Competition Info

• European Championship Qualifier

• 1962-present

• Originally entitled the European Nations Cup, the first tournament was held in France in 1960 which England declined to participate alongside other notable absentees such as West Germany and Italy. Until 1980 only the semi-finals and final was played in the host country. Prior rounds were on a home and away basis.
  At their first attempt England were beaten 6-3 on aggregate by France but on the second attempt in 1968 managed to qualify for the semi-finals by winning the Home Championship of 1967-68 which was used as a ready-made qualifying group, and then beating Spain 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-final. At the final tournament England lost to Yugoslavia 1-0. England failed to qualify for the next two editions but when the competition was expanded to eight teams in 1980 they narrowly missed out on the semi-finals. Euro '96 on home soil saw England reach the semi's again only this time to lose out agonisingly on penalties to Germany.
  Failure to qualify for 2008 saw Steve McClaren lose his job but the 2016 campaign was the best ever with a 100% record in qualifying.