UEFA European Championship Winners: Complete List of Champions

9. Denmark

1992

As Denmark geared up for their unexpected participation in Euro 92, qualifying after Yugoslavia's expulsion due to regional conflict, manager Richard Moller Nielsen delivered a modest directive: "Make sure you don't embarrass yourselves." The Danish team struggled initially, failing to score in their first two matches and facing elimination in the group stage until the final 12 minutes of their last game.

Lars Elstrup's goal secured a surprising victory against France, propelling Denmark into a semi-final clash with the Netherlands. With their initial objective achieved, Nielsen allowed his team greater freedom. Just two days after dining at Burger King, Denmark defeated the Dutch on penalties to reach an unforeseen final against Germany. In Stockholm, where hotel rooms were scarce, players bunked with their families the night before the match. John Jensen's powerful goal and a savvy use of the back-pass rule sealed a fairy-tale ending to one of football's most remarkable stories.

8. Netherlands

1988

Marco van Basten's decisive goal against West Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 88 brought a measure of redemption for the Netherlands, easing the pain of their defeat to the same opponents in the 1974 World Cup final. In a reversal of fortunes, the Dutch rallied from behind to stun their hosts, leaving the Germans subdued in their changing room for over half an hour after the match. Ronald Koeman's equalizing penalty was marred by controversy as he wiped Olaf Thon's German shirt on his backside in front of jubilant Dutch fans.

The Netherlands went on to defeat the Soviet Union in the final, with Van Basten scoring what many consider one of the greatest goals in any final. Yet, it was the euphoria and frenzy that followed the semi-final victory that truly captured the nation's spirit. An estimated nine million people, over half the population, flooded the streets in celebration. Even Prince Johan-Friso, the Queen's son, joined in, chanting, "Can you hear the Germans sing?"

7. Portugal

2016

Cristiano Ronaldo's first appearance in a European Championship final ended in disappointment and tears. At just 19 years old, he missed Portugal's best chances as they were unexpectedly defeated by Greece in front of their home crowd in 2004.

Twelve years later, Ronaldo faced another emotional moment in the 2016 final against France. He was forced off early due to a knee injury, leaving the field in tears once more. However, he reappeared in the second half, heavily strapped and limping, and took up a position on the sidelines alongside manager Fernando Santos. Santos had earlier labeled his team the tournament's "ugly duckling," a title reflected in the unexpected heroics of Swansea City's misfit striker Eder, who scored the winning goal in Ronaldo's absence. This time, Ronaldo's tears were ones of joy as Portugal clinched their first European Championship title.

6. Czech Republic

1976

Euro 76 remains encapsulated in one defining moment: Antonin Panenka's audacious penalty in the final against West Germany. Panenka had meticulously practiced his signature dink down the middle of the goal for two years, promising his teammates he would use it in a crucial moment.

The final itself, played in Belgrade, had been an exhilarating affair before the decisive penalty shootout unfolded. After seven successful spot-kicks, West Germany's Uli Hoeness blazed his effort over the bar, paving the way for Panenka to secure Czechoslovakia's first and only major tournament victory with a cheeky and memorable piece of skill that now bears his name.

5. Russia

1960

Russia, representing the Soviet Union, were early pioneers in the European Championships, being the sole nation to participate in the first four editions. They clinched the inaugural tournament in 1960, propelled by the legendary Lev Yashin, widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history, and the strategic prowess of Valentin Ivanov.

In a notable historical context, General Francisco Franco withdrew Spain from a match against the Soviet Union in fear of potential political implications from a heavy defeat to a communist nation. However, Spain later achieved redemption by defeating Russia in the final of the competition four years later.

Despite reaching three more finals, the Soviet Union experienced disappointment before the Berlin Wall fell. Since then, as a unified Russia, their performance in the tournament has been modest, with only one instance of advancing past the group stage, ending in a semi-final loss to Spain in 2008, their longstanding rivals.

4. France

1984, 2000

France's dual triumphs on the European stage were orchestrated by arguably the nation's two greatest players. Zinedine Zidane spent much of his career striving to step out from Michel Platini's shadow. Upon joining Juventus in 1996, Zidane found himself assigned the same dressing room peg that his iconic predecessor had used. "People must understand that I will never be Platini," he declared, though the comparison persisted.

The enduring connection between these two charismatic number 10s traces back to Platini's zenith. As the focal point of a dynamic French team, Platini netted an unmatched nine goals en route to the 1984 championship. Zidane, just a ball boy celebrating his 12th birthday, witnessed Platini calmly convert a 119th-minute penalty in the tournament's semi-final against Portugal. Sixteen years later, the roles reversed, with Zidane scoring from the spot in the 117th minute of the Euro 2000 semi-final against Portugal. The parallels between the two iconic moments were unmistakable.

3. Italy

1968, 2021

Italy has reached the final of the European Championship on four occasions. Their efforts in 2000 and 2012 were thwarted by World Cup-winning teams from France and Spain respectively, marking losses to two teams that defined their generations. Interestingly, Italy's two victories in the competition came without them winning either the semi-final or final in regular time.

In 2021, after prevailing over Spain in a penalty shootout during the semi-finals, Italy repeated the feat against England in the final at Wembley during Euro 2020. Leonardo Bonucci famously exclaimed into a nearby camera, "It's coming Rome!"

In the summer of 1968, penalty shootouts had yet to be introduced. Italy faced the Soviet Union in the semi-finals, and a goalless draw led to the winner being determined by a coin toss. Italy then drew 1-1 with Yugoslavia in the final, prompting a replay rather than another coin toss. Two days later, goals from Gigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi secured Italy's first championship victory, which fittingly took place in Rome.

2. Spain

1964, 2008, 2012

Spain's first international triumph in their initial 88 years came on home turf at Euro 64, during Franco's dictatorship. Luis Aragones aimed to revive the 'Furia Roja' (Red Fury) spirit of that era with a squad boasting talented attacking midfielders.

In the final of Euro 2008, Joachim Low's Germany fell to Spain, who impressed with a style that Low described as winning "in a spectacular way, totally convincing." By Euro 2012, opinions had shifted, with former French European champion Bixente Lizarazu characterizing Spain's gameplay as more focused on possession than penetration, remarking, "Spain's play is like love without the sex."

Following Aragones, Vicente del Bosque took charge and embraced the ball-centric tiki-taka approach, which yielded success at the 2010 World Cup. Spain silenced doubters with a resounding 4-0 victory over Italy in the Euro 2012 final, solidifying their dominance on the international stage.

1. Germany

1972, 1980, 1996

Germany boasts the highest number of wins and goals in European Championship history. After missing the first three editions of the tournament, Germany reached the finals of Euro 72, where they dominated the competition comprehensively and have since qualified for every subsequent edition without fail.

The 1972 team, featuring the elegance of Franz Beckenbauer, the craftiness of Gunter Netzer, and the scoring prowess of Gerd Muller, is widely considered one of Germany's finest. Euro 1980 was less memorable, and by the time they clinched the title in 1996 with a victory over England at Wembley, the national team was already in decline.

A disappointing exit in the group stage of Euro 2000 led to a significant overhaul of grassroots football in Germany, laying the groundwork for their 2014 World Cup triumph. However, despite their success on the global stage, Germany has found winning elusive in European competitions during the 21st century.