European Championships of which state. European Football Championships: to defend the title

Already the first attempt to the USSR national team to become the best on the continent twice in a row, almost crowned with success. The Soviet team successfully passed the selection played by the Playoff system, confidently beat in the sum of the two meetings Italy (3: 1) and Sweden (4: 2), without losing a single match.

No less confidently, our team began the final part - the crushing victory of 3: 0 over the national team of Hungary. But in the final, exchangeting in the debut of the meeting goals with the owners - Spaniards, the USSR national team missed the decisive goal at the 84th minute.

However, to win the match at Santiago Bernabeu in the presence of 80 thousand spectators, including Francisco Franco, there was few people under power. The leaders of the Soviet state decided that our fascists lost, as a result of which Konstantin Ivanovich Bezkov was fired from the national team coach.

These times were in our football when the second place on the continent could be regarded as a failure.

EURO-1968.

Current champion: Spain.

But the team of Spain could not pass the selection for the next tournament. Having finished first in the qualifying group with the teams of Czechoslovakia, Ireland and Turkey, in the next qualifying stage, the Spaniards twice lost 0: 1 and 1: 2.

EURO-1972.

Current champion: Italy.
Outcome: did not go into the final part.

Four years later, the same fate suffered the national team of Italy. Confidently winning your qualifying group, the Italians gave way to the Belgian national team, playing at home a zero draw and losing 1: 2.

EURO-1976.

Current champion: FRG.
Outcome: 2nd place.

Unlike the Spaniards and Italians, the FRG team in 1976 took part in the final tournament. In the German group confidently occupied the first place, without losing a single meeting, in the next stage, the Spanish national team passed - 1: 1 in Madrid and 2: 0 in Munich.

In the final part, the FRG team demonstrated characteristic volitional qualities. Losing in the semifinals of Yugoslavam 0: 2, the Germans first equalized the bill, in addition, the time was scored twice twice. It is noteworthy that the second goal of the Germans on the 81st minute scored Dieter Muller, appeared on the field in a minute before. He scored both goals and in extra time.

In the final with Czechoslovakia again 0: 2 by the middle of the second half and 2: 2 to the final whistle, and the second goal this time the Germans scored at the last minute of the meeting.

True, at the extra, the bill has not changed, and the Penalty series smiled at Czechoslovak footballers, where.

EURO-1980.

Current champion: Czechoslovakia.
Outcome: 3rd place.

Four years later, 8 prefabs were already qualified in the final tournament, which were divided into two groups whose winners were directly published in the final. Czechoslovakia and Germany fate brought in one group, and they were already in the first round.

FRG footballers took revenge at the expense of the only goal of Rummenigge. A draw from the national team of Holland and victory over Greece the current European championships was enough for the second place.

And in the match for the third place, the Czechoslovakia national team won the team of Italy, which is noteworthy, also in the penalty shootout.

EURO-1984.

Current champion: FRG.
Outcome: did not come out of the group.

In the 1984 European Championship, he had a rare case when the FRG team could not get out of the group. Playing 0: 0 with Portugal and winning 2: 1 Romanian, the Germans were leading in a group.

In the match with the Spanish team, until the last minute, the bill was not discovered, which was quite satisfied with the West German national team, but at the 90th minute of the Mason still scored the ball into the gate of Harald Schumacher, sending the Germans home.

EURO-1988.

Current champion: France.
Outcome: did not go into the final part.

The 1984 Champions of the French failed the qualifying tournament for the next European Championship. In eight meetings, only one victory was obsessed - at home over the team of Iceland. And the USSR national teams, GDR and Norway were taken only one point. As a result - the third place in the group.

For example, it should be noted that the France team experienced a change of generations - completed the speeches for the main team of the country, such players as Bossis, a stress, and, of course, Platini.

Euro-1992.

Current champion: Holland.
Outcome: defeat in the semifinals.

In 1992, the team of Holland was determined to defend the title. There were all grounds for this: after the failure at the 1990 World Championships, the national team was again headed by the legendary Rinus Mikhels. Main Stars Team :, Frank Rykard, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten was at the peak of a career, Doros to the level of the national team.

The Dutch confirmed the seriousness of their claims with performances in the group, confidently taking the first place and defeating the current world champions. FRG - 3: 1. And the game demonstrated by the Dutch caused admiration for all fans and specialists. But in the semifinals, they unexpectedly played a draw with the main sensation of that tournament - and gave them to them in the penalty shootout.

EURO-1996.

Current champion: Denmark.
Outcome: did not come out of the group.

