When was the first UEFA European Championship and who participated?

The first European football tournament, known as the UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as the Euros, was held in 1960. It took place in France from June 6 to July 10. The participating teams were the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and France.

The Soviet Union won the inaugural tournament, defeating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final, which was held at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. The winning goal was scored by Viktor Ponedelnik in extra time.

Here are 10 interesting facts about the 1960 UEFA European Championship.

1. Format: The 1960 European Championship was contested by just four teams, making it the smallest tournament in terms of the number of participating teams in the history of the Euros.
2. Qualification: There was no formal qualification process for the tournament. The four teams were invited to participate by UEFA.
3. Host: France hosted the tournament, with matches taking place in various cities across the country, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Toulouse.
4. Final Location: The final match between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia was held at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on July 10, 1960.
5. Soviet Union’s Victory: The Soviet Union emerged as the champions, defeating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final. Viktor Ponedelnik scored the winning goal in extra time.
6. Goals Scored: A total of 17 goals were scored throughout the tournament, with an average of 4.25 goals per match.
7. Preliminary Round: The format included a preliminary round, where the Soviet Union faced off against Hungary in a two-legged tie. The Soviet Union won 3-1 on aggregate to advance to the semifinals.
8. Semi-final Results: In the semifinals, the Soviet Union defeated Czechoslovakia 3-0, while Yugoslavia overcame France 5-4 after extra time in a thrilling encounter.
9. Top Scorers: François Heutte of France and Valentin Ivanov of the Soviet Union were the top scorers of the tournament, each scoring two goals.
10. Duration: The tournament spanned from June 6 to July 10, 1960, with a total duration of 35 days.