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2012 UEFA Euro Championship, Poland and Ukraine

The 2012 UEFA European Championship, commonly known as Euro 2012, was co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine from June 8 to July 1.

Euro 2012 logo in flowers

The tournament featured 16 teams, split into four groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. Group A included the Czech Republic, Greece, Russia, and Poland; Group B, often called the "Group of Death," comprised Germany, Portugal, Denmark, and the Netherlands; Group C featured Spain, Italy, Croatia, and the Republic of Ireland; and Group D had England, France, Ukraine, and Sweden. Spain and Italy topped Group C and proceeded to the final after defeating France, Portugal (via penalty shootout), and Germany in the knockout stages.

Spain made history by winning their third European Championship title, defeating Italy 4-0 in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv. Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres, and Juan Mata led Spain to the most significant margin of victory in a European Championship final. Throughout the tournament, Spain displayed a masterclass in their trademark "tiki-taka" style.

Trivia

• Spain currently holds the record for winning two consecutive European Championship titles in 2008 and 2012.
• Spain became the first team to win three consecutive major international tournaments, having previously secured the 2008 European Championship and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Related Pages

• UEFA Euro Home
• UEFA Euro Host Countries List
• UEFA Euro Winners List
• UEFA Euro Trivia
• The Year in Sport: 2012

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