The UEFA European Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations). Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations' Cup, changing to the current name in 1968. Starting with the 1996 tournament, specific championships are often referred to in the form "Euro 2008" or whichever year is appropriate. Prior to entering the tournament all teams other than the host nations (which qualify automatically) compete in a qualifying process.
France is one of the most successful nations at the European Championship, having won two titles in 1984 and 2000, and finishing as runners-up in 2016. The team is just below Spain and Germany, who have won four and three titles, respectively, tied with Italy. France hosted the inaugural competition in 1960 and have appeared in eleven tournaments, tied for fourth-best. The team won their first title on home soil in 1984 and were led by Ballon d'Or winner Michel Platini. In 2000, the team, led by FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane, won its second title in Belgium and the Netherlands. The team's worst result in the competition was a first-round elimination in 2008 alongside a round of 16 exit in 2020 (they also went out in the first round in 1992 but during that time only eight teams qualified for the tournament finals)
Overall record UEFA European Championship recordQualification recordYearRoundPositionSquadCampaign 1960Fourth place4th200247Squad43101761960 1964Did not qualify621311101964 1968842216121968 197263121081972 19766132761976 198064111371980 1984Champions1st5500144SquadQualified as hosts1984 1988Did not qualify8143471988 1992Group stage6th302123Squad88002061992 1996Semi-finals4th523052Squad105502221996 2000Champions1st6501137Squad1063117102000 2004Quarter-finals6th421175Squad88002922004 2008Group stage15th301216Squad128222552008 2012Quarter-finals8th411235Squad106311542012 2016Runners-up2nd7511135SquadQualified as hosts2016 2020Round of 1611th413076Squad108112562020 2024Semi-finals4th623143Squad87102932024 2028To be determinedTo be determined2028 20322032Total2 Titles11/17492315117353—12074281826094— *Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. **Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won. ***Red border colour indicates that the tournament was held on home soil.
Winning campaigns Year Manager Captain Final goalscorer(s) 1984 Michel Hidalgo Michel Platini Michel Platini, Bruno Bellone 2000 Roger Lemerre Didier Deschamps Sylvain Wiltord, David Trezeguet
List of matches YearRoundOpponentScoreResultVenueFrance scorer(s) 1960Semi-finals4–5L ParisVincent, Heutte (2), WisnieskiThird place match0–2L Marseille 1984Group stage1–0W ParisPlatini5–0WNantesPlatini (3), Giresse, Fernández3–2WSaint-ÉtiennePlatini (3)Semi-finals3–2 WMarseilleDomergue (2), PlatiniFinal2–0WParisPlatini, Bellone 1992Group stage1–1DSolnaPapin0–0DMalmö1–2LMalmöPapin 1996Group stage1–0WNewcastleDugarry1–1DLeedsDjorkaeff3–1WNewcastleBlanc, Penev (o.g.), LokoQuarter-finals0–0 DLiverpoolSemi-finals0–0 DManchester 2000Group stage3–0WBrugesBlanc, Henry, Wiltord2–1WBrugesHenry, Djorkaeff2–3LAmsterdamDugarry, TrezeguetQuarter-finals2–1WBrugesZidane, DjorkaeffSemi-finals2–1 WBrusselsHenry, ZidaneFinal2–1 WRotterdamWiltord, Trezeguet 2004Group stage2–1WLisbonZidane (2)2–2DLeiriaTudor (o.g.), Trezeguet3–1WCoimbraZidane, Henry (2)Quarter-finals0–1LLisbon 2008Group stage0–0DZürich1–4LBernHenry0–2LZürich 2012Group stage1–1DDonetskNasri2–0WDonetskMénez, Cabaye0–2LKyivQuarter-finals0–2LDonetsk 2016Group stage2–1WSaint-DenisGiroud, Payet2–0WMarseilleGriezmann, Payet0–0DLilleRound of 162–1WLyonGriezmann (2)Quarter-finals5–2WSaint-DenisGiroud (2), Pogba, Payet, GriezmannSemi-finals2–0WMarseilleGriezmann (2)Final 0–1 LSaint-Denis 2020Group stage1–0WMunichHummels (o.g.)1–1DBudapestGriezmann2–2DBudapestBenzema (2)Round of 163–3 DBucharestBenzema (2), Pogba 2024Group stage1–0WDüsseldorfWöber (o.g.)0–0DLeipzig1–1DDortmundMbappéRound of 161–0WDüsseldorfVertonghen (o.g.)Quarter-finals0–0 DHamburgSemi-finals1–2LMunichKolo Muani
Head-to-head record Opponent110020110010220060110031101022311123320152312032220030100101101011110052110021210123402237101011522176321031210177521266201113312064110020Total492315117353
1960 European Nations' Cup
Final tournament
Semi-finals
Third place play-off
Euro 1984
Group stage
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Final
Euro 1992
Group stage
Euro 1996
Group stage
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Euro 2000
Group stage
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Euro 2004
Group stage
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Euro 2008
Group stage
Euro 2012
Group stage
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Euro 2016
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Euro 2020
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Euro 2024
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Goalscorers Player Goals 1960 1984 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 9 9 7 6 1 6 3 2 1 5 2 3 4 4 3 1 2 3 3 3 2 1 3 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 Total 73 4 14 2 5 13 7 1 3 13 7 4
See also France at the FIFA Confederations Cup France at the FIFA World Cup France in the UEFA Nations League
Notes
References
External links France at UEFA