The Debutantes

UEFA Euro 2020 will feature 24 teams for the second time in the history’s competition. However, this time around, there will only be two teams taking their place in the tournament for the very first time.

Finland and North Macedonia will be the 34th and 35th teams to make their debuts at the 16th European Championship. They qualified in very different circumstances. Finland clinched their place at the European Championship over a year and a half ago, finishing second in their group behind Italy and ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina and former Champions Greece. North Macedonia were one of the four teams to book their place in the tournament in November’s playoffs, coming through Playoff Path D, a path that was guaranteed to find a debutant with Georgia, Kosovo and Belarus dispatched. Finland will face Denmark, Russia and Belgium in a tough Group B, while North Macedonia may fancy their chances in Group C’s Ukraine, Netherlands and Austria, especially after their recent World Cup qualifying defeat of Germany. But what can we expect of these two nations? What does history teach us about debuting teams in the tournament?

UEFA Euro 1960

The European Nations Cup, as it was then, featured four teams and it’s obvious to say that one team would win the very first competition on their debut. Somewhat surreal however is the statistic that of the four teams to compete in this tournament, only one nation remains the same: the host nation France. Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia made up the field for what is now retroactively known as “Euro 1960”, and it was the Soviet Union who had the honour of being the first team to lift the trophy, defeating Yugoslavia in Paris 2-1.

UEFA Euro 1964

The Soviet Union were the only returning team for the second European Championship, with Spain, Denmark and Hungary qualifying alongside them - Spain as the host nation. For the second successive time, the tournament was won by a debutant, with Spain seeing off Soviet Union 2-1 in the Final. The Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabeu were the only venues used in this tournament, a far cry from the 11 venues being used for Euro 2020.

UEFA Euro 1968

It was the debut of England and Italy for this tournament, and both teams were successful in the competition at least once. Italy however clinched their place over Soviet Union in the Final by means of a coin toss, an unheard of prospect in the days of extra time and penalties. Furthermore, they won the Final in a replay, after drawing the first edition of the final 1-1 against Yugoslavia. This remains Italy’s only European Championship title to date, a far cry from their four World titles.England, the reigning World Champions at the time, meanwhile lost their semi-final against Yugoslavia but finished third after defeating the Soivet Union.

UEFA Euro 1972

Another European Championship and another tournament won by a debutant. This time, Belgium and West Germany made their bow in the tournament, with the former hosting the tournament, and the latter winning it. West Germany defeated Belgium 2-1 in the Semi-Finals then went on to win the competition in Brussels with a 3-0 victory over the Soviet Union, who were at this point becoming a familiar presence in the final of European Championships. Belgium did get a consolation in their victory in the third place play-off over Hungary.

UEFA Euro 1976

Hang on...a tournament not won by a debutant? Are we sure about this? Alright, we’ll go with it...Netherlands were the only debuting team in the European Championship in 1976, while this was the first Euros not to feature the Soviet Union. Netherlands crashed out in the Semi-Finals, however managed to finish third with victory over Yugoslavia. Also debuting in this tournament? The penalty shoot-out, which came into usage in the Final with Czechoslovakia defeating West Germany, the final penalty coming from Antonin Panenka, who famously gave his name to the chipped penalty technique that won the tournament for Czechoslovakia.

UEFA Euro 1980

This tournament featured one debuting team, and one debuting format - Greece would qualify for the European Championship for the first time, and their only appearance before their famous Euro 2004 victory in Portugal. Also debuting at this tournament was the group stage format, with eight teams playing at the Euros for the very first time. Greece would crash out in the groups, with one point, one draw and two losses. Maybe they’ll do better on their next attempt at a European Championship finals? Interestingly, the group winners would automatically go to the Final, while the runners-up would go into the third placed play-off. This would also be the final time the third placed play-off would feature at a European Championship. 

UEFA Euro 1984

Portugal and Romania would be the two nations debuting at the Euro 1984 Finals in France, with both nations being placed in the same group - with Spain and defending Champions West Germany. It would be Portugal of the two that would advance, alongside Spain, as Romania were eliminated in the group stages alongside the Champions, with Romania having taken just one point from three games. This was the first tournament to feature two teams advancing from the group, and Portugal’s journey in this tournament would end at the Semi-Final stage, with defeat to the hosts France, who would go on to win the tournament. Ironically enough, Portugal’s next appearance at a European Championships held in France would see them deny the hosts the trophy and win their own first European Championship.

