Ten countries have won Europe's biggest international tournament, with only Germany, Spain and France victorious more than once
The European Championship is the continent's major international tournament, and has been graced by some iconic players and teams over the years.
Since the first edition of the tournament in 1960, only 10 countries have held the title of being kings of Europe. Of those 10, only three have won it more than once.
Here, Goal takes a look at every single tournament from the 1960 European Nations' Cup to Euro 2016, celebrating the winners of each title.
AFP1960 – Soviet Union
The first European Championships were held in 1960, though the format was very different to today.
Just 17 teams entered, with the likes of England, West Germany and Italy all missing from what was then known as the ‘European Nations’ Cup’. Teams played home and away until the final four, with the semi-finals and final played in France.
The Soviet Union won the inaugural title, beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in extra-time thanks to a 113th-minute goal from Victor Ponedelnik at the Parc des Prince.
The USSR had beaten Czechoslovakia 3-0 in the semis, with Yugoslavia beating hosts France 5-4 in a thrilling game.
Final scoreline: Soviet Union 2-1 Yugoslavia
AdvertisementGetty Images1964 – Spain
By 1964, the tournament had grown to 29 countries, though the home and away format remained the same.
Reigning champions the Soviet Union qualified again alongside Hungary and Denmark, and eventual hosts and winners Spain.
Spain snuck past Hungary 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu with the Soviet Union recording a 3-0 win over Denmark at Camp Nou.
The final in Madrid got off to a lightning-fast start with the crowd of some 80,000 seeing the score tied at 1-1 after just eight minutes, but the winner didn’t come until the closing stages.
Marcelino beat Lev Yashin six minutes from time to clinch Spain the victory on home soil, and prevent the USSR winning back-to-back titles.
Final scoreline: Spain 2-1 Soviet Union
Getty1968 – Italy
The third instalment of the tournament brought some changes, as the European Nations’ Cup became the European Championship for the first time, and the home and away knockout phase was replaced with a group stage and quarter-finals.
England and Italy qualified for the final four for the first time along with Yugoslavia and the USSR.
The first semi-final finished in unusual circumstances. Italy and the USSR played out a goalless draw after 120 minutes, and so the game was settled by a coin toss – which hosts Italy won.
Yugoslavia reached their second final courtesy of a late 1-0 win over world champions England, who would go on to beat the Soviet Union 2-0 in the third-place play-off.
Italy and Yugoslavia drew 1-1 in the final but, rather than flip a coin, this match went to a replay. Two days later, Luigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi scored in a 2-0 win for the Azzurri.
Final scoreline: Italy 2-0 Yugoslavia (R)
AFP1972 – West Germany
Thirty-two teams went into qualifying for the 1972 tournament, with eight groups each sending a winner into the quarter-finals to determine the final four.
Belgium were chosen as hosts once they qualified alongside the USSR, West Germany and Hungary.
The Soviet Union powerhouse reached yet another final with a 1-0 win over Hungary, but the tournament was defined by the goalscoring form of Gerd Muller.
He scored both goals as West Germany beat Belgium 2-1, and got another double in the final as the Germans thrashed the USSR 3-0 to claim their first title.
Final scoreline: West Germany 3-0 Soviet Union