Introduction
The European Championship is the most prestigious soccer tournament in Europe, featuring the best national teams from across the continent. England is one of the most successful nations in the tournament, having reached the semifinals twice and the quarterfinals four times. In this article, we will look at England's progress in the European Championship, summarizing all their matches and results.
The 1996 European Championship
England hosted the European Championship in 1996 and reached the semifinals before losing to Germany on penalties. In the group stage, England faced Switzerland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. They won against Scotland and the Netherlands, drew with Switzerland, and advanced to the knockout stage as group winners. In the quarterfinals, they beat Spain 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw. In the semifinals, they faced Germany and missed three penalties in the shootout, losing 6-5 to the eventual champions.
The 2000 European Championship
England had a disappointing campaign in the 2000 European Championship, failing to progress from the group stage. They faced Portugal, Romania, and Germany in the group stage, losing to Portugal and Romania and drawing with Germany. They finished bottom of the group and were eliminated.
The 2004 European Championship
England reached the quarterfinals of the 2004 European Championship but were knocked out by Portugal. In the group stage, they faced France, Switzerland, and Croatia. They won against Switzerland and Croatia and drew with France, finishing top of the group. In the quarterfinals, they faced Portugal and lost 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
The 2012 European Championship
England reached the quarterfinals of the 2012 European Championship but once again lost on penalties, this time to Italy. In the group stage, they faced France, Sweden, and Ukraine. They drew with France and Ukraine and won against Sweden, finishing second in the group. In the quarterfinals, they faced Italy and lost 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw.
The 2016 European Championship
England entered the 2016 European Championship with high hopes but were knocked out by Iceland in the round of 16. In the group stage, they faced Russia, Wales, and Slovakia. They drew with Russia and Slovakia and won against Wales, finishing second in the group. In the round of 16, they faced Iceland and lost 2-1, resulting in the resignation of manager Roy Hodgson.
The 2020 European Championship
The 2020 European Championship was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was held across multiple venues in Europe. England reached the final but lost to Italy on penalties. In the group stage, they faced Croatia, Scotland, and the Czech Republic. They won against Croatia and the Czech Republic and drew with Scotland, finishing top of the group. In the knockout stage, they beat Germany 2-0 in the round of 16, Ukraine 4-0 in the quarterfinals, and Denmark 2-1 in the semifinals. In the final, they lost 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, extending their wait for a major trophy since winning the World Cup in 1966.
Conclusion
England has had a mixed record in the European Championship, reaching the semifinals twice and the quarterfinals four times. They have also had some disappointing campaigns, failing to progress from the group stage in 2000 and losing in the round of 16 in 2016. Their best performance came in 1996 when they hosted the tournament and reached the semifinals before losing to Germany on penalties. The Euro 2020 campaign was one of their best, but they fell short in the final, losing to Italy on penalties.