EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

The European Championship of 2008 was the second to be co-hosted, this time by Austria and Switzerland, and it would go down as one of the most dramatic tournaments of all time. Co-hosts Switzerland opened up with two losses in Group A, and were already eliminated by the time they beat Portugal in their final match. Portugal had already qualified with two wins, leaving the other quarter-final place to be decided by Turkey and the Czech Republic. The two went into the match with identical records, and it was decided that a penalty shoot-out would be used if the match was drawn. The Czechs led 2-0, but a Turkish fightback to 2-2 left penalties looming before a last minute goal completed the turnaround and took Turkey through.

Croatia cruised through Group B, with three wins out of three. Germany's 2-0 win over Poland made them favourites to go through with Croatia, but co-hosts Austria had a chance to qualify themselves by beating the Germans in their final match. Germany edged a close match 1-0, and both host nations went out of the tournament before the knockout stages. In Group C it was the Netherlands who finished with a 100% record, beating World Cup finalists Italy and France in spectacular style. Their third victory over Romania meant that the winner of the World Cup final rematch between Italy and France would go through, and as in 2006 Italy came out on top to send France out.

Holders Greece struggled in Group D, losing all three matches and scoring only one goal to surrender the title they had unexpectedly won in 2004 with the worst record in the tournament. Spain impressively won all their games, and they were joined in the last eight by Russia who recovered from their opening loss to Spain to qualify ahead of Sweden thanks to a 2-0 win.

Germany took an early 2-0 lead and then held off a Portugese fightback to win the first quarter-final 3-2, and would next play Turkey who won a remarkable match against Croatia. Turkey fell behind in the 119th minute, but equalised with the last kick and won on penalties. Russia overcame the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser to deservedly beat the Netherlands after extra-time, and in the last quarter-final Spain beat Italy on penalties after a goalless two hours.

In the first semi-final Germany and Turkey both came from behind and looked to be heading to extra-time at 2-2 before a last gasp winner took the Germans into the final. They would meet Spain, whose 3-0 win over Russia matched the margin of their 4-1 group win over the same opponents. In the final, Spain totally dominated the match but struggled to find the crucial final touch. They took the lead shortly after the half-hour through Fernando Torres, but were unable to add to their lead. Germany were still in the match until the end but could not find an equaliser, and Spain had their first major title in 44 years.