Wales and the European Championships
The UEFA European Football Championship is the primary association football competition contested to determine the continental champion of Europe. Held every four years since 1960 it was originally called the European Nations' Cup, changing to the current name in 1968.
The idea for a pan-European football tournament was first proposed by the French Football Federation's secretary-general Henri Delaunay in 1927, but it was not until 1958 that the tournament was started, three years after Delaunay's death. In honour of Delaunay, the trophy awarded to the champions is named after him.
Only 17 of UEFA's then 29 members entered the first tournament in 1960 with Wales among the countries not to have entered. The first European Nations' Cup qualifying match was played on 28 September 1958 as the Soviet Union beat Hungary 3-1 in the first leg of their qualifier.
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Wales at the European Championships
The Football Association of Wales, alongside the Football Association, Irish Football Association, Scottish Football Association, decided not to participate in the inaugural UEFA Nation's Cup as it was known in 1960.
In 1962, the Football Association of Wales accepted an invitation to participate in the qualifying campaign for the 1964 UEFA Nation's Cup, meaning Wales' 1-3 defeat to Hungary at the Népstadion in Budapest was the first Euro qualifying match and Terry Medwin of Tottenham Hotspur was Wales' first goalscorer in a Euro qualifier.
Wales have qualified for the European Championship finals on two occasions, the first in 2016 in France where Chris Coleman led his side to the semi finals where they lost to eventual winners, Portugal, and the second time in 2020 where Rob Page led Wales to the last 16 in a pan-European competition.
