Euro Cup History

Just looking at the Euro Cup history it is easy to understand why it has become so popular. The European Championships were first held in 1960 and were originally called the Uefa European Nations Cup. Initially it was hard to get many teams to compete, but by 1968 the tournament when it changed its name to the European Football Championship.

Interesting fact!: Up until 1976 only four teams entered the final tournament.

Euro 1960


Highlights:
  • Spain was eliminated from the tournament when Gen. Francisco Franco's government refused to let the Spanish team travel to Moscow.


    • Winner: USSR

    Euro 1964


    Highlights:
  • Largest crowd in championship history -- 125,000 at Santiago Bernabeu


    • Winner: Spain

    Euro 1968


    Highlights:
  • Name was changed from the Nations Cup to the European Championship


    • Winner: Italy

    Euro 1972


    Highlights:
  • Muller, netted a remarkable 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany.


    • Winner: Germany

    Euro 1976


    Highlights:
  • Czechoslovakia won on penalties


    • Winner: Czechoslovakia

    Euro 1980


    Highlights:
  • The final field was increased to eight teams from four


    • Winner: Germany

    Euro 1984


    Highlights:
  • Spanish 'keeper Luis Arconada knocked the first goal over his own line.


    • Winner: France

    Euro 1988


    Highlights:
  • Only three of the eight finalists from '84 qualified, including France.


    • Winner: Netherlands

    Euro 1992


    Highlights:
  • U.N. sanctions forced out war-torn Yugoslavia


    • Winner: Denmark

    Euro 1996


    Highlights: First Golden Goal in a major international championship

    Winner: Germany

    Euro 2000


    Highlights:
  • Sylvain Wiltord shocked Italy by scoring the game 3 1/2 minutes into injury time when the Italians were leading the whole match with David Trezeguet scoring the Golden Goal winner 13 minutes to win France their 2nd euro championship


    • Winner: France

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