The UEFA European Championship, simply known as the EURO, has consistently delivered unforgettable moments in football history. Since its inception in 1960, the tournament has showcased the best of European talent, culminating in captivating finals that have etched themselves into the memories of fans worldwide. Let’s delve into the history of EURO finals and relive the drama and excitement through the Euro Scores that defined each championship.
1960: Soviet Union 2-1 Yugoslavia (aet)
The inaugural EURO final in 1960, held in Paris, saw the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia battle it out for the coveted title. Yugoslavia struck first with Milan Galić finding the net in the 43rd minute. However, the Soviets responded shortly after halftime, with Slava Metreveli equalizing in the 49th minute. The game remained tied, pushing it into extra time where Viktor Ponedelnik secured the victory for the Soviet Union with a decisive goal in the 113th minute. Legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin’s performance was also a highlight of this historic final, contributing significantly to the euro score of 2-1 and the Soviet Union’s triumph.
1964: Spain 2-1 Soviet Union
Four years later, Spain, playing on home soil in Madrid, faced the Soviet Union in the 1964 final. The final witnessed an early exchange of goals, with Jesús María Pereda putting Spain ahead in the 6th minute, only for Galimzyan Khusainov to equalize for the Soviet Union just two minutes later. The match remained tightly contested until the 84th minute when Marcelino Martínez headed in the winning goal for Spain. This 2-1 euro score secured Spain’s first EURO title, capitalizing on their home advantage and passionate support.
1968: Italy 1-1 Yugoslavia (and Replay: Italy 2-0 Yugoslavia)
The 1968 EURO final in Rome between Italy and Yugoslavia was filled with drama and controversy. Dragan Džajić gave Yugoslavia the lead in the 39th minute, but Angelo Domenghini salvaged a draw for the hosts with an 80th-minute equalizer. With no penalty shootouts at the time, and after extra time ending with the same euro score of 1-1, a replay was mandated – a unique occurrence in EURO final history.
In the replay, also held in Rome, Italy demonstrated their dominance. Luigi Riva opened the scoring in the 12th minute, and Anastasio Anastasi doubled their advantage in the 31st minute. This time, Italy maintained their lead, securing a 2-0 victory and the EURO title. The aggregate euro scores from both matches highlight Italy’s eventual triumph after a hard-fought contest.
1972: West Germany 3-0 Soviet Union
The 1972 final in Brussels showcased West Germany’s attacking prowess against the Soviet Union once again. Gerd Müller was the star of the show, scoring twice (in the 27th and 58th minutes), while Herbert Wimmer added another in the 52nd minute. The Soviet Union could not penetrate the solid West German defense, resulting in a convincing 3-0 euro score victory for West Germany, marking their first EURO title.
1976: Czechoslovakia 2-2 West Germany (5-3 on penalties)
The 1976 final in Belgrade is remembered for Antonín Panenka’s audacious penalty kick. Czechoslovakia took an early 2-0 lead with goals from Ján Švehlík (8th minute) and Karol Dobiaš (25th minute). West Germany fought back, with Dieter Müller scoring in the 28th minute and Bernd Hölzenbein equalizing in the 89th minute to force extra time. After extra time ended with the euro score still at 2-2, the final went to a penalty shootout. Czechoslovakia won 5-3 on penalties, with Panenka’s iconic spot-kick sealing the victory and introducing a new level of flair to penalty taking.
1980: West Germany 2-1 Belgium
Rome was again the venue for the 1980 final, where West Germany faced Belgium. Horst Hrubesch proved to be the hero for West Germany, scoring in the 10th and 88th minutes. Belgium managed to pull one back through René Vandereycken’s penalty in the 75th minute, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the German side. The final euro score was 2-1, granting West Germany their second EURO title.
1984: France 2-0 Spain
France, hosting the 1984 tournament, reached the final in Paris and faced Spain. Michel Platini, the tournament’s top scorer, continued his stellar form by opening the scoring in the 57th minute. Bruno Bellone sealed the victory for France with a goal in the 90th minute. The 2-0 euro score reflected France’s dominance and secured their first EURO championship in front of their home crowd.
1988: Netherlands 2-0 Soviet Union
Munich hosted the 1988 final between the Netherlands and the Soviet Union. Ruud Gullit headed in the opener in the 32nd minute, but the highlight of the match was Marco van Basten’s breathtaking volley in the 54th minute, considered one of the greatest goals in EURO history. The Netherlands maintained their 2-0 lead, securing their first and only EURO title to date. The euro scores tell the story of Dutch brilliance on the day.
