Tournament History

The UEFA European Championship is the main contest of the national teams under the UEFA aegis. Starting 1960, it is held every four years. Originally, the tournament was called the European Cup. In 1968 its name was changed into European Football Championship.
 
Up to 1976, only four teams took part in the final. Yet in 1980 that number grew to eight, and in 1996 – to 16. Teams due to participation in  Finals  are selected through a series of qualifying games. At the start (1960, 1964) the finalists were playing home and at play-offs and since 1968 they were fighting for the victory in qualifying groups and play-off matches.
The Henri Delaunay Cup, which European champion is supposed to win, was called after the name of the UEFA’s Secretary General who initiated one of the most popular nowadays world contest.
  
Information centre “Ukraine -2012” has launched an exclusive project called “EURO-1960-2012: History”.

The author and leader of the project is Volodymyr Kuleba.
 
Articles will be filled with the history, traditions, and course of all the tournaments starting 1960. You will have a chance to learn about the best teams of the continent, prominent football stars, and coaches who played considerable role in establishment and development of European and World football. Also, unique statistics data and pictures will be displayed.

Volodymyr Kuleba says, “A series of  insights into history will be presented on our web-site on a monthly basis throughout the whole year. Since 1960, thirteen tournaments have taken place. EURO 2012 will be the fourteenth. Project “EURO-1960-2012: History” aims to cover a wide circle of readers. These are not only fans or football specialists (hopefully fans and football specialists will also find a lot of interesting facts) but also people of all ages, both youngsters, students, and pupils and others including those who are not fond of football at all. On the eve of one of the most principle world contests to be held on the territory of Eastern Europe, namely in Poland and Ukraine, the objective is to arm numerous fans of “the game of millions” with various facts regarding history of the European football which traces back to 50-s of the last century.

Every section will consist of two parts and on the one hand, tell about the championship’s intrigue, and, on the other hand, lay out interesting statistics data, for example, results of all matches played at European championships, the names of the players who scored goals as well as information on the best players and shooters of each tournament.

The results of the games will be commented by football specialists, coaches, participants of matches themselves, leading mass media agencies, and editions. Furthermore, we are planning to hold public discussions of “EURO-1960-2012: History”. Therefore, we are looking forward to your proposals.