7. 2004
Winners: Greece
How did Ireland do: We didn’t qualify.
Best moment: England snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in their opening game, conceding two goals to Zidane in the final three minutes as they lost to France.
Worst moment: Latvia holding the mighty Germany to a scoreless draw in a game that made Ireland v Egypt at Italia 90 look like a nine-goal thriller.
Why it’s ranked here: Greece won the tournament scoring just seven goals in six games, hardly the stuff childhood dreams are made of.
Sum it up in a Tweet: “Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”
6. 2012
Winners: Spain
How did Ireland do:
Best moment: Bearded gent Andrea Pirlo’s audacious Panenka to help Italy past England in the quarter-finals.
Worst moment: Any of the 270 minutes involving Ireland with the exception of Sean St Ledger’s equaliser against Croatia.
Why it’s ranked here: Spain were red-hot favourites and comfortably retained their title conceding just one goal along the way despite facing France, Portugal and Italy in the knockout stages.
Sum it up in a Tweet: ”I think I’m in love with Andrea Pirlo”
5. 2008
Winners: Spain
How did Ireland do: We didn’t qualify.
Best moment: Spain finally putting an end to their role as world football’s nearly men by claiming a first major title in 44 years.
Worst moment: The thunderstorm that meant many people missed Philipp Lahm’s 90th-minute winner for Germany in their semi-final with Turkey.
Why it’s ranked here: Joint hosts Austria and Switzerland automatically qualified and then combined for just four goals and one win in six games.
Sum it up in a Tweet: ”The one tournament I didn’t put a bet on Spain and they go and win”
4. 1996
Winners: Germany
How did Ireland do: We didn’t qualify.
Best moment:
Worst moment: The Andreas Möller pose-off with Gazza in Germany’s penalty shootout win over the hosts.
Why it’s ranked here: It’s wasn’t brilliant, but it wasn’t terrible either. A bit like England and major championships.
Sum it up in a Tweet: ”Football’s gone on holiday again #amiright *drops mic*”
3. 1988
Winners: Holland
How did Ireland do: Knocked out in the group stages.
Best moment:
Worst moment: Wim Kieft of Holland knocking Ireland out with a late goal in their final group game.
Why it’s ranked here:
Sum it up in a Tweet: ”The Dutch, finally the bride after so many years of being bridesmaids.”
2. 1992
Winners: Denmark
How did Ireland do: We didn’t qualify.
Best moment: Denmark beating the world champions 2-0 in the final.
Worst moment: Marco van Basten, the hero four years earlier, missing the spot-kick that knocked Holland out in the semi-finals.
Why it’s ranked here: Denmark were not even supposed to be in the tournament and they came from nowhere to win it all.
Sum it up in a Tweet: ”That Peter Schmeichel lad looks like he’ll keep the United job for a while.”
1. 2000
Winners: France
How did Ireland do: We didn’t qualify.
Best moment: Sylvain Wiltord’s equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time in the final when it looked like Italy’s name was on the trophy.
Worst moment:
Why it’s ranked here: It’s the tournament that all international football tournaments hope to be.
Sum it up in a Tweet: ”Can we do that again?”
Disagree? Of course you do. Let us know your favourite tournament below.
