Frayed nerves the norm

Czechoslovakian delight
Shoot-outs were ushered in not long after the 1968 tournament, when Italy ousted the Soviet Union on a coin toss in the semi-final, then needed a replay to claim the trophy against Yugoslavia. The first came in the 1976 final as West Germany took on Czechoslovakia. Both teams had won their semi-finals in extra time, but this game in Belgrade was 2-2 after 120 minutes. After Uli Hoeness missed the Germans' fourth kick, Antonín Panenka famously chipped his effort in to seal victory.

Repeat performance
In 1980 there were no knockout matches until the final, but Czechoslovakia still managed to make history in a shoot-out. Their third-place play-off against hosts Italy ended 1-1, and a competition record number of kicks was needed before Czechoslovakia won 9-8.

Spanish joy
The trend of close games continued in 1984 as both semi-finals went to extra time. France were spared a shoot-out as Michael Platini's 119th-minute goal beat Portugal 3-2 but Spain and Denmark could not be split. Penalties went Spain's way 5-4, Preben Elkjær the unlucky taker.

Dutch despair
Perhaps fortunately considering the future Dutch record from shoot-outs, their 1988 triumph came in a competition where no match went even to extra time. Normal service was resumed in the 1992 semi-finals, though, where this time Denmark progressed on penalties. Their victims? The Netherlands.

England win
With an extra knockout round added in the expanded 1996 finals, more spot-kick deciders were inevitable. As in 2004, two of the quarter-final ties went to penalties. England, unlike in Portugal, were successful, beating Spain at Wembley. Meanwhile the Dutch were downed again, this time by France.

Luck runs out
The golden goal rule, introduced in 1996, was meant to end games before shoot-outs. But after none were scored in the last eight, both semi-finals went to extra time - and again to penalties. England and France's luck ran out against Germany and the Czech Republic respectively. The final did produce a golden goal, for Germany's Oliver Bierhoff.

Golden goals
Last time around, all the quarter-finals were decided in 90 minutes, although none of the remaining ties were. Italy's semi-final with the Netherlands was goalless - before the latter again fell on penalties. France were able to see off Portugal with a Zinedine Zidane golden goal - a penalty - then beat Italy in similar style, David Trezeguet the hero.

Greek hope
If Portugal and the Netherlands have not had good records in EURO epics past, those ghosts were exorcised last week. Meanwhile, the Czechs are yet to lose a shoot-out, and Greece are yet to take part in one - though they already have a few firsts to their name in these finals.