As the group stage of the European Championship concluded and the last 16 teams were confirmed, observers couldn’t help but remark on the vast disparity in strength and competitiveness between the two halves of the knockout stage. The half containing teams like Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, and Belgium was deemed significantly more competitive than the section with Italy, England, and the Netherlands. Following Italy’s unexpected 2-0 elimination by Switzerland in the round of 16, this difference became even more pronounced.
In the lower half where Italy, England, and the Netherlands reside, after Italy’s exit, only England and the Netherlands remain as teams ranked within the top 10 by FIFA. It’s worth noting that, among the remaining seven teams in this half, only the Netherlands have previous championship experience. In 1988, the Dutch team, led by their legendary “Three Musketeers,” lifted the European trophy. England, despite its World Cup victories, has never won the UEFA European Championship.
In contrast, the other half boasts five teams that have previously won the Euro title: Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and Denmark. Collectively, these five teams have claimed the trophy a total of ten times. Spain has won in 1964, 2008, and 2012, making them the only nation to win consecutive titles. Germany has triumphed three times (1972, 1980, and 1996), tied with Spain for the most victories. France has been crowned champions twice, in 1984 and 2000. Denmark famously captured the 1992 Euro in a fairy tale run, while Portugal secured their maiden title in 2016. The disparity in championship counts clearly highlights the significant difference in competitiveness between the two halves.