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Every four years, club rivalries are put to one side as nations across a continent unite for one of football’s biggest international tournaments, the UEFA European Championship.

Throughout its history, the Euros – as it’s perhaps better known – has showcased some truly unforgettable and sometimes surprising moments.

Ahead of the next Championship in Germany this summer, ����ý Bitesize looks back at some of the most stand-out so far and explores the story behind them.

Denmark wins Euro 1992 - despite not initially qualifying

Denmark missed out on a spot for Euro 1992 after finishing runners-up to Yugoslavia in their qualifying campaign.

However, after Yugoslavia - in a state of civil war at the time - were not allowed to participate, the Danes were given just over a week's notice to get a squad prepared for the eight-team tournament.

Their task was made harder still when they were placed in a group featuring hosts Sweden, England and France. Very few would have predicted the late inclusions would go on to become champions but that’s exactly what happened.

After finishing second in their group behind Sweden, they then played the Netherlands in the semi-finals, overcoming the Dutch on penalties after the game ended 2-2. The fairytale was complete when they beat world champions Germany 2-0 in the final.

The Panenka penalty

During the penalty shootout in the final of Euro 1976, Czechoslovakia midfielder Antonín Panenka casually chipped the ball down the middle of the goal, after Germany's keeper Sepp Maier dived to the left, to win his side the trophy - and the Panenka penalty was born. It has gone on to be replicated many times at both club and country level.

Fast forward 36 years to Euro 2012. Andrea Pirlo recreated the spot-kick in what was the crowning glory of a sparkling performance from the Italian, as his side beat England on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.

Pirlo, who was 33 at the time, was by far the game's leading passer and also ran further than any of his opponents. He later wrote in his autobiography I Think Therefore I Play that he made the decision “right at the last second,” but like the original, the spot kick has been immortalised forever.

Pirlo isn't alone in scoring a Panenka. Great names in the men's game that have one under their belt include Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi.

In 2017, Aaron Ramsey of Wales notably scored a Panenka in the very stadium where it originated, more than four decades earlier. Even the youngsters have been getting in on the Panenka act too.

The first golden goal winner

In Euro 1996, the final between the Czech Republic and Germany at Wembley had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

In extra time, Oliver Bierhoff stepped up to score the first-ever golden goal and win it for the Germans. It was the first golden goal ever to be scored in a major international football tournament.

The rule allowed for a knock-out fixture, which had ended in a draw, to be won by the team who scored the first goal during extra time. Four years later, France's David Trezeguet inflicted similar pain on Italy in the Euro 2000 final.

The golden goal was briefly replaced by the silver goal – if a team were ahead at the break of extra time, then the game would end – however, both the golden and silver goals were removed following Euro 2004.

The first ever Euro match in 1960

Set against a backdrop of political turmoil and mass withdrawals, the first European Championship finals included just four teams. What was then called the European Nations Cup, it featured hosts France, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union.

In early July 1960, Yugoslavia faced hosts France in the opening game and won a 5-4 thriller in the Parc des Princes, Paris.
The Soviet Union went on to be crowned champions after beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final. After such humble beginnings, the tournament has gone from strength to strength, now with 24 teams competing.

Dieter Müller - youngest hat-trick scorer in 1976

After 30 minutes, (West) Germany trailed Yugoslavia 2-0 in the Euro 1976 semi-finals. The Germans pulled one back in the second half but with 11 minutes remaining, a goal was still needed. They turned to a debutant; a 22-year-old striker called Dieter Müller.

Within three minutes the striker had equalised, forcing extra time where he went on to score a further two goals to complete his hat-trick and send Germany through to the final with a 4-2 win.

There have been only eight hat-tricks during the history of the European Championship so far and Müller is joined on that list by names such as Michel Platini, who has two Euro hat-tricks to his name, and Marco van Basten.

Shout out to Iceland fans

Europe is famous for its love of football and passionate fans across the continent. However, Iceland fans in particular stood out at the 2016 European Championship for their now famous clap chant.

The Iceland football supporters came second behind those of Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in Fifa’s Fan Award that year. The contest was set up to recognise an outstanding fan moment or gesture.

The chant was a huge part of their story, as the small island nation shocked England, sending them home before being knocked out by hosts France in the quarter-finals.

This article was published in June 2024