Teams

Sixteen teams from across Europe spent over a year qualifying for the 2008 European Football Championships held in Switzerland and Austria, the hosts automatically qualifying for this year’s tournament. The first round of qualifying matches commenced in August 2006. Outside of the hosts, Germany was the first country to achieve qualification, doing so on October 13th 2007.

Group A

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic have made six previous appearances at the European Championships, qualifying this year by finishing ahead of Germany in qualifying Group D. They lost just one game in qualifying, going down 2-1 to Germany at home.

Portugal

Portugal finished runner up to Poland in qualifying Group A having lost just one game all campaign long. They did, however, draw six games, dropping some needed points along the way but still finished three points clear of Serbia in 3rd position. This is Portugal’s fifth apperance at the European Championships having hosted the tournament in 2004.

Switzerland

2008 will be Switzerland’s third apperance at the European Championships having previously qualified in 1996 and again at the last Championships in Portugal in 2004. As co-hosts, Switzerland didn’t need to progress through a qualifying campaign.

Turkey

Turkey previously competed in the tournament in 1996 and again in 2000, missing out on qualification for Euro 2004. They qualified for Euro 2008 by finishing runner up in Group C, seven points behind holders Greece, one point ahead of third placed Norway.

Group B

Austria

Euro 2008 marks Austria’s first entry to the tournament, hosting the European Championships with Switzerland securing their qualification back at the end of 2002. Austria will play their group games at the Ernst Happel Stadion, the country’s national stadium which also hosts the final of Euro 2008.

Croatia

Croatia made a firm impression at Euro 96 on their first qualification, missing out on 2000 but returning in Portugal in 2004. Croatia will be remembered for Euro 2008 by beating England at Wembley in their final qualifying game, topping Group E ahead of Russia and eliminating England from the tournament.

Germany

Three times winners Germany haven’t missed a tournament since 1972, this draw marking their tenth apperance at the European Championships. Germany finished runners-up in Group D, behind the Czech Republic in first place and ahead of Ireland in third place. Germany won the trophy in 1972, 1980 and again in 1996.

Poland

Poland, who will co-host Euro 2012, opened their qualifying Group A campaign with a 3-1 defeat against Finland but recovered to lose only one more game in the group, finishing in first position with 28 points out of 14 games. Their other loss was against Armenia in June 2007 with Hamlet Mkhitaryan scoring to give the Armenians a 1-0 victory. 2008 marks Poland’s first apperance at the UEFA European Championships.

Group C

France

Twice crowned European champions, Euro 2008 is France’s seventh time in the competition having previously won the trophy in 1984 and 2000, beating Italy 2-1 in extra time. France finished runner up to Italy in qualifying Group B, only to be paired together in Group C along with Netherlands and Romania.

Italy

Italy have won the European Championship just once, back in 1968. 2008 marks their seventh appearance at the Championships. In qualifying for the competition, Italy finished top of qualifying Group B, losing only one game, to France in September 2006 (3-1).

Netherlands

The Netherlands finished runners up in qualifying Group G. They’ll be making their eighth appearance at the European Championships, having co-hosted the event in 2000 and won the event back in 1988. They finished a point ahead of Bulgaria in qualifying with a total of 26 points from 12 games.

Romania

Like the case between France and Italy, Romania also came out of the same qualifying group as the Netherlands having topped the group with 29 points. Romania have appeared previously in 1984, 1996 and again in 2000.

Group D

Greece

Greece are present European champions, having beaten Portugal on home soil in 2004. The first time Greece entered the competition (1984) they couldn’t win a game, the second time (2004) they won the tournament outright. They also had a good qualifying campaign, finishing top of group C with just one defeat in 12 games.

Russia

Russia won the very first European Championships back in 1960 but haven’t won since. This will be their ninth appearance in the competition. They pipped England to second place in Group E qualifying, finishing behind Croatia.

Spain

Regulars in the competition since 1980, Spain won their only trophy in 1964 and will be making their eigth apperance at the European Championships. Spain topped qualifying Group F, finishing two points clear of Sweden in second place.

Sweden

Sweden came out of the same qualifying group as Spain, finishing runners up with 26 points. Sweden have been involved in the competition on three previous occasions, 1992, 2000, and at the last tournament in Portugal in 2004.

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