Bitcoin sports betting website Sportbet.io is just days away from launching and to get in the spirit of things we’ll be looking at all things Euro 2016.
We’ll have previews for each and every group, as well as the Golden Boot, outright tournament victors and reaction pieces this summer.
Sportsbet.io tipsters will also be making their selections ahead of the big kick off, but before then we take a trip down memory lane to look at some of the tournament’s biggest shocks.
Euro 1988: Republic of Ireland 1 England 0
The absence of defender Terry Butcher proved disastrous when England came up against tournament debutants Ireland in the group stages back in 1988.
Ireland were under the tutelage of World Cup winner Jackie Charlton, but with limited options, his squad were expected to come up short against the Three Lions.
However, a stunning goal from Ireland legend Ray Houghton proved decisive as Charlton’s well-organised men caused a shock to earn the points against their neighbours.
Euro 1992: Denmark 2 France 1
The likes of Laurent Blanc, Didier Deschamps and Eric Cantona were playing for France in Euro 1992, which explains why they were favourites to go all the way to the final.
They arrived in Sweden on the back of a 19-game unbeaten run having won all eight of their matches during their qualifying campaign and looked unstoppable.
But they lost their way on the big stage, drawing their first two matches before a late goal from Lars Elstrup saw Denmark beat them in their third game, dumping Les Bleus out in the process.
Euro 1992: Germany 0–2 Denmark
Denmark only had a week’s notice to prepare for Euro 1992, coming in to the tournament to replace Yugoslavia who were in a state of civil war and therefore blocked from taking part.
Yugoslavia had qualified ahead of the Danes but the latter were handed a golden ticket and placed in a group alongside England, France and tournament hosts Sweden.
Their story was an incredible one and it peaked in the final as Kim Vilfort rifled home a shot in off the post to secure the title against European heavyweights Germany.
Euro: 2008 Holland 4 France 1
France were able to call on some of the best players in the world when they came up against Holland eight years ago — but it wasn’t enough as they were thumped by Holland.
Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery and Patrice Evra all lined up for the Blues under then-coach Raymond Domenech but they endured a dismal and short-lived tournament.
France scored just one goal in their three group games and their tournament was ended when Holland put four past them, forcing them to pack their bags and return home.
Euro 2004: Portugal 0–1 Greece
The most surprising shock in European Championship history came courtesy of Greece just over a decade ago.
Greece arrived at the 2004 edition of the tournament in Portugal having only previously qualified for the competition on two occasions in their history.
The word minnow was commonly used to describe Greece, with Latvia the only other side in the tournament deemed worse than them.
But, with Angelos Charisteas leading the line and a counter-attacking style proving effective, Greece came through a group containing both the hosts and Spain.
Despite shocking the watching spectators to get that far, many still believed that would be where their dream ended.
Then they beat France in the quarter-final and Czech Republic in the semis.
Underdogs Greece had somehow made the final, and that man Charisteas was on hand to cap off the sensational set of results as he headed the winner against Portugal in the final.
