Football Betting - Euro 2008 Championship
History - Facts - Teams - Schedule - Venues - Winners - Fixtures
Forerunner of the today’s Euro Championship was initially the Central European International Cup which was developed in 1927 by the Austrian football player Hugo Meisl. The French Henri Delaunay as well had the idea of a European Championship which was rejected by the in 1904 founded FIFA. Henri was then secretary general of the French Football Federation.
The UEFA was founded years later in 1954 whereby Henri was chosen as secretary by the existing committee. From 1954 to 1960 the tournament was held together with the UEFA until the cup was replaced from today’s European Championship in 1960. Henri Delaunay was not able to witness this moment he had waited for so long, because he died in 1955. Since the first European Championship in 1960 the “Henri-Delaunay-Cup” is being distributed in honor to the father of the European Football Championship.
The structure of the competition was very different as only four nations qualify for the finals; this format did not change until 1980 when eight teams qualified.
Years later the European Nations Cup came known as the UEFA European Championship; but the trophy itself is still named after Delaunay.
Tournament review
EURO 1964: The finals were hosted by Spain which qualified and won the cup against Russia.
EURO 1972: Belgium was the host and Russia once again was also present in the finals losing the Cup to West Germany.
EURO 1976: This was West Germany’s bitter time as the team lost in the finals against Czechoslovakia.
EURO 1980: This tournament was special was the format changed allowing additional nations to qualify. West Germany once more made it to the finals winning over Belgium.
EURO 1984: This time the competition was hosted by France winning the cup against Spain by 2 goals.
EURO 1988: A new European champion took over this time as the Netherlands beat The Soviet Union 2 to 0.
EURO 1992: The championship was held in Sweden. A first time winner took over the cup as Denmark won against Germany in the finals.
EURO 1996: England hosted the tournament for the first time; more teams were part of the competition as 16 in total battled to be at the top of their groups. And once again Germany won the cup.
EURO 2000: This time two nations hosted the championship; Belgium and the Netherlands. France won the competition by beating Italy 2 – 1.
EURO 2004: The tournament was held in Portugal. The host made it to the finals and played Greece. The Greek surprised the world by taking the title with an ending score of 1 – 0.
Important Facts ►
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