European Championship HistoryBefore 1980, only four teams qualified for the final tournament. From 1980 eight teams competed and in 1996 the tournament expanded again to the current number of teams, 16. The competing teams are chosen by a series of qualifying games: in 1960 and 1964 through home and away play-offs; from 1968 through a combination of both qualifying groups and play-off games. The host country was selected from the four finalists after they were determined through qualifying. Since the expansion of the final tournament starting from 1980, the host country, or countries, have been chosen beforehand and qualify automatically.
Sixteen teams progressed into the final of the tournament as the winners and runners up of the seven qualifying groups and joint hosts Austria and Switzerland. These sixteen teams were then divided equally into four groups, A, B, C and D, each consisting of four teams. The groups were drawn up by the UEFA administration, again using seeding. The seeded teams being the host nations, the reigning champions, subject to qualification, and those with the best points per game over the qualifying phase of the tournament.
The four groups are again played in a league format, where a team plays its opponents once each. The same points system is used (three points for a win, one point for a draw, no points for a defeat). A schedule for the group matches will be drawn up, but the last two matches in a group must kick off simultaneously. The winner and runner-up of each group progresses to the quarter-finals, where a knockout system is used, this is used in all subsequent rounds as well. The winners of the quarter-finals matches progress to the semi-finals, where the winners play in the final. If in any of the knockout rounds after normal playing time, the scores are still equal, extra time and penalties are employed to separate the two teams.
Legendary Goalkeeper Lev Yashin
Like the World Cup and the European Champion Clubs’ Cup before it, the European Nations’ Cup (as it was then known) was the brainchild of a Frenchman, in this case Henri Delaunay, the secretary of the French Football Federation. The tournament was almost stillborn as it struggled to gain the required sixteen entrants, with all the British countries along with Italy and West Germany sitting it out.Whereas today the Host Country is nominated years before the tournament, in 1960 the final four teams would move on to the final tournament, whose host was selected after the teams became known. From 1958 onwards the teams would play home-and-away matches until the semi-finals. France qualified as the only non-Eastern Bloc country among the four final teams, along with the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. The UEFA European Football Championship, then called the European Nations Cup, was the first European Football Championship, held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. The final tournament was held in France. It was won by the Soviet Union 2-1 who beat Yugoslavia in Paris after playing the full 90 minutes and then extra time. The tournament was a knockout competition; just 17 teams entered with some notable absences (West Germany and Italy among them). The teams would play home-and-away matches until the semi-finals; the final four teams would move on to the final tournament, whose host was selected after the teams became known.
The Founder Henri Delaunay
The 1960 European Nations Cup format was very different from the tournament we know today. Just 17 teams took part in the competition and only 4 of those travelled to the finals in France. As has happened so often, politics came into sport when Spain refused to travel to the USSR (on the orders of General Franco) and the Soviets were given a bye to semi final. Politics didn't stop 3 Eastern Bloc countries travelling to France for the finals which saw the USSR win the inaugural tournament in front of 18,000 people in the Parc de Princes in Paris. Spain refused to travel to the Soviet Union and withdrew from the tournament, so the final four had three Eastern Bloc countries: USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia, to go with hosts.
France. In the semi-finals, the Soviets made easy work of Czechoslovaks in Marseille, beating them 3-0. The other match saw a nine-goal thriller as Yugoslavia came on top 5-4, coming back from two-goal lead twice. Czechoslovakia beat the demoralized French 2-0 for third place. In the final, Yugoslavia scored first, but the Soviet Union, led by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin, equalized in the 49th minute. After 90 minutes the score was 1-1, and Viktor Ponedelnik scored with seven minutes left in extra time to give the Soviets the inaugural European Championship.
vious tournament in 1930, surprisingly did not participate. So immediately one of the main attractions was missing. This was the first and last time the previous winners did not show up for the next championships. There was 16 teams took part in the tournament. Argentina and Brazil took part, but booth with average teams. Therefore the Europeans and especially were favorites for the title. With the fascist dictator Mussolini behind his team, everything was set up for Italy. Players such as Orsi, Monti, and De Maria from Argentina were drafted into the Italian squad after it was found they had double nationalities. The championships was no victory for football, but Mussolini and the Italians were pleased with the outcome.
he third championships, there were 36 nations involved. Norway reached the finals for the first time. The last championships were won by the hosts, but that was to change. Again were Italy the winners. This tournament the football was played in a more mature and collective way, with more speed and technical play. Three players stood out above others, Meazza, Ferrari and Fiola. The draw for the first round was done in Paris on March 5. 1938.
