What was your first European Championship and what are your memories?

Only Euros I remember with any fondness from an England perspective are Euro 96 and perhaps the one Greece won in Portugal. All others we either haven't qualified or been terrible.
 
Euro 92, still buzzing from Italia 90 and Boro's promotion to the first season of the PL. I remember watching the final with my grandparents and being bored to death by the pass-back tactics of Denmark, but pleased they beat Germany. I remember Linekar being taken off in his last ever competitive England match when we were 2-1 down vs Sweden with 20 mins or so left on the clock (am I remembering that right?)
 
Otto42 said:
Only Euros I remember with any fondness from an England perspective are Euro 96 and perhaps the one Greece won in Portugal. All others we either haven't qualified or been terrible.
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2004 looked good for a bit, and we were arguably robbed v Portugal.
 
France 1984, Platini was incredible and I loved the top. Loved Van Basten too, great volley in the final and remember him turning Adams inside out for one goal.
 
I remember following France '84 and loved the French team with for me the best midfield in history, but seem to remember the TV coverage was awful with most of the games not being shown live.
I remember having ridiculously high hopes for England in 1988 with a line up including Robson, Hoddle, Barnes, Waddle, Beardsley, Lineker...what could possibly go wrong 😂. Three defeats later...
 
Otto42 said:
1980, first tournament England had qualified for in my lifetime. Hopes were high, our fans caused trouble in Turin and then we came home. Ron Greenwood chose to alternate the keepers (Clemence and Shilton) and I think he may even have thrown on Garry Birtles to get try and get an equaliser against Italy.
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That's the first Euros I remember('78 in Argentina being the 1st tournament).Was that the game in which the players were overcome by tear gas fumes?
 
Otto42 said:
1980, first tournament England had qualified for in my lifetime. Hopes were high, our fans caused trouble in Turin and then we came home. Ron Greenwood chose to alternate the keepers (Clemence and Shilton) and I think he may even have thrown on Garry Birtles to get try and get an equaliser against Italy.
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I went to this 1980 tournament through the Middlesbrough supporters club. A Beeline coach all the way to Italy.
Tear gassed in Turin with a 1-1 draw v Belgium. Then, probably the scariest game I've been to, a 0-1 defeat to hosts Italy in Turin, then to Naples for a 2-1 win v Spain.

We went to the final, Belgium v West Germany, Germany winning 2-1 in a half full Stadio Olimpico, just over 47,000.
Our accommodation was supposed to be tents but we managed to get in 8x6 sheds with two bunk beds in a camp site in Pegli and for the Naples game and the final we had a bigger shed with four bunkbeds on Seven Hills campsite near Rome. Apart from the games it was a great trip and still in touch with friends I made.
 
Euro 2000 for me. I remember us taking a 2 goal lead against Portugal and somehow managing to lose the game 3-2.

Think we lost to Romania in the next match and then beat Germany 1-0, but we were already out of the competition by then.
 
Otto42 said:
1980, first tournament England had qualified for in my lifetime. Hopes were high, our fans caused trouble in Turin and then we came home. Ron Greenwood chose to alternate the keepers (Clemence and Shilton) and I think he may even have thrown on Garry Birtles to get try and get an equaliser against Italy.
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1980 was the first Euros I remember...the Turin game. Ray Wilkins scored a beaut.

 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
The 1976 final is the first one I remember watching. In the Merlin on a small TV, everyone wanted the Czechs to win. Can't remember the game but it must have been half decent, it had everybody glued.
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The same game for me too. I was in Germany with no access to TV but a sergeant had a radio and passed on the progress to me while I was hanging upside down in the engine compartment of a Chieftan.
 
1972, England lose 3-2 to Gunter Netsa West Germanys Gunter in extra time, I was totally gutted, think that was the 1st time WG had beaten us in a tournament & unless I'm mistaken we failed to beat em in any tournament, group stages, until Michael Owen played & we won 5-1 in Munich
 
Erimus74 said:
1972, England lose 3-2 to Gunter Netsa West Germanys Gunter in extra time, I was totally gutted, think that was the 1st time WG had beaten us in a tournament & unless I'm mistaken we failed to beat em in any tournament, group stages, until Michael Owen played & we won 5-1 in Munich
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Didn't WG beat us in the WC in Mexico 1970? That was also 3-2 after us leading 2-0
 
Trug said:
Didn't WG beat us in the WC in Mexico 1970? That was also 3-2 after us leading 2-0
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Correct Trug, 1st time back in over a month & I drop a howler 😩

Yes, Bobby Charlton was subbed with the game 'won' & this freed up Franz Beckenbauer who took over & the rest is history
 
Erimus74 said:
Correct Trug, 1st time back in over a month & I drop a howler 😩

Yes, Bobby Charlton was subbed with the game 'won' & this freed up Franz Beckenbauer who took over & the rest is history
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Never mind Erimus- we all get rusty after a while:)
 
1976 for me. They didn't seem all that important compared to the world cup. I remember being impressed with the Czechs, and how well Wales did, or nearly did.
 
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