the remaining.
Greece’s fairytale win and Spain’s back-to-back Euro dominance
The following 5 editions noticed an extra enlargement, as 16 groups participated within the finals.
Germany gained their first title as a united nation at Euro 1996 in England, beating the Czech Republic 2-1 within the remaining with the first-ever golden purpose at a serious match, scored by Oliver Bierhoff 5 minutes into additional time.
The Euro 2000 was the primary match to be held by two nations, the Netherlands and Belgium, and gained by France, who had been the reigning world champions at the moment. The French got here from a purpose down and went on to beat Italy 2-1 in additional time, due to the profitable golden purpose by David Trezeguet.
Greece pulled off an enormous upset at Euro 2004 by beating hosts Portugal 1-0 within the remaining. In the beginning of the match, bookmakers had been providing odds of 150-1 in opposition to the Greeks profitable the match.
Euro 2008 noticed Spain dominate the match with their goal-scoring prowess, as David Villa completed as the highest scorer with 4 strikes. They gained the title that 12 months after a 44-year wait with Fernando Torres’s purpose sealing a 1-0 win over Germany within the remaining in Vienna, Austria.
Spain grew to become the primary nation to defend their Euro title in 2012, profitable the match by thrashing Italy 4-0 within the remaining in Kyiv, Ukraine. The Euro title victory adopted their 2010 World Cup achievement because the “La Roja” grew to become the primary European staff to win three consecutive main tournaments.
The 2012 match was particular for Torres, who grew to become the primary participant to attain in two Euro finals and completed as a joint top-scorer with three objectives regardless of solely getting used instead throughout their marketing campaign.
Portugal’s unlikely victory and despair for England
From the 2016 version, the match expanded to a pool of 24 individuals.
At Euro 2016, Portugal completed third of their group, but made it to the ultimate, defeating hosts and favourites France 1-0 to elevate their first main trophy. Portugal’s star participant Cristiano Ronaldo suffered an harm within the first half, however Eder scored in additional time to seal their destiny.
The 2020 version was performed in 2021 as a result of delay attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a novel occasion format, matches had been unfold throughout 13 totally different European nations. The ultimate was held at London’s Wembley Stadium, the place England succumbed to a 3-2 penalty defeat to Italy after additional time ended 1-1.
England had been hoping to finish their 55-year await a serious soccer trophy, however they ended the night time experiencing the crushing agony of defeat as three of their kids – Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho – didn’t convert their penalty kicks. For Italy, it was their second Euro title after their 1968 success.
Euro 2024 will likely be held in Germany from June 14.
You’ll be able to comply with the motion on Al Jazeera’s devoted Euro 2024 match web page with all of the match build-up and dwell textual content commentary, and hold updated with group standings and real-time match outcomes and schedules.