In the fact that the Danes will protect the title on the fields of a foggy Albion, no one believed. So it turned out - in the group, the Denmark team ranked third at one victory, one draw and one defeat, passing forward Portugal and Croatia.

It is impossible to call the failure, the Danes were in their strength, and the result of four-year prescription was not even a jump above the head, and something much more.

Euro 2000.

Current champion: Germany.
Outcome: did not come out of the group.

And the attempt of the Germans to defend the title in 2000, once again failed. Having played a draw with Romanians in the first round, the team of Germany lost to the British, and in the third round it was unexpectedly defeated by the Portugal team 0: 3.

Euro 2004.

Current champion: France.
Outcome: defeat in the ¼ finals.

France's team at the 2004 European Championships began behind the health - an incredible victory over the British 2: 1 (remember not by Beckham Penalties and two Zidan's goals for the added time?), Draw with Croatia and a confident victory over the Switzerland team.

However, already in the 1/4 finals, the attack of the French could not do anything with the defense of Greece, and Horisteas was able to hit the gate of bartez. Later, the Greeks did the same trick with Czechs and Portuguese and the tournament sensationally won.

Euro 2008.

Current champion: Greece.
Outcome: did not come out of the group.

But four years later in the Austrian Salzburg, where the Greek team spent all three matches of the group stage, they were waiting for the failure. Three defeats, including from the Russian national team, and only one clogged ball.

Euro 2012.

Current champion: Spain.
Outcome: champion.

And only in 2012, for the first time the history, the current champion of Europe did not comply with his authority. The magnificent team of Spain confidently won the tournament, having won four victories and playing a draw twice, when the ball difference is 12-1.

Apotheosis was the final against Italy, which ended with the score of 4: 0 - the largest in the history of the finals of the European Championships.

Only once the champions hung on the hairs - in the series after the match penalty in the semifinals. However, and with nerves of the Spaniards turned out to be all right.

Euro 2016.

Current champion: Spain.
Outcome: defeats in the 1/8 finals.

World Cup, Mundial. European Football Championship. Football in the Olympic Games. Best football player of the year

World Cup, Mundial

Modern football originated in the middle of the 19th century in England.
The winners of the World Cup Football Championships (FIFA World Cups) became:
FM. 1930 - Uruguay (Golden Ball, the prize of the best player of the first World Cup got the defender of the Uruguayan team Jose Naxassi). Country organizer - Uruguay;
FM. 1934 - Italy (Golden Ball was awarded the scorer of the Italian team Giuseppe Meazza). Country organizer - Italy;
FM. 1938 - Italy (Golden Ball at the Brazilian Attacking Leonidas da Silva, "Black brilliant");
FM. 1950 - Uruguay (Best Player of the World Cup 1950 - the striker of the National Brazilian national team Zizino);
FM. 1954 - Germany (Golden Ball at the Hungarian football player, attacker Ferenz Pushkash, nickname "Galloping Major");
FM. 1958 - Brazil (Golden Ball got a reference midfielder of the Brazilian national team Didi);
FM. 1962 - Brazil (Best Footballer World Cup 1962 - the right striker of the Brazilian national team Garrinch, "Krivo-legged angel");
FM. 1966 - England (Golden Ball went to the attacking midfielder of the England Bobby Charlton);
FM. 1970 - Brazil. In the final defeating Italy's national team with a score of 4: 1, Brazil for the first time in the history of football won the champion title for the third time and received the Golden Cup - the Golden Goddess of Nika in eternal storage (Golden Ball at the Brazilian striker, legendary Pele);
FM. 1974 - Germany (Best Footballer World Cup 1974 - Dutch striker Johan Croof, "Flying Dutchman");
FM. 1978 - Argentina (Best Footballer World Cup 1978 - Argentine striker Mario Alberto Kemes.);
FM. 1982 - Italy (FIFA Golden Ball at the Italian, attacker Paolo Rossi.);
FM. 1986 - Argentina (Best Player CM-1986 - Argentine Diego Armando Maradona, nickname "dozen", "gun");
FM. 1990 - Germany (Golden FIFA Ball got the striker of Italy Salvator Skillachand, "Toto");
FM. 1994 - Brazil (The best football player of the World Cup 1994 - Romario, "Shortcut", Brazil);
FM. 1998 - France (Best Footballer World Cup 1998 - Ronaldo, "Zubastik", Brazil);
FM. 2002 - Brazil (FIFA Golden Ball got the goalkeeper of the German national team Oliver Cana, nickname "King Kan");
FM. 2006 - Italy (Golden Ball at the Frenchman Zinyen Zidana, Zizu);
FM. 2010 - Spain (FIFA Golden Ball went to the attacker Uruguayan national team Diego Martin Forela, nickname "cachavacha");
FM. 2014 - Germany. The anniversary 20th Mundial, FIFA World Cup passed from June 12 to July 13, 2014 in Brazil. The opening match (Brazil - Croatia) took place in São Paulo in the "Itacan" arena. The final of Germany-Argentina took place in Rio de Janeiro at the Maracan Stadium - 1: 0 (extra time) - for the first time in the history of football, the European team took the World Cup in South America. Golden Ball still Lionel Messi. Argentina (nickname "Kid").
At this championship, a system of automatic definition of heads (GLT) was tested for the first time and breaks in matches when playing in the heat, as well as the judges began to use cans with disappearing white sprays for marking on the field when performing free and free shocks.
The largest sensation of the tournament: Loss Brazil of the German national team in the semifinals with a phenomenal account 1: 7.
World Cup 2018 - The 21st FIFA FIFA CHAMPIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA. World Cup will be held at the stadiums of thirteen cities of Russia, which are divided into 4 clusters (separately, Yekaterinburg): in Moscow, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saransk, Yaroslavl, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, Yekaterinburg. In Moscow, 3 stadium prepare. The reconstruction of the BSA "Luzhniki" is subject to the construction of two other stadiums: Spartak (project of the American construction company AECOM) and VTB Arena Central Stadium Dynamo.
Company "CROST" is one of the largest multidisciplinary construction companies. The company has several areas in business - construction and industrial complexes, a commercial and residential real estate development, a commercial real estate rental in Moscow, the Fintes and Wellness industry "Else-Club, a network of folk restaurants.
World Cup 2022 - Mundial will be held in the Arabian Emirate of Qatar. 12 stadiums from the seven cities of Qatar will take the matches of 22 World Cup.
In January 2017, the Council of the International Federation of Football approved an increase in the number of participants in the final part of the World Championships from 32 to 48 teams. Changes come into force from 2026.

