In the ongoing Euro 2024, hosts Germany were one of the favorites to win their home Euros. However, defeat to Spain in the quarterfinal meant that their wait for their first Euro triumph since 1996 went on.
Let us take a look at all the nations that have lifted the Euros on their home turf.
Euro 1964 – Spain
Euro 1964 was the second edition of the European championships and was held in Spain. The tournament was a knockout format with teams playing home and away matches until the semi-final stage, played in Spain.
Spain faced a resilient Hungary in the semifinal. Amancio’s winner deep into the extra time gave La Roja a 2-1 win over their opponents in Madrid.
This set up a tense battle with the Soviet Union in the final. Political tensions fueled the game as Spain had refused to visit Moscow four years earlier. The game however took place and the hosts won the game 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd in Santiago Bernabeu.
Euro 1968 – Italy
Euro 1968 marked Italy’s first-ever appearance in the Euros. A total of four nations – Italy, England, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia qualified for the final tournament in Italy.
The hosts had to face the Soviet Union in the semifinal. The game ended 0-0 after 120 minutes and as per the rule, a coin toss was held to decide the winner. The host nation won the coin toss to set up a final against Yugoslavia.
In the final, the match ended in a 1-1 draw after the extra time and the game had to be replayed, two days later. In the replay, the hosts came out with comfortable 2-0 winners giving Italy their first European championship in their debut year.
Euro 1984 – France
France beat the bidding competition from West Germany to host the Euro 1984. In the group stage, the hosts won all three matches against Denmark, Belgium, and Yugoslavia to top 1.
France set up a semifinal clash against Portugal, which the hosts won 3-2 after extra time in Marseille. In the final, France had to face 1964 Euro winners Spain. Michel Platin and Bruno Bellone were on target for the hosts in the final giving France a 2-0 win in the final at Paris.
Michel Platin scored nine goals in the tournament, a record number of goals scored by any player in European championship history.
Read More: Have England Ever Won The Euros?
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
