Championship of Europe of football

The Championnat of Europe of football is the most important male competition European of Football between Nation S. Créé in 1960, it is organized by UEFA every four years, at the time of the even years during which there is no world cup. At its beginnings, this competition was called “ Coupe of Europe of the nations ” before being renamed “ Championnat of Europe of the Nations ” starting from 1968. The nickname Euro followed year when it takes place is often preferred to him. Some call it also but more rarely “ Coupe Henri-Delaunay ”, of the name of its creator.

On the sporting level, much regard this competition as the second more important competition of football between nations after the world cup, because of its difficulty and of the quality of the European nations.

There exists an equivalent competition for the women: the Championship of Europe of female football. There exist also equivalent competitions in the five other continental unions of football.

The 13 {{E}} edition will take place of the 7 to the June 29th 2008 in Suisse and Austria.

History

Cut of Europe of the nations

In 1927, the general secretary of the French federation of football Henri Delaunay puts forward the idea to organize a continental competition on the European territory which will not end for lack of absence of a European organization. In 1954, the UEFA is born and decides to study this project. She announces that the first edition will take place in 1960.

The first Cut of Europe of the nations begins in an original format where the teams clash by turns and matches return ticket and this until in semi-final where the four semi-finalists decide on a country host to dispute their semi-finals there (on a match this time), the match of the third place (between the two eliminated semi-finalists) and the final.

In 1960, the first edition is completed in France. 17 nations only take share with the qualifications (no British nation took share there). The final, played with Paris, is gained 2-1 by the the USSR taken along by Lev Yachine vis-a-vis the Yugoslavia during the prolongations. The USSR becomes thus the first nation to register its name on the trophy. One notes that a quarterfinal was discussed between the Spain and the USSR where Spanish via Franco refused to let them enter on their territory, by consequence the USSR gained this match over green carpet

At the time of the following edition, in 1964, the competition is again disturbed by policy issues, indeed, the Greece refuses to face the Albania because of a conflict between the two nations. The final stage takes place in Spain where the Iberian selection beats holding them of the Soviet titles 2-1 with Madrid in front of 125.000 spectators.

The Championship of Europe of the Nations

For the edition 1968, the UEFA re-elects its competition in Championnat of Europe of the Nations and decides to modify the format. Indeed, the qualifications for the final stage are divided into eight groups, the nations arriving at the head of each group clashing in quarterfinals (by matches return ticket) to determine the four nations which dispute the semi-finals in Italy. It is the organizing country, which gains test 2-0 against Yugoslavia, after a match rejoué following tie 1-1 initially, this victory enables them to forget surprising to them elimination with the world cup 1966 against the North Korea.

For the test of 1972, the same diagram is retained, and it is with the tower of the Belgium to organize the final stage. The West Germany with Gerd Müller gains the edition by beating the USSR 3-0.

During the edition of 1976, the format is again renewed, the final stage taking place in Yugoslavia. The competition is gained by the Czechoslovakia against the West Germany to the shootings with the goals, at the conclusion of a match during which Czechoslovakian the Antonin Panenka makes a success of its Penalty with a flick in full center of the cage held by Sepp Maier, gesture which since door its name.

Widening with eight teams for the final stage

For the edition of 1980, the UEFA decides to modify the format of the final stage, first of all while making it possible eight teams to take part in it. The teams are divided into two groups of four teams, and the winner of each group qualifies himself for the final. The West Germany gains the competition for the second time, this time against the Belgium 2-1 thanks to one doubled of Horst Hrubesch.

For the Euro 1984 which is held in France, the format is again modified: the two first of each group will dispute a semi-final to be able to reach the finale. The France finally gains the test in residence by being essential 2-0 against the Spain, thanks to goals of Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone. At the time of the competition, Platini carries out a total record of nine goals, three of the left foot, three of the right foot and three of the head. This record was still not beaten, the second best performance of a striker during one Euro being of 6 goals. Lastly, the UEFA decides not to more make play the match for the third place as it was the case before.

