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 three titles each. France hosted the
inaugural competition in 1960 and have appeared in ten tournaments (with an upcoming eleventh appearance in
2024), 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 YearZinedine Zidane, won its second title in Belgium and the Netherlands. The team's worst result in the competition was a first-round elimination in
1992 and
2008.[1]