Story of the UEFA European Championships Henri Delaunay, Secretary of French Football Federation and founder of European Championship, initially known as Nations’ Cup 1960 In the Beginning... Yugoslavia 5 France 4 Parc des Princes, Paris Yugoslavia’s remarkable comeback in opening game of inaugural tournament stuns hosts with 3 goals in 4 minutes – still highest ever scoring game 1964 Football Unites Spain 2 Soviet Union 1 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Amid backdrop of political tensions, Spain defeat Soviet Union in final after refusing to travel to USSR in 1960 1968 Italian Luck Italy 2 Yugoslavia 0 Stadio Olimpico, Rome Italy make most of their good fortune in reaching final after coin toss decides semi-final following 0-0 draw with USSR 1972 German Greats West Germany 3 Soviet Union 0 Heysel Stadium, Brussels Prolific striker Gerd Muller inspires West Germany to first title. Starstudded team includes legendary captain Franz Beckenbauer (above) 1976 Spot Kick for Glory Czechoslovakia 2 West Germany 2 Crvena Zvezda Stadium, Belgrade Czechs go on to win 5-3 on penalties in first ever penalty shoot-out in major tournament 1980 Germany Win Again West Germany 2 Belgium 1 Stadio Olimpico, Rome Tournament expands to eight teams as West Germany become first team to secure second European crown 1984 Platini’s Tournament France 3 Portugal 2 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Dramatic semi-final as both teams score in extra time before talismanic France captain Michel Platini hits last gasp winner to send “Les Bleus” into final 1988 Magnificent Marco Netherlands 2 Soviet Union 0 Olympiastadion, Munich Arguably among greatest ever goals. Dutch break – Marco van Basten (below) connects to Arnold Mühren’s high cross and volleys just inside far post from near impossible angle 1992 Surprise Champions Denmark 2 Germany 0 Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg Danes replace war-torn Yugoslavia, scraping through group stage to beat holders Netherlands in semi-finals, and go on to shock world champions Germany in final 1996 Home Nation Heartbreak England 1 Germany 1 Wembley Stadium, London After Paul Gascoigne’s moment of brilliance against Scotland, England face Germany in repeat of 1990 World Cup semi-final. Three Lions are agonisingly close to elusive final but lose 6-5 on penalties – fate is sealed when Gareth Southgate (left) fails to score 2000 France Make it a Double France 2 Italy 1 Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam Sylvain Wiltord levels in 90th minute to send game into extra time – David Trezeguet strikes to make France first World and European champions 2004 Underdogs Triumphant Greece 1 Portugal 0 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon Greece produce brilliant team display, firing only goal to beat host favourites Portugal and record arguably biggest shock in tournament’s history 2008 Superior Spain Spain 1 Germany 0 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, ViennaBarcelona trio of Carlos Puyol, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez inspire Spain to end 44-year wait for trophy. Fernando Torres scores only goal of final in dominant performance 2012 Super Mario Masterclass Italy 2 Germany 1 National Stadium, Warsaw “Super” Mario Balotelli celebrates with muscular statuesque pose after thundering emphatic strike into German net to take Italy through to final, where they fall to defending champions Spain 2016 Rendezvous Français France France hosts 15th European Championship as tournament expands to 24-team format Source: UEFA Pictures: Getty Images, AP