World Cup in 1982. The final. Italy - Germany

Women's World Cup

The first football championship among women under the auspices of FIFA was held in 1991 in China.
Winners of the World Football Championships:
World Cup 1991 in China - USA (US Final - Norway 2: 1). Golden Ball - Karin Jennings. Carin Jennings, USA.
World Cup 1995 in Sweden - Norway (Final Norway - Germany 2: 0). Golden Ball - Hehere Reise HEGE RIISE, NORWAY.
World Cup 1999 in the USA - USA (Final USA - China 0: 0 Pen. 5: 4). Golden Ball - Sun Wen. Sun Wen, China.
World Cup 2003 in the USA - Germany (Final Germany - Sweden 1: 0). Golden Ball - Birgit Prince Birgit Prinz, Germany.
World Cup 2007 in China - Germany (Final Germany - Brazil 2: 0). Golden Ball - Martha Marta, Brazil.
World Cup 2011 in Germany Japan (Final Japan - USA 2: 2 Pen. 3: 1). Golden Ball - Homare Sava Homare Sawa, Japan.
World Cup 2015 in Canada from June 6 to July 5 - USA (US Final - Japan 5: 2). The United States has become 3-fold world champions in women's football. Golden ball in an American Karly Lloyd. Carli lloyd.

European Football Championship

In 1960, at the suggestion of the President of the French Football Federation, Anri Delone (1883-1955), the first European Cup among national teams, subsequently, the European Championship (UEFA EUROPEAN Championship) was held.
Winners of European Football Championships:
Che 1960 - the USSR (The best player of the first European Championship is the legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin);
Che 1964 - Spain (Best Euro-1964 player - Spanish midfielder Luis Suarez.);
Che 1968 - Italy (Best Player Euro-1968 - Goalkeeper of Agader Adzurra Dino Dzoff.);
Che 1972 - Germany (Best EURO-1972 Player - German striker Gerd Muller);
Che 1976 - Czechoslovakia. (Best EURO-1976 Player - German striker Dieter Muller);
Che 1980 - Germany (Best EURO-1980 Player - German striker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, "Calle"); On this, for the first time, 8 team teams took part in the final part (before that 4), and the country - the owner received a place in the final part automatically.
Che 1984 - France (Best EURO-1984 Player - French midfielder Michelle Platini);
Che 1988 - Netherlands (Best EURO-1988 Player - Dutch striker Marco Van Basten, "Utrecht Swan");
Che 1992 - Denmark (Best Euro-1992 Player - Danish Goalkeeper Peter Shmeyhel, "Great Dane");
Che 1996 - Germany (Best EURO-1996 Player - German midfielder Mattias Zammer, "Red-haired meteor"); For the first time in the final part, 16 prefabricated participants were participated in the final part.
Che 2000 - France (Best EURO-2000 Player - French Attacking midfielder Zinined Zidan);
Che 2004 - Greece (The best player Euro 2004 - Greek support midfielder Theodoros Zagorakis);
Th 2008 - Spain (Best EURO 2008 player - Spanish midfielder Havi.);
Che 2012 - Spain. For the first time in the history of modern football, this is the third victory in a row of one team in the top final of the World Cup and Che (the best player of the final match and the Euro-2012 championship is recognized as a midfielder "Red Furi" Andres Iniesta).
Che Football 2012. Final. Spain - Italy. All goats
Che 2016 - Portugal. The 15th European Championship was held in France (already in the 3rd time) for the month - from June 10 to July 10, 2016. By decision of the UEFA Executive Committee, 24 teams instead of 16 (as many 24 per World Cmber) participated in the final filling unit.
Match-opening Euro 2016 France - Romania 2: 1. The author of the victorious goal of the French Dimita Piet. - "The closest to God."
