How England has fared at every men's UEFA European Championship

In 1957, a vote was held regarding the idea of a European football tournament. The European Nations’ Cup, as it was known then, got the go-ahead, but a few notable nations voted against it. Italy, for example. The Netherlands too. Oh, and England. Yes, England voted against the Euros idea, and did not participate in the first tournament. You want a bit of a throwback, though? Three of the four semifinalists were the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia.

Technically, the European Cup was a four-team tournament all the way until 1980. Only the semifinals were considered the “tournament,” but the qualifying rounds were effectively a two-legged knockout tournament as is. Even then, though, England’s first foray was a disappointing one. Getting a tough draw in France, England lost in the first round of the tourney. England drew France 1-1 at home, but in the second leg lost 5-2.

Famously, England won the World Cup in 1966, the sole major football tournament the country has won. Following that up with another flop in Europe would have been a real disappointment. Fortunately, this time around the remaining members of England’s greatest footballing success were there to help. For the first time, qualifying was done with a group stage, followed by a two-legged quarterfinals to qualify for the four-team “finals” tournament. England won its all-UK group and then beat Spain to finally make it to the four-team tourney. While it lost to Yugoslavia 1-0 in the semis, England beat the Soviet Union 2-0 to finish third thanks to goals from Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst.

England cruised through the group stage of qualifying, smashing Greece and Malta and then beating Switzerland once and drawing it the other time. Unfortunately, England then drew West Germany in the quarterfinals. West Germany scored two goals late at Wembley to win 3-1, and after a scoreless draw in West Berlin, England was out. If there’s a silver lining, thanks to Gerd Muller scoring four goals in the four-team tournament, West Germany won it all handily, so at least England lost to the champs.

Antonin Panenka’s shootout goal for Czechoslovakia is the defining moment of this tournament, but this is about England, not the former Czechoslovakia. Although, it is apt to mention them, because England was drawn into Czechoslovakia’s group in qualifying. This was a time when the eight group winners were the only teams to move on. England went 3-2-1 in its six games, and finished one point behind Czechoslovakia, eliminating it from the proceedings.

As noted, the European Football Championship moved from four teams to eight teams starting in 1980. Now, the tournament proper would consist of two groups of four playing the other three teams in their group. The winners of both groups then squared off in the finals, with the runners-up playing for third place. England qualified, and was drawn into group two. While it beat Spain, and drew Belgium, the team finished third in the group thanks to a 1-0 loss to Italy, not even getting to play for third place.

The group format of qualifying remained in place even with the eight-team tournament. Now, the host nation got an automatic bid, and then seven groups fought it out for the winner of said group to make the tournament. England had fun beating up Luxembourg in qualifying, but when it played Denmark it tied the first game and lost the second. Those 13 total goals against Luxembourg means England had the best goal differential in the group, but the Danes had more points and qualified.

In 1988, West Germany and the Soviet Union made their last appearances in a Euro tournament. What about England? Yes, it was there too. There were still the two four-team groups, but then the top two would face off in a semifinal before the finals. Unfortunately for England, that change didn’t matter. England lost to the Netherlands, the Soviet Union, and Ireland. Indeed, it lost all three of its games at Euro ’88. Not great!

Chaos swirled in 1992. The Soviet Union had qualified for the tournament, but then dissolved, leaving the classic Commonwealth of Independent States to appear instead. Then, famously, Yugoslavia broke up after qualifying, but FR Yugoslavia was then banned from the tournament thanks to sanctions from the United Nations. Thus, Denmark was let into the tournament, and would go on to win. England was there too, even if it wasn’t at the center of all the attention. Denmark’s magic run began with a draw against England. England would then draw France and lose to Sweden, meaning it finished at the bottom of the group once again.

Euro ’96 was the first tournament with 16 teams, though as the host England didn’t have to worry about qualifying. This tournament formatting will be familiar. Now there were four groups of four, with the top two teams in each group moving on to a single-game knockout stage. England, the hosts, emerged atop a group featuring Scotland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In the quarterfinals, England beat Spain in penalties, but then lost to Germany in penalties in the semifinals. All six German players made their penalties before one English player missed. That player? Gareth Southgate, now the coach of England’s national team.

In a group featuring England, Germany, Portugal, and Romania, you might have a sense of what two teams would advance. However, Germany is the only team of these three that England beat. The “Three Lions” played Romania in its final group game, and all they needed was a draw. England almost got it, as the game was 2-2 late. Then, Romania converted a penalty in the 89th minute and won 3-2, eliminating England.

For fans of “the beautiful game,” Greece grinding out the most tedious Cinderella story in football history to win Euro 2004 was pretty bleak. Fortunately, England football fans still had something to enjoy. While it lost its opening game to France, England would then beat Switzerland and Croatia comfortably to move onto the knockout stage. That would be the end of the run, though. England and host nation Portugal were tied 2-2 at the end of extra time, leading to the shootout. There, it took seven shots apiece, but Portugal eked out the 6-5 win in PKs. Hey, at least it was an exciting way to go out.

England failed to qualify for Euro 2008. Ever hear about that? Macedonia played it to a scoreless draw at Wembley? It lost its final two games to Russia and Croatia, even though Croatia had already clinched the group? The low point for English soccer in the last 30 years? Ring any bells?

Well, England qualified for Euro 2012, so at least there’s that. In fact, it even won its qualifying group. Drawn into a group with France, Sweden, and Ukraine, England didn’t lose a game, winning twice and drawing with the French squad. England then drew Italy in the quarterfinals, but after a scoreless game, Italy beat England in penalties.

In 2016, owing to an increase in viable footballing nations in Europe (and in a grasp for more cash), the Euro tournament increased to 24 teams. Now, 16 of those 24 teams made it to the knockout stage after the group stage, effectively rendering the group stage kind of unremarkable. Hey, money talks. England qualified and were placed in a group with Wales, Slovakia, and Russia. Only Russia didn’t move to the knockout rounds, though Wales did finish atop the group. In a memorable upset, Iceland beat England 2-1 in the first knockout round.

The last time around, England came oh-so-close to glory. With Southgate in charge, England qualified with ease. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, this tournament was played all over Europe in pods, with Wembley being one of the stadiums used. England won Group D over Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Scotland, the only team eliminated at this stage. Worryingly, England drew Germany to start the knockout round, but won 2-0 off goals by Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. In the quarterfinals it smashed Ukraine, and then in the semis a goal in the 110th minute by Kane gave England a 2-1 win. England was in the finals! A game being held at Wembley! England and Italy were tied 1-1 and went to penalties. Heartbreakingly, the last three English shooters all missed, and Italy took home the title.