Czechoslovakia and Argentina didn't participate either. Most countries in the world used the years 1945-50 to rebuild their countries. As Usual, Brazil was the biggest favorite of the tournament. Uruguay could not be written off, they had won three championships in a row (OL-24, OL-28, VC-30), and had since not participated in following tournaments. The final between Brazil and Uruguay was played in front of amazing 203 000 people. Brazil had impressed everyone in the early stages and took the lead 1-0. Uruguay could hardly get out of their own half, but still managed to score 2 goals. One of the biggest upsets in football history.
“Magyars”, who were undefeated in 31 games over 4 years, met West-Germany in the final of the 5th World-Cup. Just two weeks ago, Hungary had defeated West-Germany by 8-3 in a group game. Unluckily, this time they lost 3-2 to the confusion of all football lovers. This legendary team who many regard as one of the best ever never would become world champions. After the World-Cup they continued to win and win until thousands of Russian tanks rolled into Budapest in November 1956. The end of an era.
stars in 1958, who rewrote the history books. Hundreds of Swedish flooded to the Brazilian training ground to catch a glimpse of their ball control and tecnique. This championship would be the breakthrough for a 17 year old boy from Sao-Paulo, Pele. This young man amazed the world with his skills and goals. In the final against the hosts, Brazil won 5-2 with Pele scoring 2 of the goals. The semi final and final together he scored 5 goals! Arguably footballs biggest star was born.
ed, and inspired millions of kids to start playing. It was a championship where different styles came against each other. As proved in the final where the passing and skillful Brazilians met the tactical and physical Italians. Football won that day as Brazil won 4-1 playing some of the best football ever seen. Again Pele was inspirational along with Jairzinho, Gerson, Felix and Carlos Alberto. They showed the world how football should be played. 1970 proved to be the farewell to who many regard as the greatest, Pele.
between Europe and South-America, but that proved difficult as fewer countries in South-America were equipped to host such a big arrangement. The choice of Argentina was a crisis solution. They had the capacities to be hosts, but the economical and political situations were problems. Because of these issues it was important that this arrangement went well for Argentina. The tournament itself was not of high standard as stars as Beckenbauer had retired and Cruyff did not show up. England had not qualified and Brazil was rebuilding their side. Argentina won the championship as hosts.
the Spanish team suffered under the pressure of playing on home ground. And the two teams who ended up in the final, was the teams who suffered the hardest critics in the early rounds. In this World-Cup the discipline prevailed and Italy and West-Germany met in the final. Italy won the final 3-1, while the rest of the world cried for France and Brazil.
after Mexico 86. He stunned the world, after he almost on his own won the championships for Argentina. They beat Federeal Republic of Germany 3-2 in the final, and never before had one player had such influence in a victory. He scored five incredible goals and had a lot of assists. Maybe the greatest footballer of all time.
“Squadra Azzura” and their famous “tifosi” was the natural favourites. Argentina, East-Germany and Brazil were also hungry for a gold medal. Italys dream ended when Maradona sent them out in the semi finals. Argentina met West-Germany and lost 1-0.
the first time it was hosted in another place than Europe and South-America and also the first time in a country were the interest was rather small. And Norway was qualified for the first time in modern time. Brazil and Italy clashed together in the final. Italy, led by Roberto Baggio struggled through after beating Bulgaria in the semi finals. Brazil, led by striker Romario and Bebeto sent Sweden out in the semi. For the first time the final ended 0-0, and a penalty shootout had to decide a winner. Brazil won for the fourth time with Roberto Baggio missing one of them.
league is rather poor. FIFA was created in an alley in Paris in 1904, UEFA was created by Frenchmen. Because of that France was chosen as World-Cup hosts. This World-Cup should be the big breakthrough for the French playmaker Zinedine Zidane (Zizou). Norway shocked the world by beating Brazil in the first round. Even though Brazil passed through and made it to the final. They faced a strong French side and lost 3-0 after two goals by Zidane.
went in Asia. And for the very first time it was split between two nations, Co-host Japan and South-Korea. Argentina was the big favorite, followed by the title holders France, and as always Brazil. But this tournament turned up to be a big failure to the big team. The title holder, France were defeated by Senegal by a solitary goal in the opening match. Both France and Argentina failed to qualify through the first rounds. And an incredible comeback of Ronaldo helped Brazil to the final. In the final Brazil faced Germany and won 2-0 after two goals by Ronaldo.
