UEFA European Championship

The UEFA European Championship, commonly known as the Euros, is an international football competition staged every four years. The action begins with a qualifying campaign where each of European football’s competing nations aims to win a place at the competition proper, usually staged in the summer months of June and July.

When qualifying ends, the pack is reduced from 55 teams to just 24 for the finals, and those nations are organized into groups of four. Each team plays each other side in its group once before the best-performing sides progress to the knockout rounds. Games move from a round-robin format to straight elimination.

This article provides all the information you need on the UEFA European Championship.

A Brief History

The UEFA European Championship is one of the biggest international soccer competitions on the planet. It enjoys a global following, with thousands of fans attending games and millions more watching television and using the best live-streaming apps. But the tournament wasn’t always the blockbuster event football fans enjoy today, with UEFA cleverly growing and marketing the format over many years.

The first European Championship was staged in 1960 following many years of discussions. The Euros wasn’t the first competition of its kind with the Home Nations, and similar events had been staged before 1960. The French Football Federation worked tirelessly to bring the idea of an official European Championship to fruition, with the first event boasting just four teams with games staged in France. The Soviet Union beat Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final in Paris to kick-start what would become a huge attraction on the sports calendar every four years.

Spain won the second instalment when hosting the games in 1964, beating defending champions the Soviet Union in the final with a 2-1 scoreline at the home of La Liga giants Real Madrid. Interestingly, no nation won the trophy twice in the opening five instalments between 1960 and 1976, with Italy eventually adding to their 1968 success with glory in the 1980 renewal.

The Format of the UEFA European Championship

In this section of our review of the UEFA European Championship, we highlight the unique nature of the competition format. The more you understand how the tournament operates, the easier it will be to schedule your viewing to ensure you never miss a game.

Qualification Process

A team must battle through the qualification phase to qualify for the European Championship. We start with ten groups of five or six teams, each with the best two teams booking their place at the Championships. There’s then a playoff round for the best-performing losers. Each team plays every other in the group twice, once at home and once at their opponent’s home. Only the best teams survive and make it through.

Group Stage

When the final line-up is decided, another draw is made for the European Championship’s group stages. We have four teams in each pool, and they play each other once, with the two best teams progressing to the knockout stages. The 4 best third-placed teams are also qualifying to the next round. As all games are decided on neutral territory, there’s no need to play opponents twice. As is the case with major football tournaments today, teams receive three points for a win, one for a draw, and nothing for defeat.

Knockout Stage

The knockout stages of the tournament refer to every game and round played after the conclusion of the groups. As there are no points up for grabs, all games are played to a conclusion, leaving one winning team and one losing side. Extra time and penalties are available if needed. The eight-finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final are all knockout stages of the European Championship, and that’s when things get interesting. Teams can sometimes afford a draw in the groups, but there’s no safety net when playing elimination football.

Changes in Format Over the Years

The current format of the European Championship looks here to stay as it’s settled; teams know what’s expected, and it always gives fans a deserving champion at the end. However, the tournament has undergone some unique changes over the years. The championships grew from just four teams to the 24 used today, and it was once a straight knockout format from the start. TV deals and the increased number of participants helped usher in a new dawn for this popular competition.

The UEFA European Championship Trophy

The silver at the end of the rainbow is the world-famous UEFA European Championship trophy. But what’s the story behind the cup? Known as the Henri Delaunay Trophy, it’s named in honour of the first general secretary of UEFA, and it has kept its name to this day. However, it’s most commonly referred to as the European Championship trophy. Delaunay created the idea of a European Championship but died before seeing his dream become a reality. His name lives on in the spirit of the competition and the trophy awarded to the winners.

Past Champions

Let’s reflect on some of the most famous winners of the Henri Delaunay Trophy. Follow the table below.

*EURO 2020 is hosted by eleven countries, including Azerbaijan, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Russia and Spain.

Team		Number of Titles
	Germany	3
	Spain	3
	Italy	2
	France	2
	Russia	1
	Czech Republic	1
	Portugal	1
	Netherlands	1
	Denmark	1
	Greece	1

Top Goalscorers

Let’s briefly shift focus from the best teams to the best players. The table below shows the highest goalscorers in UEFA European Championship history. The list reads like a who’s who of European football, including a few memorable greats of the game.

