15 Facts About the European Championship That Will Surprise You

June 17, 2024

A European Championship Podium That No Longer Exists

The first edition of the European Championship took place in 1960.

Having qualified for the quarter-finals, Francoist Spain expected to face the Soviet Union, but the Spanish dictator withdrew the team for political reasons.

Franco, a staunch anti-communist, did not want Spain to play against the USSR.

Thus, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and France played in the semi-finals, and the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia advanced to the final.

Led by Ballon d’Or-winning goalkeeper Lev Yashin, the USSR defeated Yugoslavia in extra time, in the final on July 10.

The podium, therefore, consisted of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, nations that no longer exist today.

Heads or Tails

In the history of the European Championship, a coin toss decided the outcome of only one match.

It was June 5, 1968, in Naples, at the then San Paolo Stadium.

It was the semi-final, and Italy faced the Soviet Union.

After extra time, the score remained 0-0: a coin toss decided the qualification.

In referee Kurt Tschenscher’s locker room, a franc was tossed, which got stuck on the first try but on the second declared Italy the winner.

The European Championship of the Replayed Match

But even the final on June 8 in Rome, against Yugoslavia, ended once again in a draw after extra time.

This time, no coin toss; the rules were clear: the final had to be replayed.

On June 10, Italy triumphed thanks to goals by Riva and Anastasi, in what remains the only replayed final in history.

The Panenka Penalty

The first “Panenka” penalty was taken at the European Championship.

It was the day of the final, June 20, 1976, in Belgrade, at the last penalty of Czechoslovakia-West Germany.

A brave Panenka, midfielder of Bohemians Prague, gave victory to Czechoslovakia by inventing that shot, which would soon become legendary.

The Last and the First

But Czechoslovakia-West Germany concluded the 1976 European Championship and also opened the next one, the only case in the history of the competition.

This time, the outcome was in favor of Germany, who won thanks to a goal by Rummenigge.

The First and the Last

Similarly, Greece-Portugal was both the first and last match of Euro 2004.

Greece won both matches and, unexpectedly, the European Championship, dashing the hopes of Portugal, the host country of that edition.

Eternal Runners-Up of the European Championship

The final at Wembley Stadium in London against Italy in 2021 was not enough to break the English curse.

England remains the national team that has played the most matches in the European Championship without ever winning the trophy.

The Danish Tale

In 1992, due to the conflict in the Balkans that led to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the latter did not participate in the European Championship.

Denmark was called up ten days before the first match.

The journey was long, but it continued, and in the semi-finals, they faced the defending champions, the Dutch Gullit and Van Basten.

Coach Nielsen knew he had good players but not a team, so he organized a trip to a fast food joint to bond the group.

The Danish national team not only defeated the Netherlands on penalties (Peter Schmeichel saved Van Basten’s penalty), but they also triumphed in the final against Germany, becoming champions of Sweden 1992.

The Drama in the Fairytale

Among the Danish heroes of 1992 was Kim Vilfort, who joined the national team despite his 8-year-old daughter Line’s severe leukemia.

Vilfort left the training camp in Sweden to visit her whenever he could.

During one of the visits, the little girl asked him to promise her that Denmark would lift the Cup.

The rest is history: Vilfort scored one of the goals in the 2-0 final victory.

Line died shortly after that incredible triumph.

Record Doublets in the European Championship

In the history of the European Championship, only two players have managed to score a brace in one minute.

They are Dražan Jerković in 1960 and Henrik Larsson in 2004.

Further and Faster

The record for the furthest goal belongs to Czech striker Patrik Schick.

A magic shot from 45.4 meters against Scotland on June 14, 2021.

The fastest goal record, however, belongs to Russian Dmitrij Kiričenko, who scored against Greece in 2004 just 67 seconds into the match.

But, after Italy-Albania on Saturday 15 June 2024, the fastest goal became that of Nedim Bajrami, scored after just 23 seconds.

Bierhoff’s Golden Goal

The first official golden goal was scored by Pierluigi Orlandini in 1994, during the final of the European Under-21 Championship, coached by Cesare Maldini.

Two years later, Oliver Bierhoff scored the first golden goal in a senior national team competition, crowning Germany’s victory against the Czech Republic.

The Only One in the History of the European Championship

Berti Vogts, former player and coach of the German national team, is the only one, at least for now, to have won in both roles.

In 1972 as a player, and in 1996 as a coach.

The Most Played Match

With 7 previous encounters (1980, 1988, 2008, twice in 2012, 2016, and 2021), Italy-Spain is the most played match in the history of the European Championship.

Another clash is scheduled for June 20 in Gelsenkirchen.

The current record stands at 2 wins for Italy, 1 for Spain, and 4 draws.

They Always Come Back

In 2012, the Italian national team faced Ireland, coached by Giovanni Trapattoni, who had the chance to beat his home country.

He did not succeed, losing 2-0.

The same happened to English-born Jackie Charlton in 1988 with Ireland and Dutch national Guus Hiddink in 2008 with Russia.

Both, however, emerged victorious.

If you’d like a free consultation to discover what kind of sponsorship might suit you, contact us. We’re waiting for you!