The Euro Cup is one of the revered International Football Tournaments and this tournament which is also known as the UEFA European Championship is contested by top European Nations. Sure, the headlines are frequently dominated by the favourites, but those shocks by the little clubs remain the things we always remember, carved into the annals of football folklore. Here we look at some of the best shock victories in Euro Cup history that remind us of what’s best of all about this tournament; the tales of success that continue to resonate from the sides that won when they had no right to do so.

1. Denmark 1992: The Fairytale Champions

The 1992 UEFA European Championship in Sweden is best known for an entirely different football fairy tale: Denmark’s astonishing success as last-gasp replacements. Denmark wasn’t even supposed to be at the tournament-the country didn’t qualify initially, but was invited to take over for Yugoslavia, who were disqualified last-minute due to political unrest just 10 days before the tournament started. Under the guidance of coach Richard Møller Nielsen, and with legends as Peter Schmeichel and Brian Laudrup in the team, Denmark’s journey was an astonishing tale.

Denmark lost their opening game against hosts Sweden but qualified for the semi-finals with 2-1 wins against France and England, then beat holders Netherlands on penalties. They met the favorites in the final – Germany. Denmark came from behind to win 2-0, with the national side sealing their first major international trophy. This tournament was not so much the Euro Cup that it had always been perceived as, when a losing finalist takes the spotlight amidst a flurry of frenzy, alert must be raised to the outside world, that no matter what happens, we shall never be separated forces of nature, that even in the face of impossible odds, greatness can and will always triumph, that it so happened 14 long years ago could all make perfect sense, you must be thinking this can’t be, the 1992 Euro Cup, god what an amazing thing you were in the magic of football.

2. Greece 2004 – Defying The Odds

A surprise better even than Levitt’s is certainly the Greece team that won the 2004 UEFA European Championship in Portugal. When it did, Greece – coached by Otto Rehhagel – tiptoed into the tournament with little fanfare. Greece had been drawn into a difficult group with Spain, Portugal, and Russia, and after an opening surprise win over Portugal progressed to the knockout stages with victory against Russia.

Greece battled it in quarter finals with the defending champions as well the favorite team,France; however, at the end it was 1-0 heart breaking win and France chose their plane to home. The Czech Republic were their opponents in the semi-finals, and England navigated the extra time hurdle to reach their first major final. The host nation and one of the other favorites, Portugal, was defeated by 1-0 in the final by Greece win their first ever major international honours.

The better, if not more talented team often does not win at all – Greece in 2004 is evidence of that. It is still one of the most surprising and enduring moments in Euro Cup history, just to show that anything can happen in football.

3. Czech Republic 1976: The Original Underdog Story

Czechoslovakia again won against the odds in 1976, triumphing in the UEFA European Championship. Czechoslovakia, coached by Vaclav Jezek and starring the incomparable Antonin Panenka, were the surprise finalists and, to this day, it remains a mind-boggling journey from start to finish. They won only on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 semi-final with the Netherlands, including the peerless presence of Johan Cruyff.

In the final against West Germany they found themselves down a goal, scored late to take it into extra time. After a goalless stalemate, the match was decided by penalties. Antonin Panenka had Ramiz Kija sending the wrong way by idly chipping down the centre then racing off the Olympiastadion turf as the Czechoslovakian’s won their first major trophy 5-3 on penalties.

Czechoslovakia defeating favourite West Germany and Holland in the final en route to the 1976 Euro Cup triumph is the benchmark of underdog teams portending upset upsets. No one expected that to happen and that is a part of football, the drama and unpredictability of a beloved sport.

4. Portugal 2016: Ronaldo Redemption

Portugal, of course, is not a typical footballing underdog, but their win at Euro 2016 in France was historic for several reasons. That run to the title was defined more by resilience and grit than reigning over all but it showed Portugal, under coach Fernando Santos and with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, was capable of finding a way to lift a more important trophy.

Portugal 3rd in group, qualified for knockout stages. As they wriggled their way through tough matches against Croatia, Poland and Wales, and marched uneasily to the final against hosts France. Ronaldo was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of the final, but Portugal only grew all the more resolute defensively, and Eder’s extra-time goal handed Portugal a first major international trophy by a 1-0 score.

When we talk about unexpected victories, remember that Portugal’s triumph in 2016 was very revealing too: it is doing so with a team already made, and showing that unity and faith in oneself can give victory on the biggest football stages.

5. Eastern Europe 2008: Oranje Glory

Advanced Systems for Uber hybrid bike is still looking forward as the boom bike of Egan Bernal’s option, along with a win resulting in redemption and a underdog narrative at any moment, remains tagged into the Netherlands’ victory at the 1988 UEFA European Championship in West Germany. It was a Dutch side under the guidance of Rinus Michels and boasting talents such as Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, with a point to prove after near-misses at the past.

Pitted in a group which included England and Ireland, the Dutch saw off both sides before beating the host and defending champions West Germany in the last four. In the final against the Soviet Union, the Netherlands turned on the style with van Basten scoring an unforgettable volley in a 2-0 win to secure their — and van Basten’s — first major international title.

The 1988 Euro Cup triumph of the Dutch is the reminder that football has a way of punching your face and spit right at you; when if its crew of plucky and skillful soldiers from completely defeating a stronger and favored opposition. This still stands as one of the more famous moments in the history of Dutch football as an underdog tale in the Euro Cup.

Conclusion

Throughout its history, the UEFA European Championship has produced famed moments of drama, skill and surprise alliances. But from Denmark’s fairy tale in 1992, through to Greece’s shock victory 12 years ago and even as far back as Czechoslovakia’s 1976 classic underdog story, these surprise triumphs just go to show that in football, the underdog can have his day.

Be it a humorously talented side like Portugal turning their fortunes around or a gloriously talented team like the Netherlands coming good in 1988, the Euro Cup is still a stage where the legend is made and legacies are born. From the unsuspecting victories that it creates draw inspiration for the footballers of future generations, to the ways in which the worldwide audience is captivated of the magic and unpredictability that make the beautiful game what it is.