• 1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 14
• 2. Michel Platini – 9
• 3. Antoine Griezmann – 7
• Alan Shearer – 7
• 5. Alvaro Morata – 6
• Thierry Henry – 6
• Romelu Lukaku – 6
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 6
• Patrick Kluivert – 6
• Nuno Gomes – 6
• Wayne Rooney – 6
• Ruud van Nistelrooy – 6

Interesting Facts and Statistics

There are many interesting facts and statistics associated with the UEFA European Championship. They have helped make it one of the most popular and best-followed football tournaments worldwide. Let’s now highlight some facts and stats you may not already know but could be useful in helping readers make predictions.

• The top three teams in terms of appearances at the UEFA European Championship are Germany, which has contested the prize 13 times already, and they sit just ahead of Russia with 12 and multi-champions Spain on 11 appearances.
• The UEFA European Championship final with the highest crowd will go down in history. Which game set a new record for attendance? The 1964 final, held in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, had 79,115 spectators who watched on as Spain beat the Soviet Union 2-1 to lift the trophy and delight fans.
• When attempting to predict the winner of the next European Championship, stick with the most successful sides. Which three teams have the most wins in this competition? Germany leads the way with 27 wins at this level, and they lead Italy, Spain and France each of which has 21 wins.
• Does the venue and the host nation play a part in deciding a winner? Let’s focus on the countries that have hosted the European Championship the most times. This one is a tie between Italy and France, which have hosted it three times.
• Finally, the highest-scoring player in one UEFA European Championship is Michel Platini of France scored nine goals in 1984.

Iconic Stadiums of the UEFA European Championship

Big games and huge competitions deserve big stadiums and huge arenas. It’ll come as no surprise to learn that some of Europe’s most famous football stadiums, including the old and new Wembley Stadiums, have hosted the UEFA European Championship final. Which other venues have enjoyed the privilege of hosting a European Championship final?

Let’s showcase the best of the best. Many of these stadiums were famous in their own right before hosting Europe’s biggest international football game, while some others were made famous by the competition.

Parc des Princes

The iconic stadium in the French capital Paris forever remains in history as the first football stadium to host a tournament final. In 1960, the venue hosted the final match between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, which was won by the Soviet Union after extra time. At the 1984 finals, the Parc des Princes was again in the limelight, hosting a second European Championship final, this time won by hosts France after defeating Spain.

Stadio Olimpico

Think major football stadiums and the Stadio Olimpico will feature in any fan’s top five. It’s a breathtaking arena known for hosting major games and events. It was no surprise when the Euros came to Rome, not once but twice. The venue didn’t disappoint, providing players, fans, and coaches with everything they needed to put on a show. Thankfully, everyone involved lived up to expectations on both occasions.

Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium in London, England, is known as the spiritual home of football. It hosted two European Championship finals, first in 1996 and then again in Euro 2020. The 2020 tournament was staged in the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns. Italy beat England in the final as the host nation tried to win its first European trophy. That game went to penalties, with the Italians holding their nerve from the spot to silence the crowd.

Santiago Bernabeu

The home of Spanish football giants Real Madrid is also the home of the European Championship, providing the setting for the 1964 final. It’s a fitting venue with a huge capacity, steeped in history, and has housed some of the most famous and gifted players. The deciding match paired Spain and the Soviet Union before a record-breaking audience – 79,115.

Influence on European Football

At a time when club football tests players to breaking point with a breathless schedule, the leading stars always make time to compete in the UEFA European Championship, proving it’s as big a draw today as it ever was. The competition showcased some of the best players while helping to make some other household names. Some talented young players even used this platform to show what they could do, catching the eye of fans and the scouts of some major European club teams, like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

Are you ready for the next UEFA European Championship to begin? The next round is fast approaching, and you can predict the winner and the top goalscorer at the leading online sportsbooks. The top bookies offer odds on the champion as well as several exciting specials. Name the finalists, predict how far England will go, predict the top goalscorer or player of the tournament, and more. Traders working for the biggest gambling apps ensure there’s something for everyone. Calling the result will help boost your enjoyment.