Delaunay legacy lives on

The groundwork for a European national-team competition began in 1956 and two years later the first European Nations' Cup - now the UEFA European Championship - was launched. With the 2012 edition going to Poland and Ukraine, and qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland in full swing, uefa.com looks back at the tournament's proud past.

Delaunay effort
The initial format saw early rounds played as home-and-away matches on a knockout basis until the semi-finals, which were then staged in a host country. Given the effort Henri Delaunay of the French Football Federation had put into UEFA's birth and European football, it was appropriate that the final phase of the first European Nations' Cup in 1960 should unfold in France. The trophy itself is still named after him.

Spanish joy
The first final in Paris between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia was a close affair, the USSR triumphing 2-1 after extra time. The 1964 tournament, meanwhile, saw politics entering sport, Greece refusing to play Albania - the countries were technically at war. The final round was eventually held in Spain, with the hosts beating the Soviets 2-1 in the Madrid final.

Hosts happy
The European Nations' Cup became the UEFA European Football Championship for 1968. The format also changed: eight groups of seeded teams played each other twice, the top side from each pool progressing to two-legged quarter-finals. The semi-finals, as before, were played in a host nation - in this case, Italy. After Italy and Yugoslavia drew the Rome final 1-1, the Azzurri won the replay 2-0.

Panenka penalty
The 1972 tournament retained the same structure, with the final phase hosted by Belgium. The event climaxed with Germany beating the USSR 3-0 in Brussels thanks to two Gerd Müller goals. The 1976 championship took place in Yugoslavia. In the final, Czechoslovakia squandered a two-goal lead against West Germany before penalties ensued. When Uli Hoeness missed, it allowed Antonín Panenka to chip into the space vacated by goalkeeper Sepp Maier's anticipatory dive for a Czech victory in Belgrade.

French success
A fresh look was introduced for 1980. Eight teams went to the finals in Italy, split into two round-robin groups before West Germany faced Belgium in the Rome final. A Horst Hrubesch double ensured the Germans prevailed by 2-1. Semi-finals returned for the 1984 tournament in France. The two groups remained, but this time the top two from each advanced. The hosts went on to play Spain in the final in Paris, triumphing 2-0 courtesy of UEFA President Michel Platini's free-kick and Bruno Bellone.

Dutch delight
The setting for the 1988 showpiece was West Germany, with the event following the same format as '84. The Netherlands finally claimed a title by defeating the USSR 2-0 in Munich courtesy of a fantastic Marco van Basten volley and Ruud Gullit's header. The 1992 championship had Sweden as its backdrop at a time of European political upheaval. A united Germany was represented; the break-up of the Soviet Union meant the Commonwealth of Independent States would appear; and hostilities in Yugoslavia led to their side being excluded with Denmark replacing them. Amazingly, Denmark, with nothing to lose, overcame Germany 2-0 in the Gothenburg showpiece with Kim Vilfort and John Jensen scoring.

Golden goal
The emergence of new Eastern European nations meant 48 teams entered the 1996 competition and a new format - 16 countries travelled to the finals in England to contest four groups of four, the leading pair from each going through to the quarter-finals. The final, between ever-present Germany and underdogs the Czech Republic, was the first to be settled by a golden goal, registered by Germany's Oliver Bierhoff for a 2-1 Wembley victory.

Trezeguet heroics
Belgium and the Netherlands were appointed joint hosts for 2000 in a notable European 'first'. A splendid edition also culminated in a golden-goal finish, David Trezeguet's extra-time strike bringing European glory to France against Italy in Rotterdam. Four years later, Portugal played host for the first time and despite a 1-0 loss to unfancied Greece in the opening game, battled through to the final in Lisbon. The home crowd were to be disappointed once more though, as Greece again triumphed 1-0 to take the trophy.