If you love international football and European sides in particular, then the UEFA European Championships are not to be missed! Here’s 15 jaw-dropping facts about one of the most exciting football tournaments ever!

1. The Euros started in 1960

When the tournament began in July 1960, it was known as the European Nations’ Cup and just four teams competed: Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and host nation France. The games took place in Paris and Marseille, and the Soviet Union were the first team to lift the trophy after beating Yugoslavia 2-1.

2. Germany and Spain have won the tournament 3 times each

Germany and Spain are the leading countries when it comes to lifting the Euros trophy the most times. France and Italy aren’t far behind, with two wins apiece. There Netherlands, Czechia, Slovakia, Russia, Greece, Denmark and Portugal have all won the tournament once.

3. The Women’s Euros started in 1984

The first UEFA Women’s Championship took place in 1984, which saw Sweden beat England in the final. The Lionesses, however, won the cup in 2022 after beating Germany 2-1 in extra time!

4. The 1976 Euros was the first final decided on penalties

The 1976 final was the first major international final to be decided by a penalty shootout. After drawing 2-2 after extra time, Czechoslovakia beat West Germany 5-3 from the spot. What a tense game!

5. The first hat trick was scored that year too

West Germany’s Dieter Müller went down in history as he was the first player to score a hat-trick in the Euros. He hit the net three times in the team’s semi-final against Yugoslavia, and helped them win the game 4-2!

6. Cristiano Ronaldo has played in 6 Euros

The Al Nassr star has represented Portugal no less than 6 times in the European Championships. After playing for his country in the 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 tournaments, he made history when starting their campaign in Germany in 2024.

7. Michel Platini holds the record for most goals scored in one tournament

At the 1984 Euros, France scored 14 goals in 5 matches. 9 of those goals came from the Jœuf-born midfielder! French player Antoine Griezmann has scored the second most goals, hitting the net 6 times in the 2016 tournament.

8. The trophy weighs 18 pounds

The Euros trophy is made of sterling silver and weights 18 pounds, making it quite a heavy cup to lift at the end of a tiring final.

9. Spain’s Lamine Yamal is the youngest player to take part in the Euros

The Spanish player was aged just 16 years and 338 days when he took to the pitch during the team’s match against Croatia on June 15, 2024 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Not only that, he assisted Dani Carvajal’s goal in their 3-0 win.

10. Portugal’s Pepe is oldest player to take part in the Euros

Aged 41, Portugal’s defender Pepe broke the record for the oldest player to participate in the football tournament when they played Czechia during their first game at the Euros in June 2024. The previous record was held by Hungary’s goalkeeper Gábor Király, who was 40 during the Euros in 2016.

11. The tournament only expanded to 24 teams in 2016

After beginning with just 4 teams, the competition expanded to 8 sides in 1980. That number doubled by the time England hosted the tournament in 1996. In 2016, it was decided that 24 nations would take part in the quadrennial feat of sporting action (that’s a fancy way of saying every four years).

12. 10 cities will host the 2024 Euros in Germany

Thank you Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart! This will be Germany’s 14th appearance in the tournament – more than any other country!

13. England narrowly missed out on winning in 2020

The 2020 Euros final took place at Wembley and proved to be one of the most nail-biting games ever (for England fans, mostly). After Manchester United defender Luke Shaw put the Three Lions up against Italy within 2 minute, Italy’s Leonardo Bonucci equalized 65 minutes later. With the score level after extra time, Italy won 3-2 on penalties and football narrowly missed coming home once more.

14. Denmark is the only team to have won the Euros without qualifying

Denmark shouldn’t have took part in the 1992 Euros at all. They originally failed to qualify for the tournament which took place in Sweden, but due to the Yugoslav Wars, FR Yugoslavia were disqualified and Denmark were selected to take their place (as runners-up in their qualifying group). The underdogs were placed second in the group stage (featuring Sweden, France and England – who came last, but we don’t talk about that), then beat the Netherlands 5-4 on penalties to get to the final. In the final, they faced Germany and won 2-0!

15. San Marino are statistically the weakest team in Euros history

With a staggering 371 goals conceded in total during the qualifying matches, San Marino are not a side to trouble any of the favourites. Luxembourg are second in the list of poor defending stats, with 340 goals.