A brief review.
France 1960
The first championship, then known as the European Nations Cup, drew a cautious response. Only 17 countries entered; the absentees included Italy, West Germany and England.
The qualifying formula was a direct elimination knockout system with home and away legs. THen the semi-finals and Final were played as a tournament.
Cold War politics threatened to kill off the event almost as soon as it had begun. After beating Hungary, the Soviet Union were drawn against Spain in the quarter-finals, but Spanish dictator General Franco refused the Soviets entry to his country.
UEFA awarded the tie to the USSR, who thus qualified for the finals, staged in France.
In the semis, the Soviet Union, with the great Lev Yashin in goal, threashed Czechoslovakia 3-0 in Marseille; the hosts, hit by the absence of injured forawrd Just Fontaine and schemer Raymond Kopa, lost a thriller against Yugoslavia, 5-4, at the old Parc des Princes in Paris.
The same venue staged the Final. The first goal was almost an own goal, Soviet skipper Igor Netto deflecting in a shot from Milan Galic. But right winger Slava Metreveli equalised and forward Viktor Ponedelnik claimed an extra time winner for the Soviets.
Spain 1964
The Soviet Union, the holders, were favourites to retain the trophy in its second edition. In 1960, Spain had refused to play the Soviets for political reasons. Four years on, they not only provided a host's welcome for them, but they also met them in the Final - and beat them.
The tournament format was the same as in 1960, with the early rounds played on a home-and-away basis. In the quarter finals, Spain beat the Republic of Ireland 7-1 on aggregate, while the Soviet Union accounted for Sweden 4-2. Denmark and hungary also qualified for the finals.
The Danes were well beaten by the Soviets in their Barcelona semi final, 3-0. Spain, meanwhile, relied heavily on the midfield brilliance of Luis Suarez, who had developed a wonderful understanding with speedy right winger Amancio. The pair sparked a 2-1 win over Hungary in Madrid.
Spain, coached by the shrewd Jose Villalonga, took an early lead in the Madrid-staged Final, through Barcelona's Jesus Pereda. But they stayed ahead for just two minutes, with Galmizyan Khusainov striking back for the Soviets. However, a late second half goal from Zaragoza forward Marcelino was the signal for Spanish celebrations.
Italy 1968
For the second tournament in succession, the hosts ended up as champions. But unlike Spain for years earlier, Italy struggled and teetered on the brink of failure before defeating a ruggedly skillful Yugoslavia in a replayed Final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
By now the European Championship was recognised as a major success and an established feature of the international football calendar. more and more countries applied to take part, so UEFA converted the qualifying competition from the direct elimination knockout system used in the first two editions into a mini-league formula.
Italy, under the managership of Ferruccio Valcareggi, overcame Cyprus, Switzerland and Romania in their qualifying group, and then Bulgaria in the knockout quarter-finals to reach the finals tournament.
The other finalists were the experienced Yugoslavia and Soviet Union, as well as world champions England, who had beaten European Championship holders Spain in the quarter-finals.
Italy brought to the finals a squad that included great figures such as goalkeeper Dino Zoff, left back and captain Giacino Facchetti and attackers Pietro Anastasi and Luigi Riva. But for all the talent, they needed the luck of a toss of a coin to earn a place in the Final after their semi against the Soviets in Naples finished goalless after extra time (the penalty shoot out had yet to be introduced into top level competition)
In the other semi, Yugoslavia beat England 1-0 in Florence. THe occassion was doubly disappointing for England boss Sir Alf Ramsey. Not only did England lose, but wing half Alan Mullery suffered the disgrace of becoming the first player sent off while representing his country in a senior international.
Left winger Dragan Dzajic inspired the Slavs and scored the goal, five minutes from time.
Yugoslavia's performance persuaded many observers that they were likely to defeat Italy in the Final. But while Dzajic did give the Slavs the lead, shortly before half time, Italy's workhorse right winger Angelo Domenghini equalised from a controversial free kick with 10 minutes remaining. Extra time failed to provide any more goals so the Final went to a replay two days later, again at the Olimpico.
