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Most Euro Cup winners: Which country has won the Euros the most times and how did they do it?
Lenah Ann
updated at June 11, 2024 at 11:19 AM
The UEFA European (Euro) Championship is among the most viewed soccer competitions after the FIFA World Cup. The event, held every four years since its inception in 1960, has seen several European soccer giants lift the trophy. Germany and Spain top the list of the most Euro Cup winners with three titles each.
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Table of Сontents:
Over the years, the competition, once called the European Nations Cup, has expanded in size and stature. In the past, most finals were decided by tiny margins or necessitated replays in the event of a tie. The tournament has since transformed by introducing the Golden Goal rule and penalty shootouts to break ties.
Who has won the most Euro Cups?
Since the start of the Euros, 10 nations have bagged the top-tier European Championship trophy, with Germany and Spain dominating the list. As the world shifts its focus towards the fast-approaching Euro 2024 in Germany, Sports Brief looks at the most Euro wins by national team.
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The Soviet Union, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Greece, and Portugal are the other winners. The Soviet Union won the first tournament in 1960, and Italy won the most recent one, the Euro 2020. So, which country has won the most Euro Cups? Here is a list of the most Euro Cup winners, per the Telegraph and Olympics website.
Rank | Team | Number of wins | Year(s) |
1 | Germany | 3 | 1972, 1980, 1996 |
2 | Spain | 3 | 1964, 2008, 2012 |
3 | Italy | 2 | 1968, 2020 |
4 | France | 2 | 1984, 2000 |
5 | Russia | 1 | 1960 |
6 | Czech Republic | 1 | 1976 |
7 | Portugal | 1 | 2016 |
8 | Netherlands | 1 | 1988 |
9 | Denmark | 1 | 1992 |
10 | Greece | 1 | 2004 |
How did the countries with the most Euro Cups do it? Sports Brief explains how Germany and Spain made history by winning three Euros.
Germany
- Number of wins: 3
- Win years: 1972, 1980, 1996
- Runners-up years: 1976, 1992, 2008
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The 2024 Euro host nation, Germany, has dominated the competition with three wins and three runners-up positions. It first won in 1972 and 1980; its most recent win was in 1996. Here is a look at how Germany won its European Championships, as featured by Talk Sport.
UEFA Euro 1972
In 1972, the Soviet Union advanced to the finals for the third time but lost to West Germany in Brussels, Belgium. Die Mannschaft, captained by the legendary greats Herbert Wimmer and Gerd Muller, defeated the Soviets 3-0 to win their first championship.
UEFA Euro 1980
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After winning their first trophy in 1972, the Germans returned strongly to bag their second one in 1980, a 2-1 win over Belgium in the finals at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome. The final was on 22 June 1980, attended by around 47,860 fans. Hrubesch scored two West Germany goals in the 10th and 90th minutes.
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UEFA Euro 1996
Germany won its third title in 1996, winning 2-1 over the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium in London, England. With this milestone, the renowned soccer giant went down in history as the country with the most Euro Cup wins. Around 73,611 fans attended the match.
Spain
- Number of wins: 3
- Win years: 1964, 2008, 2012
- Runners-up years: 1984
Spain has been a soccer giant for years and is one of the countries that has won the FIFA World Cup. They have also won the European Championship thrice, in 1964, 2008, and 2012. Here is a look at how Spain dominated the Euros, per Scotsman.
UEFA Euro 1964
In 1964, Spain was the first host country to win the championship. In the final game at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, the Spanish football team defeated the Soviet Union, the reigning champions, 2-1. The match drew 79,115 fans, making it the most attended match in the competition's history.
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UEFA Euro 2008
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The soccer giants won their second European Championship in a 1-0 win over Germany in Vienna, Austria. With some of the greatest players in history, they employed a tiki-taka style of play, which saw them dominate the entire competition.
UEFA Euro 2012
Spain made another history when it became the first and only nation to defend the European title. They successfully defended their title, winning all of their games en route to the finals, and they capped it off with an incredible 4-0 victory over Italy in Kyiv.
Frequently asked questions
The German national team has participated in the European Cup final six times, and the Spanish side has participated four times. The 2012 final recorded the highest number of goals when Spain scored four times in a 4-0 win over Italy. Here are some frequently asked questions about nations with the most Euro wins.
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How many Euros has Germany won?
Most nations envy the Germans' international soccer record. They have won the European Championship three times and the World Cup four times.
Who is the top scorer in Euro Cup history?
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With 14 goals, the legendary soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo leads the UEFA European Championship in scoring. Since the events started with four clubs competing in just two games, the top scorers in the first three editions have only scored two goals each.
Who scored the most goals in one Euros?
Former player Michel Platini of France holds the record for the most goals in a single tournament in the renowned competition, with nine goals in 1984. He is followed closely by Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five goals.
When and where will Euro 2024 take place?
Germany will host the upcoming European Championship from 14 June to 14 July 2024. It will comprise 24 teams and be the 17th edition of the competition.
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Final word
Countries in the list of the most Euro Cup winners have made history by bagging the most lucrative trophy. By winning it more than once, they have shown their soccer prowess to the world and proven they have the best players and coaches to grace the football arena.
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