Final July 10 at the Stad de France stadium in the suburb of Paris France - Portugal. Dimitri Gebek Piet against Cristiano Ronaldo. But the confrontation did not work. At the beginning of the first half, they took from the field of injured Ronaldo (by the way injury from colliding with a paiet). And at the beginning of the 2nd half, I was replaced by the Pyette. The main time ended with a draw 0: 0.
At the extra, the goal scored the Portuguese striker Eder (as a child, he moved from Guinea-Bissau to Portugal). France - Portugal 0: 1
The Best Euro 2016 player is recognized by the French striker Antooman Grizmann. Symbolic tournament team: Rui Patricio (Portugal), Pepe (Portugal), Jerome Boateng (Germany), Raphael Gerreir (Portugal), Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Tony Cros (Germany), Joe Allen (Wales), Aaron Ramzi (Wales) , Antoine Grizmann (France), Dimita Piet (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).
Che Football 2016. Final. Goal Eder.

Women's European Football Championship

European Football Championships under the auspices of UEFA has been held since 1980 (since 1987, 1997 was held every 2 years, then the cycle was increased to four years).
Winners of the Women's Football Championship:
Che 1984 - Sweden (UEFA Golden Player - Pia Sundhage., Sweden)
Che 1987 - Norway (UEFA Golden Player - Heidi Stere, Norway)
Che 1989 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Doris Fitchez, Germany)
Che 1991 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Sylvia Final, Germany)
Che 1993 - Norway (UEFA Golden Player - Hega Riis, Norway)
Che 1995 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Birgit Prince, Germany)
Che 1997 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Carolina Morach, Italy)
Che 2001 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Hanna Jungberg, Sweden)
Che 2005 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Anne Mykinen, Finland)
Che 2009 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Inca Grings., Germany)
Che 2013 - Germany (UEFA Golden Player - Lotta Shelin, Sweden)
Beautiful female football

Football at the Olympic Games

The winners of Olympic Football Tournaments (1908-2012) became:
In 1908 and 1912 - Great Britain; 1920 - Belgium; 1924 and 1928 - Uruguay; 1936 - Italyi; 1948 - Sweden; 1952, 1964 and 1968 - Hungary; 1956 and 1988 - the USSR; 1960 - Yugoslavia; 1972 - Poland; 1976 - GDR; 1980 - Czechoslovakia.; 1984 - France; 1992 - Spain; 1996 - Nigeria; 2000 - Cameroon, 2004 and 2008 - Argentina, 2012 - Mexico.
Winners of women's football competitions at the Olympic Games (1996-2012) became:
In 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012 - USA, in 2000 - Norway.
At the 2016 Olympics, 16 teams participated in Rio de Janeiro in the men's football tournament (August 4-20). In the playoffs of the tournament (1/4 finals), Portugal was released: Germany, Nigeria: Denmark, South Korea: Honduras, Brazil: Colombia.
Brazil came out to the semifinals: Honduras, Nigeria: Germany.
Finalists Brazil and Germany. BraziliansLeaded by his captain neimar, after all, pulled out victory from the Germans (the main time is 1: 1, penalty 5: 4) and for the first time became Olympic champions.
In the Women's Football Tournament of the Rio 2016 (August 3-19), 12 national teams took part. Brazil's playoffs came out: Australia, USA: Sweden, China: Germany, France: Canada.
Brazil came to the semifinals: Sweden and Canada: Germany.
Finalists Sweden and Germany. Germany - Champion Oi-16 (for the first time in women's football), Brazil Third.

