The Did you know thread. Uselss, but fascinating trivia, facts and stories

I put a list of the European teams that have managed to link at least two consecutive championships reaching the semifinals since the appearance of the European Championship in 1960.

6 TIMES (1 VICTORY, 1 RUNNER UP AND 4 SEMIFINALS)

Germany: World Cup 06 (SF), Euro 08 (2nd), World Cup 10 (SF), Euro 12 (SF), World Cup 14 (1st), Euro 16 (SF)

4 TIMES (2 WINS, 1 RUNNER UP AND 1 SEMIFINAL)

Germany: World Cup 70 (SF), Euro 72 (1st), World Cup 74 (1st), Euro 76 (2nd)

4 TIMES (1 VICTORY, 1 RUNNER UP AND 2 SEMIFINALS)

Germany: World Cup 86 (2nd), Euro 88 (SF), World Cup 90 (1st), Euro 92 (SF)

3 TIMES (3 WINS)

Spain: Euro 08 (1st), World Cup 10 (1st), Euro 12 (1st)

3 TIMES (2 WINS AND 1 SEMIFINAL)

France: Euro 96 (SF) World Cup 98 (1st), Euro 00 (1st)

3 TIMES (1 WIN AND 2 SEMIFINALS)

USSR: Euro 64 (1st), World Cup 66 (SF), Euro 68 (SF)

Italy: World Cup 78 (SF), Euro 80 (SF), World Cup 82 (1st)

France: World Cup 82 (SF), Euro 84 (1st), World Cup 86 (SF)

3 TIMES (2 RUNNER UP AND 1 SEMIFINAL)

Netherlands: World Cup 74 (2nd), Euro 76 (SF), World Cup 78 (2nd)

2 TIMES (1 VICTORY AND 1 RUNNER UP)

Italy: Euro 68 (1st), World Cup 70 (2nd)

Germany: Euro 80 (1st), World Cup 82 (2nd)

France: Euro 16 (2nd), World Cup 18 (1st)

2 TIMES (1 VICTORY AND 1 SEMIFINAL)

England: World Cup 66 (1st), Euro 68 (SF)

2 TIMES (1 RUNNER UP AND 1 SEMIFINAL)

Yugoslavia: Euro 60 (2nd), World Cup 62 (SF)

Czechoslovakia: Euro 60 (SF), World Cup 62 (2nd)

Portugal: Euro 04 (2nd), World Cup 06 (SF)

2 TIMES (2 SEMIFINALS)

France: World Cup 58 (SF), Euro 60 (SF)

Italy: Euro 88 (SF), World Cup 90 (SF)

Sweden: Euro 92 (SF), World Cup 94 (SF)

Netherlands: World Cup 98 (SF), Euro 00 (SF)

When Euro 2020 ends we will be able to see if Croatia, Portugal and Wales will join the “2 times in a row” club and if France will join the “3 times” club.

 

MIGUEL MUÑOZ, MICHEL HIDALGO AND LE PARC DES PRINCES

On June 27, 1984, the French National Team defeated the Spanish National Team 2-0 in the final of the Eurocup held in Paris, specifically in the Parc des Princes.

That triumph was the first title of the French team but it also meant a "little revenge" for the national coach, Michel Hidalgo, who finally managed to defeat Miguel Muñoz who in that distant 1984 was the national coach of Spain.

What was this "little revenge" about?

We must go back 28 years, specifically to June 13, 1956, that day the first European Club Cup final in history was played, the setting was the Parc des Princes in Paris, the rivals Real Madrid and the Stade Reims, in the Spanish team Miguel Muñoz, in the French team Michel Hidalgo.

In the 62nd minute Hidalgo scored 3-2 for Stade Reims and for a few minutes he was the hero of an entire country since his goal could give the first European Cup in history to his club and also winning the final on his own country. Unfortunately for the French, 17 minutes later, Real Madrid scored the final 4-3 that made the Spanish champions.

Hidalgo could not be the hero and Miguel Muñoz became the first player in history to lift the European Cup as captain of the champion team.

For this reason, when Hidalgo won the Eurocup with France in 1984, he managed to beat his Spanish rival “finally” in the Parc des Princes.