UEFA Euro 1988

Euro 1988 featured just the one debuting team - Republic of Ireland appeared in their first European Championship (and last one until two successive appearances at Euro 2012 and Euro 2016). They got off to a perfect start with victory over England in Stuttgart. A draw with the Soviet Union saw them on the verge of qualification for the Semi-Finals, however defeat to Netherlands ended their hopes and sent the Soviet Union and Netherlands through in their place, with Netherlands eventually going on to win the tournament.

UEFA Euro 1992

Euro 1992 in Sweden was the final edition to feature eight teams, and two of them were in the tournament for the first time - the host nation Sweden, and Scotland. However, it was also the first appearance of two successor nations - Germany, competing at the European Championships as a united nation for the very first time, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, CIS appeared to allow the Soviet Union national team to appear at the tournament as they had already qualified. However, Yugoslavia, which qualified and was in the midst of a civil war, would not appear, being replaced by the runners-up in their qualifying group: Denmark, who would go on to win the tournament in the biggest fairytale that side of Greece in 2004. Sweden won their group to advance to the Semi-Finals, but would lose at this stage to Germany. Scotland were in the same group as CIS and Germany, and fell at the group stage with one victory over CIS and two losses to Germany and Netherlands not being enough to advance. After a further appearance at Euro 1996, Scotland would have to wait 25 years for their return to the European Championship - the upcoming edition. CIS meanwhile, would feature players from fifteen future independent nations - of which, three would go on to compete at the Euros as independent nations - Russia, Ukraine and Latvia.

UEFA Euro 1996

Speaking of which, Russia would only have to wait four years for this, as Russia, alongside Czech Republic, would appear at the tournament for the first time in their modern identities. Four nations would debut at this Euros - Croatia, Bulgaria, Switzerland and Turkey. Also making its first appearance for the tournament in England was the 16-team format of four groups of four, as well as the Golden Goal extra time format. In addition to this, this was the first time at a European Championship where three points were awarded for a win, rather than two. Czech Republic and Russia were placed in the same group, Group C, alongside European heavyweights Italy and Germany, Croatia and Turkey joined Denmark and Portugal in Group B, Bulgaria were in Group B with France, Spain and Romania, and Switzerland saw their debut in Group A, featuring in the opening game against England, as well as taking on Scotland and Netherlands. Switzerland, Russia, Bulgaria and Turkey bowed out in the groups, while Croatia managed to reach the Quarter-Finals, losing to eventual winners Germany in Manchester. Czech Republic took on Germany in a modern day equivalent of the Euro 1976 Final between Czechoslovakia and West Germany, and once again it went beyond the ninety minutes, but it was Germany who came out victorious, with the infamous Golden Goal in extra time by Oliver Bierhoff.

UEFA Euro 2000

For the first time, two nations co-hosted the European Championship - Belgium and Netherlands. This tournament saw the return of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 8 years after being withdrawn from Euro 1992, as well as the debut of two nations - Norway and Slovenia. Interestingly enough, all three teams were placed in the same group, Group C. A famous 3-3 draw between Slovenia and FR Yugoslavia was the highlight of this group, with Slovenia leading 3-0 and Yugoslavia coming back to take a point with three goals in seven minutes. FR Yugoslavia advanced from the group, defeating Norway 1-0 in their second game and finishing behind Spain, with Norway and Slovenia drawing 0-0. However, FR Yugoslavia would be eliminated in the Quarter-Finals by the co-hosts Netherlands in a crushing 6-1 defeat in Rotterdam. This would be the last time to date that any of these three nations would compete in the European Championships - with Serbia, the successor to Yugoslavia, having failed to qualify for any of the five tournaments since, and having beaten Norway in the Play-Off Semi-Finals for Euro 2020, Serbia lost to Scotland on penalties in the Final.