The best football player of the year. Golden FIFA Ball (Fifa Ballon D'OR)

UEFA Best Football Player of the Year in Europe

2011 G. Lionel Messi Forward, Argentina (Barcelona)
2012 G. Andres Iniesta midfielder, Spain (Barcelona)
2013 G. Frank Ribery midfielder, France (Bavaria)
Nadine Anger It was recognized as the best football player of Europe of the season 2012/2013.
2014 G. Cristiano Ronaldo Forward, Portugal (Real Madrid)
Nadine Kessler - Best Football Player of Europe Season 2013/2014
2015 G. The best football player of Europe at the end of the 2014/15 season was the striker Barcelona Lionel MessiBy voting Cristiano Ronaldo and the Uruguayan's teammate Louis Suarez.
The best football player according to UEFA is recognized Selia Sashich, German football player of Cameroonian origin. Attacker. She bypassed the Frenchman Amandin Henri and German Jennifer Mozoan.
2016 G. The best football player of Europe season 2015/2016, as expected, became Cristiano Ronaldo - European Champion 2016 (as part of the Portugal national team) and the winner of the European Champions League 2016 (as part of the Madrid Real). The Portuguese was ahead of Gareth Bale (Wales) and Antoine Griersmann (France).
Norwegian He Hegerberg From "Lyon" recognized as the best football player in Europe in 2015/16. She was ahead of Amandin Henri (France) and Jennifer Mozoan (Germany).

Player century

1. Diego Maradona. Argentina - 53.60%
2. Pele. Brazil - 18.53%
3. Eysebio. Portugal - 6.21%

To the 95th anniversary of the oldest Russian insurer - the title sponsor of Rosgosstrakh Russian Football Championship - a famous journalist Leonid Parfinov In his unique manner, talks about a memorable event of 1960: the victory of the USSR national team at the European Football Championships. More about this famous success - in the material from the heading "95 years along with football, 95 years old with the country." The main title in the history of domestic football was won in 1960. It was the first European Football Championship in the history. If the world championship is held since 1930, the European teams tournament had to wait for another 30 years.

How Euro born

The Union of European Football Associations, he, UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), was founded in 1954. Three years later, the Congress was decided to hold a tournament among the best European teams. However, 13 of 30 UEFA members refused to participate in the European Championships. Among them were Germany, England, Italy and other famous teams.

The refusal was explained by a large burden on football players during the club competition. As a result, only 17 prefabricated euro took part in the selection. To remain 16 teams, in the pre-round, Czechoslovans and Irish had to identify the strongest. Such was the team from Czechoslovakia.

How passed the selection to Euro-1960

With 16 teams began a full-fledged qualifying tournament. It is noteworthy that the hostess of France's competitions was not guaranteed a place for euros - the team participated in the selection on a par with everyone. 16 teams crashed over couples and spent one match at home and visiting. After that, there were 8 teams left, which were again broken by couples: France - Austria, USSR - Spain, Portugal - Yugoslavia, Romania - Czechoslovakia.

However, one of these quarterfinals was not destined to take place. The Spaniards refused to go to the Soviet Union. For this, they were awarded defeat and a fine of 31,500 Swiss francs. The proposal of the Spaniards to spend the match at the neutral field was rejected by UEFA. There are two versions about why Spain abandoned the butt matches from the USSR. The first version is politics. The Spaniards announced that they would not go to the "Communist Power". Second version - fear of play. The coach of the Spanish national team Elenio Errera was present in Luzhniki and saw the Soviet footballers defeated the Polish team with a score of 7: 1. Shortly after this game, the Spaniards refused to go to the USSR.

As the USSR national team took the first title

As a result, three teams from the Communist countries arrived in the final stage of Euro-1960: Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and the USSR. In the first semifinals, the France team unexpectedly lost to Yugoslavam - 4: 5, and the USSR team confidently won the Czechoslovakov - 3: 0. Our team distinguished themselves Victor Monday And twice Valentin Ivanov.