For the edition of 1988 which is held in West Germany, it is with the turn of Marco van Basten to hold the role of man of the tournament while making it possible the Netherlands to finally impose itself against the USSR thanks to a goal which will be indicated more beautiful goal of the tournament.

The same format is renewed for the Euro 1992 which is held in Sweden. Yugoslavia is excluded from the final stage because of the Civil war which is held there, and is replaced by the Denmark which creates the general surprise by gaining tournament 2-0 against the Germany reunified.

Widening with sixteen teams for the final stage

After the bursting of the Soviet Union, a big number of new nations adhere to the UEFA starting from 1992. Israel also decides to join the UEFA because of its bad agreement with the Arab nations. With qualifications concerning 48 nations instead of the 32 for the preceding campaigns, the UEFA decides to widen the number of participants in the final stage from eight to sixteen teams starting from the Euro 1996 which is held in England. The format of the final stage changes with the introduction of four hens of four teams, two the best of each hen are qualified for the quarterfinals. It is also decided into practice to put the But out of gold. It is besides by this system that Germany gains the competition against the Czech Republic, thanks to a goal of Oliver Bierhoff in the prolongations.

For the Euro 2000, the UEFA decides to grant the organization of the final stage to two nations: the Belgium and the Netherlands. It is again by a goal out of gold that the winner is designated in the event of prolongation; indeed France world champion in title gains the tournament against the Italy, David Trezeguet marking the goal of the victory.

The Euro 2004 is organized with the Portugal, the goal out of gold is abandoned with the profit of the But silver. The Greece is essential 1-0 against the organizing country.

The Euro 2008 will take place in Suisse and Austria with a format similar to the preceding Euro.

For the Euro 2012 which will be held in Poland and Ukraine, the UEFA declares that there is will have 16 qualified. On the other hand, for the Euro 2016 there exists a discussion around a project which would make it possible to organize the competition with 24 nations for the final stage.

Organization

Organized every four years the even years in two years shift with the world cup to be complementary and the installation of a great competition every two years concerning the European nations UEFA supervises all the organization that is on the sporting level, lawful, commercial and financial. The choice of the country or the organizing countries is carried out after deposition of the candidatures at least five years before the final tournament by a vote within the executive committee of the UEFA.

Of 1960 with 1976, the choice of the organizing country is carried out by an agreement between the four semi-finalists, before in 1980 the UEFA decides to set up a true final tournament with hen matches and a final stage. Three countries already organized the competition twice: the France (1960 and 1984), the Belgium (1972 and 2000) and the Italy (in 1968 and 1980), but in general the UEFA privilege diversity on its choice, thus one could see many countries organizing this tournament (Spain, Yugoslavia, Germany, Sweden, England, Netherlands, Portugal) and the next championships of Europe do not derogate from the rule since that in 2008 that will be with the turn of the tandem Suisse - Austria then in 2012 of the tandem Poland - Ukraine.

With each final stage, several stages are retained to make it possible to the country-host better to distribute his efforts and that the entire country can benefit from the event which flashes back on the economic plan and social. For the Euro 2008, eight stages (four in Switzerland and four in Austria) are concerned.

Course of the competition

Since its beginnings, the tournament includes qualificative phases and a final tournament. Gradually the number of nations within the UEFA increased what made it possible to increase the number of places in final stage (four of 1960 with 1976, eight of 1984 with 1992 then sixteen of 1996 with 2008). Since 1980, the organizing country of the final stage is directly qualified there without having to pass the qualificative phases.

Phase of qualification

Seventeen nations took share with the qualificative phase in 1960 for four places with the final tournament. This qualificative phase was a succession of turn per match return ticket with direct elimination, diagram reproduces in 1964. In 1968, the UEFA decided to set up groups of qualification (eight on the whole) where each team inside her group disputes a mini-championship with match return ticket and where only the first reached the quarterfinals which determined the four participants in the final tournament, formulates taken back until in 1976. In 1980 with the installation of a true final tournament with designation of the country-host (which was found thus qualified office) and because of the increase in the nations affiliated to the UEFA (33 nations), each winner of its group of qualification is qualified for the final tournament.