1992: Denmark 2-0 Germany
The 1992 final in Gothenburg witnessed one of the biggest upsets in EURO history. Denmark, who were late replacements for Yugoslavia, faced the reigning world champions, Germany. John Jensen stunned Germany with a goal in the 18th minute, and Kim Vilfort added a second in the 78th minute. Denmark’s resolute defense and clinical finishing led to a 2-0 euro score victory, completing their fairytale EURO triumph.
1996: Germany 2-1 Czech Republic (golden goal)
Wembley Stadium in London was the stage for the 1996 final between Germany and the Czech Republic. Patrik Berger put the Czech Republic ahead with a penalty in the 59th minute. Germany responded swiftly, with Oliver Bierhoff heading in an equalizer in the 73rd minute. Bierhoff then became the hero, scoring the first-ever golden goal in a EURO final in the 95th minute, securing a 2-1 euro score victory for Germany and their third EURO title.
2000: France 2-1 Italy (golden goal)
Rotterdam hosted the 2000 final between France and Italy, a rematch of the 1998 World Cup quarter-final. Marco Delvecchio put Italy ahead in the 55th minute, and Italy looked set to win, but Sylvain Wiltord equalized for France in the very last minute of normal time (90th minute). David Trezeguet then scored another golden goal in the 103rd minute, giving France a dramatic 2-1 euro score victory and their second EURO title, completing a World Cup-EURO double.
2004: Greece 1-0 Portugal
The 2004 final in Lisbon delivered one of the most shocking results in EURO history. Hosts Portugal, led by a young Cristiano Ronaldo, were heavy favorites against Greece. However, Angelos Charisteas scored the only goal of the match in the 57th minute. Greece, with their defensive resilience, held on to secure a 1-0 euro score victory, completing an unbelievable underdog story and winning their first major international trophy.
2008: Spain 1-0 Germany
Vienna was the venue for the 2008 final between Spain and Germany. Fernando Torres scored the decisive goal in the 33rd minute, showcasing his speed and composure. Spain dominated possession and controlled the game, preventing Germany from finding an equalizer. The 1-0 euro score marked the beginning of Spain’s golden era in international football, winning their second EURO title after a 44-year wait.
2012: Spain 4-0 Italy
Kyiv hosted the 2012 final, where Spain and Italy clashed again. This time, Spain delivered a masterclass performance. Goals from David Silva (14th minute), Jordi Alba (41st minute), Fernando Torres (84th minute), and Juan Mata (88th minute) resulted in a dominant 4-0 euro score victory for Spain. This win cemented Spain’s legacy as one of the greatest international teams, securing their third EURO title and an unprecedented third consecutive major international trophy (EURO 2008, World Cup 2010, EURO 2012).
2016: Portugal 1-0 France (aet)
Saint-Denis, near Paris, was the setting for the EURO 2016 final between hosts France and Portugal. Despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo to injury early in the match, Portugal displayed incredible resilience. After a goalless 90 minutes, Éder struck a powerful long-range shot in the 109th minute of extra time. Portugal held on to win 1-0, securing their first EURO title and stunning the home nation. The euro score of 1-0 after extra time reflects the tense and hard-fought nature of this final.
2020: Italy 1-1 England (3-2 on penalties)
Wembley Stadium in London hosted the EURO 2020 final (played in 2021) between England and Italy. Luke Shaw gave England a dream start with a goal in the 2nd minute, but Leonardo Bonucci equalized for Italy in the 67th minute. After extra time ended with the euro score at 1-1, the final went to a penalty shootout. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma became the hero, saving two penalties to secure a 3-2 shootout victory for Italy, and their second EURO title.
2024: Spain 2-1 England
The most recent EURO final in 2024, held in Berlin, saw Spain and England compete for the championship. Nico Williams put Spain ahead shortly after halftime in the 47th minute, and while Cole Palmer equalized for England in the 73rd minute, Mikel Oyarzabal scored a late winner for Spain in the 86th minute. The 2-1 euro score confirmed Spain’s victory, marking their record fourth EURO title and solidifying their place as a dominant force in European football.
From dramatic extra-time victories to penalty shootout heartbreaks and stunning upsets, the history of EURO finals is rich with captivating narratives and unforgettable euro scores. Each final tells a unique story of national pride, sporting drama, and the pursuit of European glory.
