France is one of the most successful national teams in the history of the UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as the Euro Cup. As of 2023, Les Bleus have won the Euro Cup twice, in 1984 and 2000. They have also finished as runners-up twice, in 2016 and 2021, and finished third another two times, in 1960 and 1996.
Quick Summary
- France has won the Euro Cup twice, in 1984 and 2000.
- They finished as runners-up in 2016 and 2021.
- France finished third in 1960 and 1996.
- In total, France has finished in the top four 6 times at the Euro Cup.
France’s Euro Cup Wins
France won their first Euro Cup in 1984, which was the seventh edition of the tournament. The 1984 Euro Cup was hosted by France, giving them the home advantage. In the final, France defeated Spain 2-0 thanks to goals from Michel Platini. Platini was the star of the French team and scored a record 9 goals in just 5 matches during Euro 1984, a record which still stands today. He was named player of the tournament.
France had to wait another 16 years for their next Euro Cup triumph, which came in 2000. The 2000 tournament was co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. France had a stacked team which included legendary players like Zinedine Zidane, Theirry Henry and Patrick Vieira. After topping their group, France defeated Spain in the quarter-finals, Portugal in the semi-finals and then Italy 2-1 in the final courtesy of a golden goal from David Trezeguet. This golden generation of French players were able to win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, establishing themselves as one of the greatest international teams of all time.
So in summary, France has won two Euro Cup titles in 1984 and 2000. Their wins were 16 years apart but both wins came on home soil, underlining the importance of home advantage in international tournaments. France has won the Euro Cup twice out of a possible ten tournaments they have participated in.
France’s Runners-up Finishes
In addition to their two tournament wins, France has also finished as Euro Cup runners-up twice in their history.
Their first second place finish was in 2016, when the Euro Cup was hosted by France for a record third time. France breezed through their group with wins over Romania, Albania and Switzerland. They defeated Republic of Ireland in the Round of 16, Iceland in the quarter-finals and world champions Germany in the semi-finals. This set up a clash with Portugal in the final, which was held at the Stade de France. Despite being heavy favorites playing at home, France fell short and had to settle for second place after losing 1-0 to a resilient Portugal team thanks to an extra time goal from Eder.
France’s next runners-up finish was very recent, in 2021. The pandemic delayed Euro 2020 to 2021, and France were yet again among the favorites. Despite a talented squad, France underperformed in the group stages with draws against Hungary and Portugal. After topping their group, they found form in the knockout rounds by defeating Switzerland and Belgium. In the semi-finals against Spain, they battled to a 2-1 win. But once again France faltered in the final, losing on penalties to Italy after a 1-1 draw. So close yet so far for the French team.
So France has finished as Euro runners-up twice now – in 2016 on home soil, and recently in 2021. They have the unwanted record of losing two Euro finals when hosting the tournament.
France’s Third Place Finishes
France has finished third at the Euro Cup twice in their history – in 1960 and 1996.
In 1960, the inaugural Euro Cup tournament was held in France. Only four teams participated in this first edition of the competition – France, USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. France finished top of their group after defeating Czechoslovakia and drawing with the USSR. In those days, there was no knockout round or final – the top two teams in the group played in the final, while the bottom two played in the third place playoff. France lost 2-1 to the USSR in the final, and had to settle for third place after beating Czechoslovakia 2-0 in the third place match.
Thirty six years later at Euro 1996, France once again finished third. This tournament was hosted in England and had an expanded field of 16 teams. France topped their group above Spain, Romania and Bulgaria. After defeating the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals, their run was ended by the Czech Republic in the last four. In the third place playoff, France beat Bulgaria 3-1 to finish third behind champions Germany and Czech Republic.
So in total France has finished third at the Euro Cup twice – at the inaugural Euro 1960 held in France, and more recently at Euro 1996. While not ideal, their two third place finishes add to an impressive record of consistency at the Euro Cup.
France’s Euro Cup Record
Here is a summary of France’s finishes at the UEFA European Football Championship:
| Year | Finish | Host Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Third place | France |
| 1984 | Winners | France |
| 1996 | Third place | England |
| 2000 | Winners | Belgium & Netherlands |
| 2016 | Runners-up | France |
| 2021 | Runners-up | Pan-Europe |
To summarize:
- France has won the Euro Cup twice (1984, 2000)
- Finished as runners-up twice (2016, 2021)
- Finished third place twice (1960, 1996)
- Has finished in the top four 6 times out of 10 appearances
The data shows France’s consistency at the Euro Cup over the decades. They have won the tournament twice, both times on home soil in 1984 and 2000. France has also reached four finals in total, showing they are perennial contenders at the Euro Cup even if they haven’t always gotten over the line. Their two third place finishes are nothing to scoff at either. Based on their distinguished Euro Cup history, France will undoubtedly be a threat again at the next edition.
Why France Has a Strong Euro Cup Record
There are several factors that explain why France has such an impressive record at the European Championship:
- Talented Player Pools – France has consistently produced generations of talented, world-class players. From Platini to Zidane to Mbappe, their player pool is always stacked.
- Tactical Nous – France are able to adapt their tactics and personnel to excel in major tournaments. For example, the 1984 team played free flowing soccer while the 2000 team was built on power and defense.
- Winning Mentality – There is an expectation and belief within French soccer that they should be contending at every tournament. This winning mentality has developed over decades of success.
- Quality Managers – France’s national team has been led by world-class managers like Aime Jacquet, Didier Deschamps and Michel Hidalgo who got the best out of their talent.
- Home Advantage – Both of France’s titles came on home soil, showing how hosting gives them an edge. They also reached two other finals as hosts.
This combination of talented players, tactical nous, winning belief, quality management and home advantage has allowed France to become an European powerhouse capable of contending at every Euro Cup. Even when they fail to go all the way, France is always one of the leading contenders.
France’s Chances at Euro 2024
The next edition of the Euro Cup will be held in 2024, with Germany as the host nation. France will be looking to win their third Henri Delaunay trophy in Germany. Based on their historical performances, France will be among the favourites again.
Here is an assessment of France’s chances at Euro 2024:
- They have a new generation of youthful talent like Mbappe, Tchouameni, Kounde and Dembele who will hit their prime by 2024.
- If the veteran core of Griezmann, Lloris, Varane and Benzema remains, experience will complement the youth.
- Didier Deschamps is likely to remain coach, giving continuity from their 2021 run. He has consistently got the best out of France in tournaments.
- The lack of home advantage will be a factor, but not decisive. France has won outside of home soil before.
- Motivation could be an issue after losing the 2021 final, but France usually responds well to setbacks.
- Injuries or loss of form to key players like Mbappe or Benzema would hurt their chances.
In summary, France has an excellent chance of contending for the title at Euro 2024. The talent pipeline remains stacked, their coach is world-class, and they have the experience of reaching the 2021 final. Home advantage will be missed but isn’t essential. France’s biggest threat is a drop in motivation or injuries. But otherwise, everything points towards another strong French challenge in Germany.
Conclusion
France has established themselves as one of the most successful national teams in Euro Cup history. They have won the tournament twice, in 1984 and 2000, both times on home soil. France has also reached two other finals (2016 and 2021) and finished third twice (1960 and 1996). This record of consistency makes France always a threat to go deep at the Euro Cup.
France’s success has been built on talented generations of players, tactical flexibility, a winning mentality and quality managers like Didier Deschamps. Heading into Euro 2024, France will be motivated to bounce back from their 2021 final loss and claim a third European title. The talent and pedigree is there for France to have another strong Euro campaign. While winning tournaments is never easy, France has shown they have what it takes to contend for and lift the Henri Delaunay trophy.