And I say “finally” because, as incredible as it may seem, these two players had already met before 1956 in another international final, also played in Paris and also in the Parc des Princes.

For this we go back another year, specifically to June 26, 1955 with the dispute of the Latin Cup final.

That match was the first international final in an official tournament for Real Madrid. For Stade Reims it was the second final in this competition (he was the current champion at the time) but Michel Hidalgo was not part of the team in 1953 so for him it was also his first European final.

The final was won by Real Madrid 2-0 and Miguel Muñoz, as he did a year later in the 1956 European Cup final, was in charge of lifting the champion trophy as team captain.

Hidalgo and Muñoz, Muñoz and Hidalgo, 2 footballers who achieved their greatest achievements as players and as coaches on the same stage, the historic Parc des Princes of the French capital and always being rivals although showing the utmost respect for each other.

I put two photos, one of Muñoz lifting the 1956 European Cup and another of Hidalgo lifting the 1984 EuroCup.

 

Wales 0-4 Denmark

First time in history two goalkeepers from the same club oppose each other in a Euro match. (Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Ward - Leicester City)

Kasper Dolberg is the second Denmark player to score a brace in a knockout phase match in Euro history.
(Henrik Larsen v Netherlands, 1992 semifinals)

Goals scored by Atalanta players at Euro 2020 is the same number of goals scored by players from the whole of La Liga. (5)

Largest margins of victory in Euro knockout phase history:
2000: Netherlands 6-1 Yugoslavia (Quarterfinals)
2012: Spain 4-0 Italy (Final)
2016: Belgium 4-0 Hungary (Round of 16)
2020: Denmark 4-0 Wales (Round of 16)

Most goals scored by Denmark in a single match at a major competition:
6-1 v Uruguay (1986 World Cup)
5-0 v Yugoslavia (Euro 1984)
4-1 v Russia (Euro 2020)
4-0 v Wales (Euro 2020)

Teams in major international tournaments that began a competition with two consecutive defeats and went on to reach the quarterfinals:
Costa Rica (2004 Copa América)
Colombia (2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
Cuba (2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
Cuba (2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
Vietnam (2019 AFC Asian Cup)
Denmark (Euro 2020)

 

Italy 2-1 a.e.t. Austria

Earliest bookings in Euro history:
26" Abelardo (1996 Spain v England)
35" Aleksandrs Isakovs (2004 Latvia v Germany)
46" Jan Suchoparek (1996 Czech Republic v Portugal)
56" Sergio Ramos (2016 Spain v Turkey)
1'02" Marko Arnautović (2020 Austria v Italy)

This is the 8th Euro match involving Italy that has gone to extra-time:
1968 Semifinals, 0-0 v USSR (won on toss of coin)
1968 Final, 1-1 v Yugoslavia (went to a replay, Italy won 2-0)
2000 Semifinals, 0-0 v Netherlands (won 3-1 on penalties)
2000 Final, 1-1 v France (lost 1-2 in extra time/golden goal)
2008 Quarterfinals, 0-0 v Spain (lost 2-4 on penalties)
2012 Quarterfinals, 0-0 v England (won 4-2 on penalties)
2016 Quarterfinals, 1-1 v Germany (lost 5-6 on penalties)
2020 Round of 16, 0-0 v Austria (won 2-1 after extra time)

First time in Euro history that two substitutes scored in extra time. (Federico Chiesa, Matteo Pessina)

Longest run of consecutive minutes without conceding a goal in international play:
1,168 Italy (2020 Oct 14 - 2021 Jun 26) - 984' Gianluigi Donnarumma, 94' Salvatore Sirigu, 62' Alessio Cragno, 28' Alex Meret
1,143 Italy (1972 Sep 20 - 1974 Jun 8) - 1,143 Dino Zoff

Most goals in extra time of a Euro match:
3 - 1984 Semifinal France 3-2 Portugal
3 - 2020 Round of 16 Italy 2-1 Austria

Longest unbeaten runs in international history:
35 - Spain 2007-2009 (W32, D3)
35 - Brazil 1993-1996 (W29, D6)
31 - Italy 2018-present (W26, D5)
31 - Spain 1994-1997 (W20, D11)

 

I read that the last time Austria played a game at extra time was at the 1934 World Cup. That's 87 years, probably a record?