Italy, with five fresh players, were too resourceful in attack for the Slavs, with Riva and Anastasi perpetual dangers. Both scored goals in the first half, while Facchetti and co at the back shut up shop in the second.
Italy were champions for Europe for - remarkably - the first and only time.
Man of the Tournament
Dragan Dzajic
The Red Star Belgrade left winger - dubbed "Magic Dragan" by the English media - tormented the England defence in the semi final, but Italy took much greater care of him in the Final.
Belgium 1972
No team have won back to back European Championships, and Italy's defence of their 1968 crown was halted by Belgium in the quarter-finals.
The Azzurri were held goalless in Milan, then beaten 2-1 in Brussels. The Belgian goals came from Wilfried Van Moer and Paul Van Himst, midfield general and attacking spearhead respectively of a team whose success also won them the vote to play hosts to the finals of the newly re-named competition. What had been known as the European Nations Cup now became the European Championship.
Belgium were not, however, the most outstanding team of the tournament. That honour - very clearly - went to West Germany. Manager Helmut Schoen cast aside the ageing stars who had taken West Germany to third place at the 1970 World Cup. The retirement of Uwe Seeler had forced Schoen to rebuild his attack, and, while he was at it, he took the opportunity to alter the shape of his team.
The top two German clubs of the era, Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach, provided all the key players for a team that were worthy European champions; possibly even the finest team ever to win the tournament.
The superb understanding between Bayern sweeper Franz Beckenbauer and Borussia playmaker Gunter Netzer was crucial. Helping, supporting and pulling the opposition all over the place were adventurous young left back Paul Breitner and hard working attacking midfielders Herbert Wimmer and Uli Hoeness. Ahead of them, Gerd Muller, one of the greatest opportunists in international football history, provided the cutting edge.
West Germany reached the four-team finals tournament by beating England in the quarter finals; the Soviet Union and Hungary complreted the finals line-up.
The latter two met at Brussels' Parc Astrid, with the Soviets encountering few problems on their way to what was their third final in four European Championships. In the other semi, in Antwerp, Belgium fell 2-1 to West Germany. uller scored both the visitors' goals as his side cruised into the Final at Brussels' Heysel stadium.
Victory was achieved more easily than Schoen had believed possible. The Soviets were led by a rock of a centre back Murtaz Khurtsilava, but even he could not cope with the deceptively nimble Muller, while Beckenbauer and Netzer controlled the match. The latter struck a post before two more opportunist goals from Muller and one from Wimmer secured victory.
The 3-0 margin of success remains the largest of any European Championship Final.
Man of the Tournament
Franz Beckenbauer
The 1972 European Championship was the first time Franz Beckenbauer had been used as an attacking sweeper by his country. He had developed the revolutionary role with Bayern Munich but national team boss Helmut Schoen had kept him in midfield for fear of the risks involved - until 1971.
Yugoslavia 1976
The 1972 finals had produced an outstanding team in West Germany. The next tournament, in Yugoslavia, went three better by producing four superbly competitive sides. The hosts finished fourth after losing the third place play-off to Holland, but there could be no embarrassment in that.
The 1976 finals stand out as the most outstanding of the opening era of the competition, with the Final between outsiders Cxechoslovakia and holders West Germany a dramatic classic.
Vaclav Jezek guided the Czechoslovaks to the finals after they gained a first, surprise victor over the favoured Soviet Union, 4-2 on aggregate, in the last eight. In the other quarter finals, Holland - World Cup runners up two year earlier - defeated old rivals Belgium; Helmut Schoen's West Germany, who were now also the world as well as European champions, overran Spain; and Yugoslavia won a bad tempered tie with Wales - the referee needed a police escort after disallowing two Welsh goals.
The Yugoslavs were subsequently awarded the rights to host the finals, making it the first time a major tournament had gone to eastern Europe.
