The German National Team Aims to Break the Host Country Jinx

The German national team hopes to break the 40-year jinx that has plagued host nations in the European Cup. The last host country to win the title was France in 1984, when they defeated Spain 2-0 in the final.

In the tournament’s early decades, home advantage was significant. Three countries won the title on home soil in the first seven editions. Spain claimed the 1964 title by defeating the Soviet Union 2-1, and Italy won in 1968 against Yugoslavia in a replay final.

The last team to win on home soil was France in 1984, led by star Michel Platini, who scored a record nine goals in the finals.

In the following editions, the host countries have struggled to reach the final. Belgium in 1972, Yugoslavia in 1976, and Italy in 1980 all fell short before the final match. France ended the drought in 1984 by winning the title on their home ground.

Failures continued for host nations in subsequent editions. West Germany in 1988 (lost to the Netherlands in the semi-finals), Sweden in 1992 (lost to Germany in the semi-finals), England in 1996 (also lost to Germany in the semi-finals), and the Netherlands in 2000 (they were eliminated in the semi-finals against Italy) all failed to reach the final. Belgium, co-hosting with the Netherlands in 2000, was eliminated in the first round.

In 2004, Portugal lost to Greece in the opening and closing matches, with Greece taking the title against all odds.

The 2008 edition, co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria, saw both countries eliminated in the group stage, similar to the 2012 edition hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

In 2016, France lost the final at home to Portugal after extra time, with Portugal claiming their first continental title.

In the most recent edition, England, playing most matches at home in a tournament held across 11 European countries and was postponed for one year to be held in the summer of 2021 due to the “Covid-19” pandemic, lost to Italy on penalties in the final. Italy played their group stage matches in Rome.

Germany now has the chance to break this 40-year jinx and win the title on home soil in the final scheduled for July 14, 2024. The last time Germany won the European Cup was in 1996, marking their third title.