It will be a surprise if Saturday's opening game between co-hosts Switzerland and the Czech Republic produces a decisive victory either way. Traditionally the start of the UEFA European Championship provides an ultra-competitive fixture: no team has ever won by more than one goal while between 1988 and 1996 a succession of 1-1 draws were played out.
Greece stun hosts
When Greece launched their amazing run to the UEFA EURO 2004™ podium with a 2-1 victory over Portugal in Porto, it was the first time the host nation had lost the opening match. Georgios Karagounis and Angelos Basinas helped the Greeks establish a 2-0 lead early in the second half before Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a consolation for the home country in added time. Otto Rehhagel's side remembered the winning formula when they came up against Portugal again in the final – this time a single goal sufficed.
German revenge
When, in 1980, Europe's four-yearly footballing festival first became a gathering of eight nations, split into two groups, in one host country, holders Czech Republic faced West Germany in the opening match played in Rome. It established the template of tight and tense curtain-raisers: a 1-0 victory, secured by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's header, provided the Germans with a measure of revenge for their defeat by the same opponents in the 1976 final.
Platini's prize
Four years later and the host team had the honour of playing in the first game – an arrangement that has since become customary. In 1984 great things were expected of France and they began with 1-0 win over Denmark. Michel Platini - who 24 years on is preparing for his first UEFA European Championship as UEFA President – raised the roof in the Parc des Paris with a late winner, the first of his nine goals in that tournament . France emerged as champions – matching Germany’s achievement four years previously of launching the event and then bringing down the curtain with the trophy in their grasp. That would not be matched for another 20 years until Greece's adventure unravelled.
All-square
The next three tournaments all began with 1-1 draws. West Germany came from behind in Dusseldorf in 1988 thanks to Andreas Brehme's free-kick to reach parity with Italy who had taken the lead through Roberto Mancini three minutes earlier. Platini was France's coach in 1992 when they faced Sweden in the opening fixture in Solna, where Jean-Pierre Papin cancelled out Jan Eriksson's first-half header. It was the same four years later when the competition became a 16-team event for the first time. Alan Shearer shot England ahead at Wembley only for Switzerland to draw level with seven minutes remaining through Kubilay Türkyilmaz's penalty.
Belgium score twice
So in the five opening matches from 1980 to 1996 no team had managed more than a single goal. That changed in 2000 when the event was co-hosted for the first time. Belgium staged the opening game (the Netherlands had the final) and the vast majority inside the Roi Baudouin stadium roared with delight as Bart Goor and Emile Mpenza gave them a 2-0 lead over Sweden in a three-minute spell either side of the interval. Johan Mjällby reduced the arrears but Belgium held on. With Greece then spoiling the Portuguese party four years later what price a third successive 2-1 scoreline tomorrow when Switzerland and the Czechs meet in Basel?
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