Czechoslovakia set a high standard of excitement when they defeated Holland 3-1 after extra time in the first semi final. The Dutch succumbed after referee Clive Thomas sent off Johan Neeskens and Wim Van Hanegem.
West Germany also needed extra time as they hit back from 2-0 down to secure a 4-2 win over Yugoslavia.
The Germans had a new Muller - Dieter Muller, from Koln - who led their attack following the international retirement of his namesake Gerd. He scored a hattrick against Yugoslavia and also led the fightback in the Final after his side had gone down 2-0 again after just 25 minutes, to the Czechoslovaks. But although Muller pulled one goal back just before the half hour mark, only a minute of normal time remained when Bernd Holzenbein equalised from a corner from Rainer Bonhof.
For once no one scored in extra time, largely due to the splendid keeping of Ivo Viktor and Sepp Maier, and Czechoslovakia went on to win the first major event decided on a penalty shoot-out.
The Czechoslovaks were better prepared for this ending; coach Jezek had even taken the trouble, before the finals, to assemble a crowd at training especially to whistle and jeer as players practised penalties. By contrast, the Germans were in disarray, with some players refusing to take spot kicks.
Both teams converted their first three penalties. Ladislav Jurkemik then put the Czechoslovaks 4-3 ahead, and Uli Hoeness stepped up and shot over the bar.
With the chance to seal victory, Czechoslovakia midfield general Antonin Panenka strolled up and audaciously chipped the ball into the centre of the goal over the diving Maier. Panenka's side were champions of Europe thanks to disciplined teamwork, honed and perfected by Jezek and his assistant Jozef Venglos.
Man of the Tournament
Ivo Viktor
Czechoslovakia went into the finals as rank outsiders but Dukla Prague goalkeeper Ivo Viktor rose to the occassion. He pulled off some sensational saves in the semi final victory over Holland and then limited a thrilling West German revival in the Final. His ultimate achievement was filling his goal in the penalty shoot out to provoke Uli Hoeness's decisive miss.
yeah... emm... ok.. enjoy. I'll probably post the 1980-2000 tournaments stuff later (fingers are aching)
France 1960
The first championship, then known as the European Nations Cup, drew a cautious response. Only 17 countries entered; the absentees included Italy, West Germany and England.
The qualifying formula was a direct elimination knockout system with home and away legs. THen the semi-finals and Final were played as a tournament.
Cold War politics threatened to kill off the event almost as soon as it had begun. After beating Hungary, the Soviet Union were drawn against Spain in the quarter-finals, but Spanish dictator General Franco refused the Soviets entry to his country.
UEFA awarded the tie to the USSR, who thus qualified for the finals, staged in France.
In the semis, the Soviet Union, with the great Lev Yashin in goal, threashed Czechoslovakia 3-0 in Marseille; the hosts, hit by the absence of injured forawrd Just Fontaine and schemer Raymond Kopa, lost a thriller against Yugoslavia, 5-4, at the old Parc des Princes in Paris.
The same venue staged the Final. The first goal was almost an own goal, Soviet skipper Igor Netto deflecting in a shot from Milan Galic. But right winger Slava Metreveli equalised and forward Viktor Ponedelnik claimed an extra time winner for the Soviets.
Spain 1964
The Soviet Union, the holders, were favourites to retain the trophy in its second edition. In 1960, Spain had refused to play the Soviets for political reasons. Four years on, they not only provided a host's welcome for them, but they also met them in the Final - and beat them.
The tournament format was the same as in 1960, with the early rounds played on a home-and-away basis. In the quarter finals, Spain beat the Republic of Ireland 7-1 on aggregate, while the Soviet Union accounted for Sweden 4-2. Denmark and hungary also qualified for the finals.
The Danes were well beaten by the Soviets in their Barcelona semi final, 3-0. Spain, meanwhile, relied heavily on the midfield brilliance of Luis Suarez, who had developed a wonderful understanding with speedy right winger Amancio. The pair sparked a 2-1 win over Hungary in Madrid.