The final match was held on July 10 in Paris at the Park de Preds stadium (by the way, at the upcoming Euro 2016 the final will also take place on July 10 and also at the Park de Preds). Meeting served English arbitrator Arthur Edward Ellis. Apparently, he is less tired of club football than its compatriots-football players. The meeting was very stubborn. Read more about her told Leonid Parfenov in the roller of Rosgosstrakh company:

The main time ended in a draw. Yugoslavov scored Galich in the 43rd minute, and we had to take the 49th. Two two more time for 15 minutes. And here 7 minutes before the end of extra time, Victor Monday head scored a winning ball. Perhaps it was the most important goal in the history of Soviet football. The USSR national team after two hours of the game found the strength to make a circle of honor in the stadium. The best goalkeeper of the tournament was recognized, of course, Lev YashinI played in a familiar cap. Then it was allowed for goalkeepers.

Midfielder Igor Nettowho participated in the final, in 1974 published the book "My Football". This is how he recalls the one who happened after the victory at Euro-1960:

"The European Football Federation arranged a solemn reception in the hall, located highly, on the Eiffel Tower. We, Soviet footballers, were awarded gold medals of the European Cup owners, our friends-rivals - Yugoslav players - silver. Of course, we warmly congratulated each other. Below was noisy, Paris lived his life. He was visible from here all as on the palm, stone commander houses, wide green avenues, sharp spiers of the Cathedral of Notre-ladies with his frozen chimers, as if the time of the time ... We were unusually well. "

The European Football Championship (until 1968 was called the European Nations Cup) - this is the main tournament among the national teams of old light, which is carried out under the auspices of UEFA, since 1960. He founded the competition Henri Delon, and the first champion of Europe was the USSR national team.

European Football Championship: Winners Path

Like the World Cup, Che is held every 4 years. For its history, the rules of the final part of the tournament were repeatedly changed. To a greater extent, it concerned the number of participating teams. UEFA tries to make a contest more interesting and popular, and at the last European Championship of 2016, the organization decided to increase the number of prefabs up to 24 teams.

To get to the final part of the tournament, European teams are working in qualifying. The choice of the country in which the Cup will take place is determined by the lot. In 2000, 2008 and 2012, the owners of the championship were two countries, but then the participating teams were only 16.

The last European Championship took place in France, and in 2020 the tournament is planned to be held in 13 European countries, since in 2020 the championship will be 60 years.

All European champions in football

1960 - USSR

1964 - Spain

1968 - Italy

1972 - Germany

1976 - Czechoslovakia

1980 - Germany

1984 - France

1988 - Netherlands

1992 - Denmark

1996 - Germany

2000 - France

2004 - Greece

2008 - Spain

2012 - Spain

2016 - Portugal

The highest number of European Champions Title was conquered by Germany and Spain (3 times). In addition, the "Red Furi" managed to become the first team in history, which won the tournament two times in a row (in 2008 and 2012).

European Football Championship (Euro, or just Che) - the main competition of national teams of European countries conducted under the auspices of UEFA. Competition is carried out every 4 years, starting from 1960, runs between the World Championships. Initially, the tournament was called the "European Nations Cup", in 1968 the name was changed to the European Football Championship.

What is interesting in the first two finals accepted our, then the USSR national team. The first finale passed in Paris between the USSR and Yugoslavia. The victory was celebrated by the USSR national team, scoring a winning ball in extra time. In 1964, the competition was corrupted by political activity: Greece national team refused to play with the Albania national team. The final part of the tournament took place in Spain, where the Spanish national team won his first championship, beating 2-1 in the final of the USSR. Next, for our national team, the situation was less successful.

Winners

1960 - USSR
1964 - Spain
1968 - Italy
1972 - Germany
1976 - Czechoslovakia
1980 - FRG
1984 - France
1988 - Netherlands
1992 - Denmark
1996 - Germany
2000 - France
2004 - Greece
2008 - Spain

As seen most often, the champions became Germans. Twice won the Cup of the Spaniard and France.

European Championship 2012.

On April 18, 2007, UEFA decided to hold Euro 2012 in the territory of the two countries: Ukraine and Poland. Croatia / Hungary and Italy were also applicants.

The 2012 European Football Championship will be the 14th championship. The tournament will begin on June 8, 2012 and will be completed on July 1, 2012. It will be the third tournament in the history of European national football championships whose hosts are two countries. The first championship of Europe 2000, held in Belgium and the Netherlands, the second 2008 European Championship held in Austria and Switzerland.

Euro 2012 is the last European Championship, in the final round of which 16 teams will take part. Starting from 2016, this number will be increased to 24.

You can read in more detail about the history of the championship and its winners on the Wikipedia pages (source).