 

Technically, if one ones to count this...
1936 Olympic Gold Medal match v Italy who won 2-1 after extra time.

 

Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic

Netherlands red cards in Euro history:
Johan Neeskens (1976 v Czechoslovakia)
Wim Van Hanegem (1976 v Czechoslovakia)
John Heitinga (2004 v Czech Republic)
Matthijs de Ligt (2020 v Czech Republic)

Leading Czech Republic goal scorers at a single Euro tournament:
5 - Milan Baros (2004)
4 - Patrik Schick (2020)

Teams that won all three group stage matches then lost in first knockout stage match:
2008 Croatia (knocked out in quarterfinals)
2008 Netherlands (knocked out in quarterfinals)
2020 Netherlands (knocked out in Round of 16)

 

Belgium 1-0 Portugal

Dries Mertens for Kevin De Bruyne at 47' 31" is the earliest second half substitution in Euro history.

Portugal's first defeat in the Euro knockout rounds since 2008 (2-3 to Germany)

How defending Euro champions fared:
1964 USSR - lost in Final
1968 Spain - knocked out in Quarterfinals
1972 Italy - knocked out in Quarterfinals
1976 West Germany - lost in Final
1980 Czechoslovakia - knocked out in group stage
1984 West Germany - knocked out in group stage
1988 France - failed to qualify
1992 Netherlands - knocked out in Semi-finals
1996 Denmark - knocked out in group stage
2000 Germany - knocked out in group stage
2004 France - knocked out in Quarterfinals
2008 Greece - knocked out in group stage
2012 Spain - successfully defended title
2016 Spain - knocked out in Round of 16
2020 Portugal - knocked out in Round of 16

 

A funny coincident is that Denmark will now be playing the Czech Republic in the QF's on the 3rd of July, the very same day that the Eriksen replacement Damsgaard turn 21.

 

Croatia 3-5 a.e.t. Spain

Youngest players to start a Euro knockout round match:
18-215 : Pedri (2020 Spain v Croatia)
18-244 : Wayne Rooney (2004 England v Portugal)

At a distance of 53 meters Pedri scored the longest-ever own-goal ever in a Euro match, the first own goal scored from outside the box.

Spain all-time leading Euro goal scorers:
5 - Fernando Torres
5 - Alvaro Morata

Spain are the first team in history to score at least 5 goals in consecutive Euro matches.

Most goals scored in a Euro match:
9 - 1960 France 5-4 Yugoslavia (7 different goal scorers)
8 - 2020 Croatia 3-5 Spain (8 different goal scorers)

 

Fun fact : The Netherlands and France lost to Turkey, lately.

 

France 3-3 a.e.t. Switzerland
Switzerland advance 5-4 on penalties

Historic centenary goals in Euro history:
100 Alain Giresse (1984 France v Belgium)
200 Kim Vilfort (1992 Denmark v Germany)
300 Zlatko Zahovic (2000 Slovenia v Spain)
400 Thierry Henry (2004 France v Switzerland, second goal)
500 Xavi Hernández (2008 Spain v Russia)
600 Nani (2016 Portugal v Iceland)
700 Michael Gregoritsch (2020 Austria v North Macedonia)
800 Haris Seferovic (2020 Switzerland v France, first goal)

France goalkeepers to save a penalty in a Euro match:
Fabien Barthez (2004 v England - David Beckham)
Hugo Lloris (2020 v Switzerland - Ricardo Rodríguez)

Quickest brace scored in a Euro match:
1'11" - Henrik Larsson (2004 Sweden v Bulgaria)
1'43" - Karim Benzema (2020 France v Switzerland)

Players who have scored a brace in two consecutive Euro matches:
Gerd Müller (1972 West Germany v Belgium, USSR)
Michel Platini (1984 France v Belgium, Yugoslavia)
Wayne Rooney (2004 England v Switzerland, Croatia)
Karim Benzema (2020 France v Portugal, Switzerland)

This is the first time Switzerland have scored at least three goals in consecutive Euro matches. (3 v Turkey, 3 v France)

Most goals scored in Euro tournament history:
78 Germany
69 France
66 Spain
65 Netherlands

Switzerland in Euro penalty shootouts:
lost 2016 v Poland 4-5 (2nd kick, Granit Xhaka miss high and wide left)
won 2020 v France 5-4 (converted all five kicks)

France in Euro penalty shootouts:
won 1996 v Netherlands 5-4 (converted all five kicks)
lost 1996 v Czech Republic 5-6 (6th kick, Reynald Pedros saved by Petr Kouba)
lost 2020 v Switzerland 4-5 (5th kick, Kylian Mbappé saved by Yann Sommer)

First time Switzerland have reached the Euro quarterfinals.

