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EURO 2020

Who won the last Euros and which country has the most titles?

The 2020 European Championship is due to kick off on Friday, having been delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Update:
(FILES) This file photo taken on July 11, 2016 shows Portugal's forward Eder (R) celebrating with teammates past France's forward Antoine Griezmann (C) after he scored during the Euro 2016 final football match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on July 10, 2016.
 Ederzito Antonio Macedo Lopes, aka Eder, will take part in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 debut with Lille on August 13, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG
FRANCISCO LEONGAFP

Portugal will defend their title at this summer’s delayed European Championship, having lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the first time at Euro 2016.

Portugal shock Les Bleus to be crowned kings of Europe

The Portuguese stunned hosts and favourites France in the final five years ago, Eder’s goal handing Fernando Santos’ men a 1-0 extra-time victory in Paris despite their captain and star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, limping out of the game with a first-half injury.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, right, helps boss Fernando Santos out with the coaching duties during the Euro 2016 final.
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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, right, helps boss Fernando Santos out with the coaching duties during the Euro 2016 final.Reuters

After going off, Ronaldo could be seen urging his side on in a quasi-coaching role alongside Santos on the touchline, providing one of the Euros’ most iconic images.

One of just two survivors from the Portugal team that had lost the 2004 final on home soil - the other was Ricardo Carvalho, who was in the squad but didn't play against Les Bleus - Ronaldo's tears of joy at the final whistle contrasted with his tears of despair after being stunned by Greece 12 years earlier.

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the trophy aloft after Portugal's Euro 2016 final victory over hosts France.
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Cristiano Ronaldo holds the trophy aloft after Portugal's Euro 2016 final victory over hosts France.Kai PfaffenbachAFP

Which teams have won the most European Championships?

Had they beaten Portugal in 2016, France would have become the competition’s joint-most successful nation, joining Germany and Spain as three-time continental kings.

Germany: winners in 1972, 1980 and 1996

Competing as West Germany, Die Mannschaft first won the European Championship during its initial period as a four-team finals tournament, defeating the Soviet Union 3-0 in the 1972 final courtesy of a brace by Gerd Müller, either side of a goal by Herbert Wimmer.

The Germans then added a second continental crown in 1980, winning the Euros in its first year as an expanded, eight-team event with victory over Belgium in the trophy decider. Horst Hrubesch scored twice as Jupp Derwall’s men claimed a 2-1 triumph in Rome.

West Germany had also reached the final four years earlier, only to lose on penalties to Czechoslovakia in Belgrade. Famously, the Czechs’ winning spot-kick was an effort cheekily dinked down the middle by Antonin Panenka, whose name is now used to refer to such a penalty.

After reunification, Germany were runners-up in the Euros for a second time in 1992, slipping to a shock final defeat to outsiders Denmark as Kim Vilfort and John Jensen secured a 2-0 triumph for a side that had not originally qualified for the finals. The Danes only made it to Sweden after Yugoslavia were disqualified following the outbreak of civil war in the country.

Germany celebrate with the trophy after their Euro '96 final win at Wembley.
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Germany celebrate with the trophy after their Euro '96 final win at Wembley.Clive MasonGetty Images

At Euro ’96 four years on - with 16 teams now taking part - Germany again faced heavy underdogs in the final, but this time avoided embarrassment. Although Patrick Berger’s penalty gave the Czech Republic a surprise lead at Wembley, Oliver Bierhoff’s double - the second a golden goal aided by Petr Kouba’s goalkeeping gaffe - ensured the Germans won the trophy.

Germany have since made it to one more European Championship final, in 2008, losing to Spain in Vienna.

Spain captain Iker Casillas lifts the Henri Delaunay Trophy after La Roja's Euro 2008 final win over Germany.
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Spain captain Iker Casillas lifts the Henri Delaunay Trophy after La Roja's Euro 2008 final win over Germany.MorenattiDiario AS

Spain: winners in 1964, 2008 and 2012

That Euros win for Spain 13 years ago was their second title, and arrived over four decades after their first.

In 1964, in the second edition of a competition still known at the time by its original name - the European Nations' Cup - Marcelino’s late header gave La Roja a 2-1 victory over the Soviet Union in the final in Madrid, after Galimzyan Khusainov had cancelled out Jesús María Piñeda’s opener for the hosts.

The win over the Soviets came four years after the Spaniards were disqualified from the inaugural Euros because Spain’s far-right dictator, General Franco, refused to allow the team to travel to the communist USSR to face the Russians.

Spain later lost to France in the 1984 final, before in 2008 a side featuring Iker Casillas, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta et al bagged the first of three straight major tournament wins with a 1-0 triumph over Germany, Fernando Torres grabbing the final's only goal.

After going on to lift the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, Spain retained their European title in 2012, thrashing Italy 4-0 in a memorable final performance in Kiev.

European Championship: most successful nations

CountryWinnersRunners-up
Germany1972*, 1980*, 19961976*, 1992, 2008
Spain1964, 2008, 20121984
France1984, 20002016
Soviet Union19601964, 1972, 1988
Italy19682000, 2012
Czech Republic1976**1996
Portugal20162004
Netherlands1988
Denmark1992
Greece2004
Yugoslavia1960, 1968
Belgium1980

*As West Germany

**As Czechoslovakia