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.

Belgium have participated in seven UEFA European Championships finals, those held in 1972, 1980, 1984, 2000, 2016, 2020 (which was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2024. As of 1 July 2024, they have played 26 matches: twelve wins, three draws and eleven losses.

Overview Overall record Champions   Runners-up   Third place  

UEFA European Championship recordQualification recordYearHost(s)RoundPositionSquad1960Did not enterDid not enter1964Did not qualifyPreliminary round20022419682nd63121491972Third place3rd210133SquadQuarter-finals85211341976Did not qualifyQuarter-finals83237101980Runners-up2nd412144Squad1st84401251984Group stage6th310248Squad1st64111281988Did not qualify3rd833216819923rd62137619963rd1043317132000Group stage12th310225SquadQualified as co-hosts2004Did not qualify3rd851211920085th14536141620123rd1043321152016Quarter-finals6th530295Squad1st107212452020Quarter-finals5th540193Squad1st1010004032024Round of 1610th411222Squad1st86202242028To be determinedTo be determined2032TotalRunners-up7/1726123113330—7/17122652829232119 Champions   Runners-up   Third place  

List of matches List of UEFA European Championship matchesYearRoundOpponentScoreResult1972Semi-finals1–2LossThird place match2–1Win1980Group stage1–1Draw2–1Win0–0DrawFinal1–2Loss1984Group stage2–0Win0–5Loss2–3Loss2000Group stage2–1Win0–2Loss0–2Loss2016Group stage0–2Loss3–0Win1–0WinRound of 164–0WinQuarter-finals1–3Loss2020Group stage3–0Win2–1Win2–0WinRound of 161–0WinQuarter-finals1–2Loss2024Group stage0–1Loss2–0Win0–0DrawRound of 160–1Loss

Euro 1972

Belgium hosted the European Championship twice, as they were chosen amongst the four semi-finalists to host the event, and ended third by beating Hungary.

Final tournament

Semi-finals

Third place play-off

Euro 1980

Under the guidance of manager Guy Thys, Belgium achieved their best European result at the 1980 edition in Italy. After finishing first in the group phase, before football nations Italy, England and Spain, Belgium stood in the final against West Germany. After the German opener from Horst Hrubesch and the penalty equalizer from René Vandereycken, the match seemed to go in extra time. Two minutes before the end of the regular playing time, Hrubesch's second goal ended the Belgian dream of winning a first major (non-Olympic) tournament.

Group stage

Knockout stage

Final

Euro 1984

At UEFA Euro 1984 the road to the knockout stage seemed open after taking a 2–0 lead in their last group match against Denmark, but the Red Devils could not prevent Danish Dynamite to turn the tide in their favour.

Group stage

Euro 2000 The Belgian team was one of the major disappointments of the 2000 edition with a first-round exit. This early exit was fairly unexpected since during the eight preparational friendlies for Euro 2000 under Robert Waseige Belgium played well, winning three times convincingly and losing only once (2–1 against England). At Euro 2000, Belgium first won against Sweden 2–1 via goals from Bart Goor in the 43rd minute and Émile Mpenza in the 46th minute against Sweden's one by Johan Mjallby in the 53rd minute after a terrible error of goalkeeper Filip De Wilde. In the second match, Belgium lost 2–0 against the eventual tournament runners-up Italy by a header from Francesco Totti in the fifth minute and Stefano Fiore's goal of the tournament (according to the United Kingdom's Match of the Day television programme) in the 66th minute. In the crucial match where Belgium needed one more point to move ahead to the quarter-finals, they lost 2–0 against Turkey (two goals from Hakan Şükür in the 45th after another error of goalkeeper Filip De Wilde, and 70th minute). In the 83rd minute of that last group match, De Wilde even ended his tournament, being sent off for attacking Arif Erdem outside the penalty area.

Group stage

Euro 2016

Just like in Belgium's previous Euro tournament in 2000, they lost 2–0 to Italy in the group phase. In spite of winning with broad margins against the Republic of Ireland (3–0) and Hungary (4–0) at UEFA Euro 2016, Belgium's second talented generation exited the cup with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Wales.

Group stage

Knockout stage

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Euro 2020

Group stage

Knockout stage

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Euro 2024

Group stage

Knockout stage

Round of 16

Goalscorers Player Goals 1972 1980 1984 2000 2016 2020 2024 6 2 4 2 1 1 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 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Own goals 1 1 Total 33 3 4 4 2 9 9 2

See also Belgium national football team records and statistics Belgium at the FIFA World Cup

Notes

References

Head-to-head record OpponentWin %Total