The 11 Biggest Upsets in Euros History: Ranked

11. Georgia 2-0 Portugal

Group Stage, 2024

The biggest shock of Euro 2024 so far saw Georgia do the unthinkable by beating Portugal 2-0 in the final game of Group F, subsequently booking their place in the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. Star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring after just two minutes, sending Georgian fans into pandemonium, before Georges Mikautadze, the top scorer of the group stages, netted from the spot to seal a famous win over Cristiano Ronaldo and co. It was the kind of momentous victory that can define an entire generation. Their reward for such a performance and win is a knockout round tie against Spain.

10. Czech Republic 2-0 Netherlands

Round of 16, 2021

Euro 2020 took place a year later than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it meant the Czech Republic had to wait a year more to record a historic win. They beat the Netherlands 2-0 at the Puskas Arena in Hungary thanks to second-half goals from Tomas Holes and Patrick Schick. The underdogs only reached the knockout stages by finishing as one of the best third-placed teams, so no one truly thought they would be able to beat Holland. "It couldn't have gone any better. Nobody expected us to make it so far," said Schick post-match, as they proved the doubters wrong.

9. Sweden 2-1 England

Group Stage, 1992

England often find themselves on the wrong side of historic upsets at the Euros, despite being consistently billed as favorites without ever having won the tournament. At Euro 1992, they struggled through the group stage, drawing their first two matches before facing Sweden. Initially, it looked like they might qualify for the knockouts after an early goal, but they soon collapsed. Goals from Jan Eriksson and Tomas Brolin secured a shocking victory for the Scandinavian nation. "That goal is always shown in Sweden, and everywhere I go, people ask me about it," said Brolin.

8. Latvia 0-0 Germany

Group Stage, 2004

While every other match on this list features underdogs claiming victory, Latvia's draw against Germany in Euro 2004 was equally significant. After losing to the Czech Republic, Latvia were expected to be easily defeated by the Germans. However, they defied expectations by holding them to a 0-0 draw. This solitary point was Latvia's only one in the tournament, but it matched Germany's total, leading to their elimination as well. Despite being dominated with 21 shots against them compared to their four, Latvia stood firm throughout the match in Portugal.

7. England 0-1 Ireland

Group Stage, 1988

In 1988, England suffered one of the most embarrassing defeats in their history, losing 1-0 to bitter rivals Ireland. This was Ireland's first appearance at a major international tournament, and it took just six minutes for Ray Houghton to head the ball over Peter Shilton, giving the Irish an early lead. Despite dominating the match from that point onwards, England could not break through Ireland's defense. The Three Lions subsequently lost to both the Netherlands and the Soviet Union, finishing the tournament with zero points. It was a humiliating experience for England on the European stage.

6. Slovakia 1-0 Belgium

Group Stage, 2024

Statistically, Slovakia's victory against Belgium at Euro 2024 stands as the biggest upset in the competition's history. Despite facing opponents ranked 45 places higher in the FIFA World Rankings, the underdogs took an early lead when Ivan Schranz scored in the seventh minute.

Belgium, boasting some of the world's best players, pressed for an equalizer throughout the match but struggled to create clear-cut chances in the final third. Romelu Lukaku appeared to have leveled the score less than 10 minutes into the second half, only to see his goal disallowed for offside. Another goal by Lukaku was later ruled out for handball, encapsulating a frustrating afternoon for his nation.

5. France 3-3 Switzerland (4-5 on pens)

Round of 16, 2021

France entered Euro 2020 as favorites, buoyed by their 2018 World Cup triumph and aiming for another title, but they faced a shocking defeat against Switzerland. In Bucharest, they turned around a 1-0 deficit to take a commanding 3-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining, courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba. Benzema is widely regarded as one of the top strikers globally, while Pogba is a former Manchester United midfielder.

However, Switzerland mounted a late comeback, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to force extra time. The match eventually went to a penalty shootout, where Kylian Mbappe, considered one of France's greatest players ever, missed the decisive penalty. It was a heartbreak for France and a moment of delight for the underdog Swiss team.

4. Wales 3-1 Belgium

Quarter-Finals, 2016

In 2016, Wales experienced their most memorable summer in football history — the year they defied expectations. It marked their first major tournament appearance since 1958, and with Gareth Bale, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, leading their attack, optimism was high. Advancing to the quarter-finals, they faced Belgium's golden generation. Despite falling behind 1-0, Wales fought back strongly. Hal Robson-Kanu's spectacular goal, initiated with a Cruyff turn and finished calmly past Thibaut Courtois, sparked jubilation in the stands as Wales reached the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

3. Denmark 2-0 Germany

Final, 1992