Useless knowledge European Football Championship 2024

There are usually over 80 million soccer coaches during a European Championship. What could the team have done better? Which line-up would have been smarter? At home on the couch, everyone suddenly knows. But what about soccer knowledge about the European Football Championship? We have put together 10 questions for you. Can you answer them all correctly?

1. When was the first European Football Championship held?
2. Who is the first European soccer champion?
3. Does the UEFA European Championship trophy have a name?
4. Who are the most successful teams at the European Championships?
5. Who won the UEFA European Championship in their own country?
6. ...and many more questions!

1. When was the first European Football Championship held?

Even before the first soccer World Cup was held, the idea of creating a European Championship came up. As with the world's leading cycling race, the Tour de France, and the World Cup, its initiator was based in France. Henri Delaunay, General Secretary of the French Football Association, submitted his plan to FIFA as early as 1927. After all, UEFA did not yet exist; it was only founded in 1954. It was not until four years after its foundation and after six World Cup finals had already been held that the idea of a continental championship was implemented in Europe.

In Copenhagen in 1957, it was agreed by 14 votes to 7 with five abstentions on a model with 16 participants, who were to determine four semi-finalists in first and second legs in a cup format, who would then play the final round of the “European Cup of Nations” in one country. However, at least 16 countries had to register. The initiators were lucky, there were 17 so a preliminary round was necessary. The draw thus brought Ireland and Czechoslovakia together in Dublin on April 5, 1959, for the very first European Championship match.

2. Who is the first European soccer champion?

In the very first round of 16 matches in European Championship history, a spectator record was set that remains unbroken. A crowd of 100,500 attended the USSR-Hungary match in Moscow and cheered on the eventual European champions' 3:1 victory over the dying miracle team from the Balkans. The Soviet Union became the first UEFA European champions.

3. Does the UEFA European Championship trophy have a name?

Yes, the European Championship trophy does have a name. It goes by the name of “COUPE HENRI DELAUNAY”. The new trophy was presented to the winner, Spain, for the first time at EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. The old trophy had been awarded since the first tournament in 1960. The trophy, which was crafted by London goldsmiths Asprey, is made of sterling silver, weighs eight kilograms, and is 60 centimeters high. The names of the previous winners are engraved on the back of the trophy.

Photo: Luis Quintero, Pexels

4. Who are the most successful teams at the European Championships?

Spain (1964, 2008, 2012) and Germany (1972, 1980 - both times as the Federal Republic of Germany - and 1996) are the most successful teams at the European Championships. Both nations have won the title three times. Otherwise, only France has triumphed more than once (1984, 2000).

5. Who won the UEFA European Championship in their own country?

Only three teams have won a UEFA European Championship on home soil: Spain (1964), Italy (1968) and France (1984).

6. Who was European champion both as a player and as a coach?

Berti Vogts won the title as a player for Germany in 1972 and as a coach for Germany in 1996. This makes him the only person to have won the European Championship as both a player and a coach.

7. Who was the oldest player to have played in a UEFA European Championship final?

Lothar Matthäus is the oldest player. He was 39 years and 91 days old when Germany lost 3-0 to Portugal at UEFA EURO 2000.

Photo: Lesly Juarez, Unsplash

8. Who scored the fastest EURO goal?

Luke Shaw's goal in the final for England against Italy came after one minute and 56 seconds - the fastest goal in a EURO final and the fifth fastest in the tournament's history.

9. Who is the record scorer of the German national team?

As of 06:00 on 27.03.2024, Miroslav Klose is the record scorer for the German national team. He has scored 71 goals in 137 games. He played his first match on 24.03.2001. The last time Miroslav Klose took to the pitch in a German national team shirt was on 13.07.2014.

10. Who is the record player of the German national team?

Lothar Matthäus played the longest for the German national team. In 150 games, he scored 23 goals and 6 penalties. He made his debut on 14.06.1980 and retired from the German team on 20.06.2000.

Source: UEFA