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 FIFA 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 "UEFA Euro XXXX". Prior to entering the tournament all teams other than the host nations (which qualify automatically) compete in a qualifying process.
Germany have participated in fourteen European Championships, five of which were as West Germany and nine of which were as (unified) Germany. By doing so, the nation holds the record of most participations in the competition's history.
Germany are holders of three European titles, won in 1972 in Belgium, in 1980 in Italy, and in 1996 in England. The team have finished out of the top eight on only three occasions, in the 2000, 2004 and 2020 tournaments. They have reached at least the semi-finals on nine occasions, an unparalleled record in the competition.
Overall record
History 1960–1988 as 1992–present as Champions Runners-up Third place Tournament played fully or partially on home soil
UEFA European Championship recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition*SquadCampaign 1960Did not enterDid not enter 1964 1968Did not qualify4211921968 1972Champions1st220051Squad85301331972 1976Runners-up2nd211*064Squad84401751976 1980Champions1st431063Squad64201711980 1984Group stage5th311122Squad85121551984 1988Semi-finals3rd421163SquadQualified as hosts 1992Runners-up2nd521278Squad65011341992 1996Champions1st642*0103Squad1081127101996 2000Group stage15th301215Squad86112042000 200412th302123Squad85301342004 2008Runners-up2nd6402107Squad128313572008 2012Semi-finals3rd5401106Squad1010003472012 2016Semi-finals3rd632*173Squad107122492016 2020Round of 1615th411267Squad87013072020 2024Quarter-finals5th5311114SquadQualified as hosts 2028To be determinedTo be determined2028 20322032Total3 Titles14/17583014*148959—10676201026768Total * Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
Winning campaigns Year Manager Captain Final goalscorer(s) 1972 Helmut Schön Franz Beckenbauer Gerd Müller (2), Herbert Wimmer 1980 Jupp Derwall Bernard Dietz Horst Hrubesch (2) 1996 Berti Vogts Jürgen Klinsmann Oliver Bierhoff (2)
List of matches YearRoundOpponentScoreGermany scorer(s)1972Semi-finals2–1G. Müller (2)Final3–0G. Müller (2), Wimmer1976Semi-finals4–2 Flohe, D. Müller (3)Final2–2 D. Müller, Hölzenbein1980Group 11–0Rummenigge3–2Allofs (3)0–0—Final2–1Hrubesch (2)1984Group 20–0—2–1Völler (2)0–1—1988Group 11–1Brehme2–0Klinsmann, Thon2–0Völler (2)Semi-finals1–2Matthäus1992Group 21–1Häßler2–0Riedle, Effenberg1–3KlinsmannSemi-finals3–2Häßler, Riedle (2)Final0–2—1996Group C2–0Ziege, Möller3–0Sammer, Klinsmann (2)0–0—Quarter-finals2–1Klinsmann, SammerSemi-finals1–1 KuntzFinal2–1 Bierhoff (2)2000Group A1–1Scholl0–1—0–3—2004Group D1–1Frings0–0—1–2Ballack2008Group B2–0Podolski (2)1–2Podolski1–0BallackQuarter-finals3–2Schweinsteiger, Klose, BallackSemi-finals3–2Schweinsteiger, Klose, LahmFinal0–1—2012Group B1–0Gómez2–1Gómez (2)2–1Podolski, BenderQuarter-finals4–2Lahm, Khedira, Klose, ReusSemi-finals1–2Özil2016Group C2–0Mustafi, Schweinsteiger0–0—1–0GómezRound of 163–0Boateng, Gómez, DraxlerQuarter-finals1–1 ÖzilSemi-finals0–2—2020Group F0–1—4–2Dias (o.g.), Guerreiro (o.g.), Havertz, Gosens2–2Havertz, GoretzkaRound of 160–2—2024Group A5–1Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz, Füllkrug, Can2–0Musiala, Gündoğan1–1FüllkrugRound of 162–0Havertz, MusialaQuarter-finals1–2 Wirtz
Head-to-head record Opponent110010220042101011210133320153211032430163301214200203211042211042403134101000521289110010211020531187211032110030220071110030110030410334110032101011110032110020110042Total583014148959
UEFA Euro 1972
Final tournament
Semi-finals
Final
UEFA Euro 1976
Final tournament
Semi-finals
Final
UEFA Euro 1980
Group stage
Knockout stage
Final
UEFA Euro 1984
Group stage
UEFA Euro 1988
Group stage
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
UEFA Euro 1992
Group stage
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Final
UEFA Euro 1996
Group stage
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
UEFA Euro 2000
Group stage
UEFA Euro 2004
Group stage
UEFA Euro 2008
Group stage
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
UEFA Euro 2012
Group stage
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
UEFA Euro 2016
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
UEFA Euro 2020
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
UEFA Euro 2024
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Most appearances RankPlayerMatchesYears1Manuel Neuer202012, 2016, 2020, 20242Toni Kroos193Bastian Schweinsteiger182004, 2008, 2012, 20164Thomas Müller172012, 2016, 2020, 20245Philipp Lahm142004, 2008, 20126Mario Gómez132008, 2012, 2016Thomas Häßler1992, 1996, 2000Mats Hummels2012, 2016, 2020Joshua Kimmich2016, 2020, 2024Jürgen Klinsmann1988, 1992, 1996Miroslav Klose2004, 2008, 2012
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsYears (goals)1Mario Gómez52012 (3), 2016 (2)Jürgen Klinsmann1988, 1992, 1996 (3)3Kai Havertz42020 (2), 2024 (2)Dieter Müller1976 (4)Gerd Müller1972 (4)Lukas Podolski2008 (3), 2012Rudi Völler1984 (2), 1988 (2)8Klaus Allofs31980 (3)Michael Ballack2004, 2008 (2)Miroslav Klose2008 (2), 2012Jamal Musiala2024 (3)Karl-Heinz Riedle1992 (3)Bastian Schweinsteiger2008 (2), 2016
See also Germany at the FIFA Confederations Cup Germany at the FIFA World Cup
References
Bibliography