 

England 2-0 Germany

Youngest England players to start a match at a major tournament (Euro + World Cup)
18-199 Michael Owen (1998 World Cup v Argentina)
18-245 Wayne Rooney (Euro 2004 v Portugal)
19-298 Bukayo Saka (Euro 2020 v Germany)

Thomas Müller:
10 goals in 16 World Cup matches
0 goals in 15 Euro matches

Harry Kane:
6 goals in 6 World Cup matches
1 goal in 8 Euro matches

England leading scorers in major tournament history (Euro + World Cup):
10 Gary Lineker
9 Alan Shearer
7 Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane

England results in Euro knockout ties.
1968 semifinals : 0-1 v Yugoslavia
1996 quarterfinals : 0-0 aet v Spain, advanced 4-2 on penalties
1996 semifinals : 1-1 aet v Germany, eliminated 5-6 on penalties
2004 quarterfinals : 2-2 aet v Portugal, eliminated 5-6 on penalties
2012 quarterfinals : 0-0 aet v Italy, eliminated 2-4 on penalties
2016 Round of 16 : 1-2 v Iceland
2020 Round of 16 : 2-0 v Germany

All four semifinalists from Euro 2016 (Portugal, France, Germany, Wales) failed to reach the Euro 2020 quarterfinals.

Most games as coach with one national team:
216 : Óscar Tabárez - Uruguay (1988-1990, 2006-current)
198 : Joachim Löw - Germany (2006-2021)
167 : Sepp Herberger - (West) Germany (1936-1964)
163 : Morten Olsen - Denmark (2000-2015)
139 : Walter Winterbottom - England (1946-1962)
139 : Helmut Schön - West Germany (1964-1978)

 

Sweden 1-2 a.e.t. Ukraine

Oldest Sweden players to start a match at a major tournament.
37-241 Gunnar Gren (1958 v Brazil)
36-023 Sebastian Larsson (2020 v Ukraine)

Leading Sweden goalscorers in Euro history.
6 - Zlatan Ibrahímovic
4 - Henrik Larsson, Emil Forsberg

Most goals by a Sweden player at a single Euro tournament.
4 Emil Forsberg (2020)
3 Tomas Brolin (1992)
3 Henrik Larsson (2004)

Euro tournaments with most matches going to extra-time.
5 - 1996, 2016
4 - 2020

Red cards in Euro extra-time.
Wim van Hanegem, 1976 Netherlands v Czechoslovakia (115', direct expulsion)
Klaus Berggreen, 1984 Denmark v Spain (107' double booking)
Nuno Gomes, 2000 Portugal v France (117', direct expulsion)
Marcus Danielson, 2020 Sweden v Ukraine (99', direct expulsion)

Latest goals scored in Euro extra-time.
121:01 - Semih Sentürk (2008, Turkey v Croatia)
120:37 - Artem Dovbyk (2020, Ukraine v Sweden)

Domestic leagues with the most represented players in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020.
59 - English Premier League
39 - Italian Serie A
27 - German Bundesliga
18 - Ukrainian Premier League
17 - Spanish La Liga

 

I'm shocked that Ukranian league has more players than La Liga and Ligue-1. I guess some amazing losses got to do with it.

It would be interesting to see Copa America stats in this item.

 

Domestic leagues with the most represented players in the quarterfinals of Copa América 2021.
25 - Italian Serie A
21 - Mexican Liga MX
21 - Spanish La Liga
20 - English Premier League
19 - Argentine Primera División
14 - Brasileiro Série A

 

More or less, combined Euro+CA represented players in the quarterfinals by League.
79 - English Premier League
64 - Italian Serie A
38 - Spanish La Liga
---
27 - German Bundesliga
21 - Mexican Liga MX
19 - Argentine Primera División
18 - Ukrainian Premier League

 

I was off one for the EPL. Should be 60 for Euro 2020.
(Note that the list is for the 2020-21 season. 3 of the listed EPL clubs were relegated but are still counted as EPL in the list.)

