The Origin of the European Championship (First Edition in 1960)

The European Football Championship, commonly known as the "Euros," is the highest level national team competition in European football. The tournament was first proposed by Henri Delaunay, the French Football Federation's secretary-general, as early as 1927, but it wasn't until 1958, three years after Delaunay's death, that UEFA finally approved the creation of this tournament.

The first European Championship, then known as the European Nations Cup, was held in 1960 with only four teams participating in the final tournament: France, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union defeated Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final match to become the first European champion. This tournament was relatively small in scale, but it laid the foundation for what would become one of the world's most prestigious football competitions.

It's worth noting that many strong European teams, including England, Italy, and West Germany, did not participate in the first tournament. This was partly due to the political tensions of the Cold War era and partly because the importance of this new tournament had not yet been fully recognized.

The Development of Tournament Scale

After the inaugural tournament in 1960, the European Championship gradually expanded in scale and influence. The 1964 edition was hosted by Spain, with the host nation defeating the defending champions, the Soviet Union, 2-1 in the final. The tournament format remained the same, with only four teams in the final stage.

The 1968 tournament saw Italy become champions on home soil, defeating Yugoslavia in a replay of the final after the first match ended in a 1-1 draw. This was the only time in European Championship history that a final match had to be replayed.

The 1972 tournament was dominated by West Germany, led by their star player Franz Beckenbauer. They defeated the Soviet Union 3-0 in the final, with Gerd Müller scoring twice. West Germany's victory in this tournament was a prelude to their World Cup triumph two years later.

The 1976 edition is remembered for Czechoslovakia's victory over West Germany in the final, decided by Antonín Panenka's famous chipped penalty in the shootout. This innovative penalty technique, now known as the "Panenka," has been imitated by many players since then.

A significant change occurred in 1980 when the final tournament was expanded to eight teams, divided into two groups of four. Italy hosted this expanded tournament, which was won by West Germany, who defeated Belgium 2-1 in the final.

The 1984 tournament, hosted by France, saw the French team, led by Michel Platini, win their first major international trophy. Platini scored an incredible nine goals in just five matches, a record that still stands today.

The 1988 tournament was hosted by West Germany and won by the Netherlands, with Marco van Basten scoring one of the most spectacular goals in football history in the final against the Soviet Union.

Changes in Rules and Participating Teams

The European Championship underwent another significant expansion in 1996 when the tournament was hosted by England. The number of teams in the final tournament increased from 8 to 16, allowing more nations to participate. This expansion reflected the growing popularity of the tournament and the increasing number of UEFA member nations following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

The 1996 tournament, with its slogan "Football Comes Home" (referring to England as the birthplace of modern football), was won by Germany, who defeated the Czech Republic in the final with a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff. This was the first major tournament to be decided by the golden goal rule, which stated that the first team to score in extra time would win the match.

The 2000 tournament was jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, marking the first time the European Championship was co-hosted by two countries. France won the tournament, defeating Italy in the final with a golden goal from David Trezeguet, becoming the first team to win the European Championship as reigning world champions.

The 2004 tournament, hosted by Portugal, saw one of the biggest surprises in football history when Greece, considered one of the weakest teams in the competition, defeated the host nation in the final to win their first major international trophy. This remarkable achievement is often cited as one of the greatest upsets in football history.

The 2008 tournament was co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland and won by Spain, who defeated Germany in the final. This victory marked the beginning of Spain's period of dominance in international football, as they went on to win the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

The 2012 tournament was co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine and again won by Spain, who became the first team to win two consecutive European Championships and the first to win three consecutive major tournaments (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012).

The 2016 tournament saw another expansion, with the number of teams increasing from 16 to 24. This tournament, hosted by France, was won by Portugal, who defeated the host nation in the final. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's star player, was injured early in the final but continued to motivate his teammates from the sideline, creating one of the most memorable images of the tournament.

The 2020 tournament (played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) was unique in that it was hosted by 11 different cities across Europe to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the competition. This pan-European format was a one-off event, with future tournaments expected to return to the traditional single or dual-host format. Italy won the tournament, defeating England in a penalty shootout in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Over its 60-year history, the European Championship has evolved from a small tournament with limited participation to one of the world's most prestigious football competitions, second only to the FIFA World Cup in terms of global viewership and prestige. The tournament has provided a platform for some of football's greatest players to showcase their talents and has produced countless memorable moments that have become part of football folklore.

As the tournament continues to evolve, it remains a celebration of European football's rich history and diverse cultures, bringing together nations in a festival of sport that transcends political and social boundaries. The European Championship is not just a football tournament; it's a cultural phenomenon that captures the imagination of millions of fans across Europe and around the world.