A true upheaval takes place for the Euro 1996 with the explosion of the Soviet Union and of the Yugoslavia inter alia, 47 nations are then affiliated with the UEFA, consequently fifteen places are concerned for the final stage (the England being qualified of office as a country-host). The seven qualifiers groups which related to four to five nations pass to eight groups of five to six nations. For the Euro 2004, it there with the installation of ten groups of five nations, all the first are qualified and the second clash in stoppings for the six remaining places. Finally for the Euro 2008, the UEFA sets up seven groups of seven to eight nations, the two first of each group are qualified for the final stage.

Final stage

Of 1960 with 1976, the final stage included/understood only semi-finals, a match for the third place and the final, relating to only four nations. Starting from 1980, eight nations had the possibility of taking part in the final stage, they were divided into two hens with only one match against each adversary, the first of each hen disputed the final, the seconds the match for the third place. the Euro 1984 disputes on the same diagram except that the two first of each hen were qualified for the semi-finals which determined the two finalists, but one gave up the match for the third place.

In 1996, the final tournament increases with sixteen teams, divided into four hens of four teams, the two first is qualified for the quarterfinals, comes then the semi-finals and the final and it is thus since this tournament in England since for the Euro 2008, again sixteen teams will be concerned with the final stage.

Participation

This table shows, with each edition of the competition, the number of participating nations ( Total ), the number of nations taking share to the final stage ( Final stage ), the number of qualified nations of office as country-hosts ( Qualifiés office ) and the number of nations having taken share with the qualifications and managing to qualify itself for the final stage ( Qualifiés ).

The Trophy

The “trophy Henri Delaunay”, which rewards the winner of the championship for Europe, was named thus in homage to Henri Delaunay which had put forward the idea to organize this competition, but is deceased five years before the first edition in 1960. This trophy was created by Arthur Bertrand in Paris in 1960. Above the names of the winners are registered, who receive a reduced counterpart.

If a nation consecutively gains the trophy three times or at five recoveries, she sees herself giving an identical counterpart of the trophy. However, no nation still reached that point.

Prize list

Assessment by nation

Better strikers of each final stage

A title of better striker is concerned with each final stage of the Euro. It was not very significant between 1960 and 1976 since the qualified nations disputed only two matches in final stage, but that did not prevent large strikers from registering their name with the prize list, in particular the German Gerd Müller (1972) and Dieter Müller (1976), the Yougoslaves Drazan Jerkovic (1960) and Dragan Dzadic (1968), the Soviet Valentine Ivanov (1960) or the Hungarian Ferenc Bene (1964).

Starting from the Euro 1980, the final stage disputes on more than two matches, which makes it possible under better striker to take importance. In 1980 another German registers his name: Klaus Allofs with three goals. At the time of the Euro 1984, the French Michel Platini beats the record to seize the title with nine goals (current record) in five matches, more especially as it marked three times of the left foot, three of the right foot and three times of the head. In 1988, the Dutch Marco van Basten makes it possible its team to gain the title with its five goals. In 1992, four players arrive at equality with three goals each one: Dennis Bergkamp, Divided into volumes Brolin, Henrik Larsen and Karl-Heinz Riedle.

In 1996, the final stage is modified for sixteen teams. The two nations which arrive until finally dispute six matches thus on the whole. The English Alan Shearer seizes the title with five goals. With the Euro 2000, the Yugoslavian Savo Milosevic and the Netherlander Patrick Kluivert with six goals take down this trophy.

Lastly, at the time of the Euro 2004, it is the Czech Milan Baros which finishes better striker with five goals.

Several players made a success of a triplet in final stage: Dieter Müller against Yugoslavia in 1976, Klaus Allofs against the Netherlands in 1980, Michel Platini against Yugoslavia and Belgium in 1984, Marco van Basten against England in 1988 and Patrick Kluivert against Yugoslavia in 2000.

See also: List of the strikers of the Championship of Europe of football

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