Combined Euro + Copa America...
80 - English Premier League (+ 2 second tier Championship = 82 total)
64 - Italian Serie A
38 - Spanish La Liga
32 - German Bundesliga
21 - Mexican Liga MX
19 - Argentine Primera División
18 - French Ligue 1
18 - Ukrainian Premier League
14 - Brasileiro Série A

 

Did you know in this EURO2020 as much own goals have been scored as in all previous EUROS together?

 

Switzerland 1-1aet Spain
Spain advance 3-1 on penalties

Previous Spain internationals in St. Petersburg:
2017-11-14 : Russia 3-3 Spain (friendly)

Previous Switzerland internationals in St. Petersburg:
2018-07-03 : Sweden 1-0 Switzerland (World Cup, Round of 16)

Spain leading goal scorers at Euro 2020:
3 - own goal
2 - Pablo Sarabia, Álvaro Morata, Ferran Torres
1 - Aymeric Laporte, César Azpilicueta, Mikel Oyarzabal

Switzerland quarterfinal results at major tournaments (Euro + World Cup):
1934 World Cup: 2-3 v Czechoslovakia
1938 World Cup: 0-2 v Hungary
1954 World Cup: 5-7 v Austria
Euro 2020: 1-1 v Spain, Spain advance 3-1 on penalties

Euro matches involving Spain that were decided on penalties:
1984 semi-finals : 1-1 a.e.t. v Denmark - Spain advance 5-4 on penalties
1996 quarterfinals : 0-0 a.e.t. v England - England advance 4-2 on penalties
2008 quarterfinals : 0-0 a.e.t. v Italy - Spain advance 4-2 on penalties
2012 semi-finals : 0-0 a.e.t. v Portugal - Spain advance 4-2 on penalties
2020 quarterfinals : 1-1 a.e.t. v Switzerland - Spain advance 3-1 on penalties

Euro matches involving Switzerland that were decided on penalties:
2016 Round of 16 : 1-1 a.e.t. v Poland - Poland advance 5-4 on penalties
2020 Round of 16 : 3-3 a.e.t. v France - Switzerland advance 5-4 on penalties
2020 quarterfinals : 1-1 a.e.t. v Spain - Spain advance 3-1 on penalties

 

Belgium 1-2 Italy

Previous Belgium internationals in Munich.
1982-09-22 : West Germany 0-0 Belgium (friendly)

Previous Italy internationals in Munich.
1974-06-15 : Italy 3-1 Haiti (World Cup, Group phase, 1st round)
2016-03-29 : Germany 4–1 Italy (friendly)

Youngest Belgium players to start a knockout round match at a major tournament (Euro + World Cup):
19-074 - Divock Origi (2014-07-01, World Cup Round of 16 v United States)
19-036 - Jéremy Doku (2021-07-02, Euro quarterfinals v Italy)

Italy's record throughout Euro 2020:
Qualification.... W-10, D-0, L-0, GF-37 : GA-4
Final Phase....... W-5, D-0, L-0, GF-11 : GA-2

Best goal differentials in Euro history:
+26 Spain (67:41)
+24 Netherlands (65:41)
+23 Germany (78:55)
+21 Italy (50:29)
+19 France (69:50)
+18 Portugal (56:38)

 

Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark

Previous internationals played by Czech Republic in Baku.
2017-10-05 : Azerbaijan 1-2 Czech Republic (World Cup qualifier)

This is Denmark's first ever international played in Azerbaijan.

Leading Denmark goal scorers in Euro history.
3 - Frank Arnesen (3-1984)
3 - Henrik Larsen (3-1992)
3 - Brian Laudrup (3-1996)
3 - Jon Dahl Tomasson (3-2004)
3 - Kasper Dolberg (3-2020)

Leading Czech Republic goal scorers in Euro history.
5 - Milan Baros (5-2004)
5 - Patrik Schik (5-2020)

Most goals at Euro 2020.
12 Spain
11 Italy, Denmark
9 Belgium
8 England, Netherlands, Switzerland