UEFA Euro 2004

For Euro 2004 in Portugal, only one nation was making their debut in the tournament: Latvia. The only one of the Baltic nations to appear, so far, at the Euros, Latvia qualified for their only European Championship with a 3-2 Play-Off victory over Turkey. Latvia were drawn with Czech Republic, Netherlands and Germany in the so-called “Group of Death”, and shocked Europe when they scored the opening goal against the Czechs in Aveiro, before falling to a 2-1 defeat. An impressive 0-0 draw against Germany in Porto followed, and Latvia needed a Czech Republic win over Germany alongside a victory over the Netherlands to advance to the Quarter-Finals. However, while Czech Republic did their bit with a 2-1 win over Germany, the Netherlands comfortably defeated Latvia 3-0 to end their tournament. This tournament is of course mostly known for Greece’s heroic run to lifting the trophy, however Latvia’s appearance in this tournament remains memorable.

UEFA Euro 2008

 

For the tournament in Austria and Switzerland, two teams made their debuts, and interestingly enough, it would be teams that would host this tournament and the next one - Austria and Poland (hosts of Euro 2012). They were drawn together in Group B alongside Germany and Croatia, and both teams lost their opening games - Poland lost 2-0 to Germany in Klagenfurt, while Austria opened with a 1-0 defeat in Vienna to Croatia. A 1-1 draw between the two in Vienna would be the only points or goals either team would get in this tournament, with both teams losing 1-0 in their final games, Austria to Germany, and Poland to Croatia, and neither team would advance beyond the group stages. Since then, Poland have appeared at every single European Championship, and Austria missed Euro 2012 but returned for Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.

UEFA Euro 2012

Poland would co-host the next European Championship, alongside the only debuting team in this tournament: Ukraine. For the second European Championships in a row, neither host nation would get beyond the group stages. Ukraine were placed in a tough group for their opening Euros, against France, England and Sweden. However, Ukraine would win their opening game in Kyiv, defeating Sweden 2-1 with two Andriy Shevchenko goals. However, two defeats would then follow, against France and England, the two teams that would advance at the expense of Ukraine and Sweden in this group. Ukraine again appeared at Euro 2016, but crashed out in the group stages without finding the back of the net. They will return for Euro 2020, with Shevchenko, the only Ukrainian player to find the net at a European Championship, as manager.

UEFA Euro 2016

The last played European Championship, and it’s hard to believe it is five years since this tournament took place, was the first to feature 24 teams, the extended format of six groups of four, four third placed teams advancing, and the most debutants at a European Championship ever. Five nations qualified for the first time: Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Wales. Albania would be grouped with France, Romania and Switzerland in Group A, Wales and Slovakia were grouped together to face England and Russia in Group B, Northern Ireland joined Poland, Ukraine and Germany in Group C, and Iceland took on Portugal, Hungary and Austria in Group F. Of the five teams, Albania would be the only ones to fail to get beyond the group stages, having secured their first ever three points with victory over Romania, but that was not enough to secure qualification as one of the best third placed teams. Northern Ireland’s win over Ukraine was enough to see them through in third, but their campaign ended in the next round with defeat to Wales. Wales and Slovakia both got through Group B with England, with Wales topping the group. Slovakia fell to Germany in the last 16. Iceland’s story was well known, starting with two draws to eventual Champions Portugal as well as Hungary. A last minute winner over Austria securing their place in the last 16, and then an incredible 2-1 victory over England in Nice in the next stages. Iceland ended their campaign with a 5-2 defeat to hosts France in the Stade de France. Iceland’s signature Thunderclap captured the hearts of Europe after every game they played. However it was Wales with the most memorable appearance of the debutants. Wales won their group despite defeat to England by beating Slovakia and Russia, saw off Northern Ireland then clinched a famous 3-1 win over Belgium to see them into the Semi-Finals. Wales could not reach the Final, losing 2-0 to Portugal, however their journey was a fairytale. Of the five nations who debuted at Euro 2016, only Wales and Slovakia will return for Euro 2020.

UEFA Euro 2020

And that brings us to the present day. An extra year of waiting for Finland due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and North Macedonia having to wait til November 2020 to clinch their place, but the extra year’s wait is worth the wait for both these nations. They take their place as the 34th and 35th nations to play at the European Championship finals. Can they emulate some of the famous winners on this list? The likelihood is probably not, but we said that about Greece in 2004, didn’t we?

Anything can happen. 

Good luck to Finland and North Macedonia at their first ever Euros. Enjoy every single second of it. No matter how long it lasts.