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England: When did they win the European Championship?

The England national football team, known as the Three Lions, has a long and storied history in international football. Despite their success on the global stage, winning the FIFA World Cup in 1966, England has yet to triumph in the UEFA European Championship. In this article, we will go through the tournament's history to find out when England won the European Championship.

The Early Years

The UEFA European Championship, often referred to as the Euro, started in 1960. However, England did not participate in the first four editions of the tournament. It wasn't until the 1968 tournament in Italy that England made their debut in the European Championship.

Unfortunately, England's journey in their first European Championship was cut short in the semifinals. They were defeated by Yugoslavia in a tight matchup that ended 1-0. The Yugoslavians went on to finish as runners-up, losing to Italy in the final.

Near Misses and Heartbreaks

After their debut in 1968, England had several near misses and heartbreaks in the following European Championships. In 1972, they failed to qualify for the tournament, missing out on the opportunity to compete for the championship.

In the 1980 edition held in Italy, England had a strong showing in the group stage but were eventually eliminated in the group phase. It was another disappointment for the Three Lions as they couldn't progress further in the tournament.

England's best chance to win the European Championship came in 1996 when the tournament was hosted by England. Inspired by home support, England reached the semifinals but lost to Germany in a penalty shootout. It was a heartbreaking exit as England came so close to reaching the final on home soil.

Recent Tournaments

In recent editions of the European Championship, England has been unable to reach the same heights as in 1996. They struggled to make an impact in the 2000 and 2004 tournaments, being eliminated in the group stages both times.

The 2012 tournament in Ukraine and Poland saw England progress to the quarterfinals but were then knocked out by Italy. It was another disappointing finish for the Three Lions as they couldn't advance further in the competition.

Most recently, in the 2016 European Championship held in France, England was knocked out in the Round of 16 by Iceland. The unexpected defeat led to great disappointment among England fans, further extending their wait for European glory.

The Future

With a talented young squad and promising players emerging from the English Premier League, optimism is high for England's future in the European Championship. The team's performance in recent international competitions, reaching the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, gives hope that an elusive European Championship title may eventually come.

The quest for England to win the European Championship continues, and fans across the country eagerly await the day when the Three Lions lift the trophy. Until then, England remains one of the few traditional football powerhouses yet to taste success in Europe's premier international tournament.