1980 UEFA Euro Championship
The 1980 UEFA European Championship, held in Italy from June 11 to June 22, was the first to feature an expanded format with eight teams in the finals (all previous tournament were between four teams).
This edition saw the introduction of a group stage, replacing the previous knockout-only format.
In the group stage, West Germany topped Group 1, which included Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, and Greece, while Belgium emerged as the surprise winners of Group 2, ahead of Italy, England, and Spain.
West Germany emerged victorious, claiming their second European Championship title by defeating Belgium 2-1 in the final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Horst Hrubesch was the hero for West Germany, scoring both goals, including a decisive header in the 88th minute. Belgium's equalizer came from a penalty converted by René Vandereycken.
The third-place match was scrapped in this tournament, a change from previous editions.
Related Pages
- UEFA Euro Home
- UEFA Euro Host Countries List
- UEFA Euro Winners List
- UEFA Euro Trivia
- The Year in Sport: 1980
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