The European Football Championships, better known as Euro, is the championship of men's national football teams most important of Europe, organized by Uefa every four years. In its inaugural edition, the tournament was called Cup of Nations in Europe, receiving its current name since 1968. Until the Euro 1976 only 4 participating countries and since 1980 they did eight selections, a number that would increase the current sixteen competitors from the Euro 1996. All these teams then engaged in a sort of special process organized by Uefa with the various teams affiliated to the confederation, the only exception is the host team in each edition, which ranks directly in its own right. Along with the americas Cup, the Euro is one of the soccer tournament selections most important and prestigious of the world after the World Cup. Their success has allowed the emergence of similar tournaments such as Euro and Euro Women's Under-21. The latest edition of the tournament, Euro 2004, was organized in Portugal. On that occasion, Greece lifted for the first time the Henry Delaunay trophy after beating the host selection by 1:0. The next edition will take place in Austria and Switzerland, between 7 and June 29, 2008.
