European Football Championship: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The UEFA European Championship (known as Euro year) is the main national football competition of the UEFA nations. Held every four years since 1960 it was originally called the European Nations Cup, changing to the name European Football Championship in 1968.

Until 1976 only four teams entered the final tournament. From 1980 eight teams competed and from 1996 sixteen teams played in the tournament. The competing teams are chosen by a series of qualifying games: in 1960 and 1964 through home and away play-offs; from 1968 through qualifying leagues and also play-off games. The host country/countries qualifies automatically.

Results

• 2008 Austria/Switzerland
• 2004 Portugal
  • Winners: Greece
  • Runners-up: Portugal
• 2000 Belgium/Netherlands
  • Winners: France
  • Runners-up: Italy
• 1996 England
  • Winners: Germany
  • Runners-up: Czech Republic
• 1992 Sweden
  • Winners: Denmark
  • Runners-up: Germany
• 1988 West Germany
  • Winners: Netherlands
  • Runners-up: USSR
• 1984 France
  • Winners: France
  • Runners-up: Spain
• 1980 Italy
  • Winners: West Germany
  • Runners-up: Belgium
• 1976 Yugoslavia
  • Winners: Czechoslovakia
  • Runners-up: West Germany
• 1972 Belgium
  • Winners: West Germany
  • Runners-up: USSR
• 1968 Italy
  • Winners: Italy
  • Runners-up: Yugoslavia
• 1964 Spain
  • Winners: Spain
  • Runners-up: USSR
• 1960 France
  • Winners: USSR
  • Runners-up: Yugoslavia

• Germany 3 (1972, 1980, 1996)
• France 2 (1984, 2000)
• USSR 1 (1960)
• Spain 1 (1964)
• Italy 1 (1968)
• Czechoslovakia 1 (1976)
• Netherlands 1 (1988)
• Denmark 1 (1992)
• Greece 1 (2004)