Spain, coached by the shrewd Jose Villalonga, took an early lead in the Madrid-staged Final, through Barcelona's Jesus Pereda. But they stayed ahead for just two minutes, with Galmizyan Khusainov striking back for the Soviets. However, a late second half goal from Zaragoza forward Marcelino was the signal for Spanish celebrations.
Italy 1968
For the second tournament in succession, the hosts ended up as champions. But unlike Spain for years earlier, Italy struggled and teetered on the brink of failure before defeating a ruggedly skillful Yugoslavia in a replayed Final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
By now the European Championship was recognised as a major success and an established feature of the international football calendar. more and more countries applied to take part, so UEFA converted the qualifying competition from the direct elimination knockout system used in the first two editions into a mini-league formula.
Italy, under the managership of Ferruccio Valcareggi, overcame Cyprus, Switzerland and Romania in their qualifying group, and then Bulgaria in the knockout quarter-finals to reach the finals tournament.
The other finalists were the experienced Yugoslavia and Soviet Union, as well as world champions England, who had beaten European Championship holders Spain in the quarter-finals.
Italy brought to the finals a squad that included great figures such as goalkeeper Dino Zoff, left back and captain Giacino Facchetti and attackers Pietro Anastasi and Luigi Riva. But for all the talent, they needed the luck of a toss of a coin to earn a place in the Final after their semi against the Soviets in Naples finished goalless after extra time (the penalty shoot out had yet to be introduced into top level competition)
In the other semi, Yugoslavia beat England 1-0 in Florence. THe occassion was doubly disappointing for England boss Sir Alf Ramsey. Not only did England lose, but wing half Alan Mullery suffered the disgrace of becoming the first player sent off while representing his country in a senior international.
Left winger Dragan Dzajic inspired the Slavs and scored the goal, five minutes from time.
Yugoslavia's performance persuaded many observers that they were likely to defeat Italy in the Final. But while Dzajic did give the Slavs the lead, shortly before half time, Italy's workhorse right winger Angelo Domenghini equalised from a controversial free kick with 10 minutes remaining. Extra time failed to provide any more goals so the Final went to a replay two days later, again at the Olimpico.
Italy, with five fresh players, were too resourceful in attack for the Slavs, with Riva and Anastasi perpetual dangers. Both scored goals in the first half, while Facchetti and co at the back shut up shop in the second.
Italy were champions for Europe for - remarkably - the first and only time.
Man of the Tournament
Dragan Dzajic
The Red Star Belgrade left winger - dubbed "Magic Dragan" by the English media - tormented the England defence in the semi final, but Italy took much greater care of him in the Final.
Belgium 1972
No team have won back to back European Championships, and Italy's defence of their 1968 crown was halted by Belgium in the quarter-finals.
The Azzurri were held goalless in Milan, then beaten 2-1 in Brussels. The Belgian goals came from Wilfried Van Moer and Paul Van Himst, midfield general and attacking spearhead respectively of a team whose success also won them the vote to play hosts to the finals of the newly re-named competition. What had been known as the European Nations Cup now became the European Championship.
Belgium were not, however, the most outstanding team of the tournament. That honour - very clearly - went to West Germany. Manager Helmut Schoen cast aside the ageing stars who had taken West Germany to third place at the 1970 World Cup. The retirement of Uwe Seeler had forced Schoen to rebuild his attack, and, while he was at it, he took the opportunity to alter the shape of his team.
The top two German clubs of the era, Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach, provided all the key players for a team that were worthy European champions; possibly even the finest team ever to win the tournament.
The superb understanding between Bayern sweeper Franz Beckenbauer and Borussia playmaker Gunter Netzer was crucial. Helping, supporting and pulling the opposition all over the place were adventurous young left back Paul Breitner and hard working attacking midfielders Herbert Wimmer and Uli Hoeness. Ahead of them, Gerd Muller, one of the greatest opportunists in international football history, provided the cutting edge.
West Germany reached the four-team finals tournament by beating England in the quarter finals; the Soviet Union and Hungary complreted the finals line-up.
