The UEFA European Championship has been around since 1960 and is known as the second most prestigious trophy in international football after the FIFA World Cup. The European Championship started with only six participating nations in its inaugural edition back in 1960, before the competition started expanding in 1980. The tournament takes place every four years with the exception being only the 2020 edition which was pushed one year further due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The European Championship is considered the pinnacle of football in Europe and here are three nations who have tasted the most success in the competition.
GERMANY – CHAMPIONS IN 1972, 1980, 1996
Team Germany have played 49 matches in the European Championship which is the highest by any nation in the history of the competition. They have also scored the most number of goals – 72 and recorded the most number of victories with 26 to their name. The country has won the European Championship three times, in 1972, 1980 and 1986. With all their rich history in the competition, the team has struggled to make an impact in the recent few editions and Joachim Loew would have his eyes set on the 2020 edition to finish his tenure on a high.
SPAIN – CHAMPIONS IN 1964, 2008, 2012
Till date, Spain remains as the only nation in the history of the competition to successfully defend its title back in 2012. The 2008 and the 2012 edition coincided with the golden generation of Spanish football. The 2012 finale against the Italians showed exactly how great this era of Spanish football was when they eased four goals past them in the final.
FRANCE – CHAMPIONS IN 1984, 2000
In 1984, France became the first and the only nation till date to win all its matches at the tournament (5 wins from 5 matches). After Spain in 1964, France became just the second nation in 1984 to win a home European Championship. Les Blues, in the 2000 edition, were arguably one of the greatest football teams the nation has ever seen with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera, Didier Deschamps, Laurent Blanc and many other legends who were on the top of their game.
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