UEFA European Football Championship History
The foundation of UEFA has largely been credited to the secretary-general of the French Football Federation, Henri Delaunay. The first competition in UEFA history was played in 1960. The tournament was won by the Soviet national team. Since then, the event has been contested every four years.
The event was originally name European Nations Cup, but received its present day title in 1968. Presently, the UEFA European Football Championship is the key men’s national-team football event.
UEFA History and Format Changes
In the tournament’s preliminary inception, knock-out matches were played. The victors would battle it out in the semi-final and final matches, which would take place in a host country – France in 1960 and Spain in 1964.
In 1968, the competition system was altered. Teams were seeded and grouped, requiring countries to clash twice in order to progress to the quarter final match.
The UEFA European Football Championship was amended once again in 1980, with the elimination of the semi-final round. Eight teams, divided into two groups, challenged each other for a spot in the final match which was hosted by Italy. However, in 1984, the semi-final rounds were reinstated.
The tournament format remained consistent until Euro 1996 in England, when 16 teams, dived into 4 groups, battled it out in the final rounds. A total of 48 nations, including teams from newly established eastern European countries participated in the event. This was also the first victory in UEFA history to be determined by a golden goal in extra time.
The riveting Euro 2000, which was co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium, saw the French side prevail – notably also won by a golden goal.
Euro 2012 will be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
Euro 2008 History: Recent Developments
Noteworthy events have recently occurred which could significantly affect the qualifying round results for UEFA Euro 2008.
On 2 June 2007, in the qualifying match between Sweden and Denmark at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, a fight broke out between two players. With hardly any time left on the clock and a tied score, Christian Poulsen (Denmark) was sent off the field for punching Markus Rosenberg in the stomach.
When Sweden was awarded a penalty, an extremely intoxicated Danish supported entered the pitched and assaulted the referee, Herbert Fandel.
The qualifying fixture was abandoned and a 3 – 0 victory for Sweden was declared by the Danish Football Association. Denmark was fined, Poulsen was barred for three matches and the Danish team were required to play their two subsequent matches at least 140km outside of Copenhagen. The full article and circumstances surrounding the event is available here.
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