The latter two met at Brussels' Parc Astrid, with the Soviets encountering few problems on their way to what was their third final in four European Championships. In the other semi, in Antwerp, Belgium fell 2-1 to West Germany. uller scored both the visitors' goals as his side cruised into the Final at Brussels' Heysel stadium.
Victory was achieved more easily than Schoen had believed possible. The Soviets were led by a rock of a centre back Murtaz Khurtsilava, but even he could not cope with the deceptively nimble Muller, while Beckenbauer and Netzer controlled the match. The latter struck a post before two more opportunist goals from Muller and one from Wimmer secured victory.
The 3-0 margin of success remains the largest of any European Championship Final.
Man of the Tournament
Franz Beckenbauer
The 1972 European Championship was the first time Franz Beckenbauer had been used as an attacking sweeper by his country. He had developed the revolutionary role with Bayern Munich but national team boss Helmut Schoen had kept him in midfield for fear of the risks involved - until 1971.
Yugoslavia 1976
The 1972 finals had produced an outstanding team in West Germany. The next tournament, in Yugoslavia, went three better by producing four superbly competitive sides. The hosts finished fourth after losing the third place play-off to Holland, but there could be no embarrassment in that.
The 1976 finals stand out as the most outstanding of the opening era of the competition, with the Final between outsiders Cxechoslovakia and holders West Germany a dramatic classic.
Vaclav Jezek guided the Czechoslovaks to the finals after they gained a first, surprise victor over the favoured Soviet Union, 4-2 on aggregate, in the last eight. In the other quarter finals, Holland - World Cup runners up two year earlier - defeated old rivals Belgium; Helmut Schoen's West Germany, who were now also the world as well as European champions, overran Spain; and Yugoslavia won a bad tempered tie with Wales - the referee needed a police escort after disallowing two Welsh goals.
The Yugoslavs were subsequently awarded the rights to host the finals, making it the first time a major tournament had gone to eastern Europe.
Czechoslovakia set a high standard of excitement when they defeated Holland 3-1 after extra time in the first semi final. The Dutch succumbed after referee Clive Thomas sent off Johan Neeskens and Wim Van Hanegem.
West Germany also needed extra time as they hit back from 2-0 down to secure a 4-2 win over Yugoslavia.
The Germans had a new Muller - Dieter Muller, from Koln - who led their attack following the international retirement of his namesake Gerd. He scored a hattrick against Yugoslavia and also led the fightback in the Final after his side had gone down 2-0 again after just 25 minutes, to the Czechoslovaks. But although Muller pulled one goal back just before the half hour mark, only a minute of normal time remained when Bernd Holzenbein equalised from a corner from Rainer Bonhof.
For once no one scored in extra time, largely due to the splendid keeping of Ivo Viktor and Sepp Maier, and Czechoslovakia went on to win the first major event decided on a penalty shoot-out.
The Czechoslovaks were better prepared for this ending; coach Jezek had even taken the trouble, before the finals, to assemble a crowd at training especially to whistle and jeer as players practised penalties. By contrast, the Germans were in disarray, with some players refusing to take spot kicks.
Both teams converted their first three penalties. Ladislav Jurkemik then put the Czechoslovaks 4-3 ahead, and Uli Hoeness stepped up and shot over the bar.
With the chance to seal victory, Czechoslovakia midfield general Antonin Panenka strolled up and audaciously chipped the ball into the centre of the goal over the diving Maier. Panenka's side were champions of Europe thanks to disciplined teamwork, honed and perfected by Jezek and his assistant Jozef Venglos.
Man of the Tournament
Ivo Viktor
Czechoslovakia went into the finals as rank outsiders but Dukla Prague goalkeeper Ivo Viktor rose to the occassion. He pulled off some sensational saves in the semi final victory over Holland and then limited a thrilling West German revival in the Final. His ultimate achievement was filling his goal in the penalty shoot out to provoke Uli Hoeness's decisive miss.
yeah... emm... ok.. enjoy. I'll probably post the 1980-2000 tournaments stuff later (fingers are aching)
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