Guide to the past 12 European Championship finals

Sunday's final between Germany and Spain will be the 13th since the first was staged in France in 1960.

The Germans are attempting to become European champions for the fourth time while Spain are seeking a second title after a solitary success in 1964.

This is how the 12 previous finals unfolded:

July 10, 1960: Soviet Union 2 - 1 Yugoslavia

The Soviet Union won the first championship, a four-team tournament held in France, after an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Lev Yashin helped them win after they fell behind to a Milan Galic goal in the 43rd minute.

Slava Metreveli equalised early in the second half and Victor Ponedelnik scored the winner seven minutes from the end of extra time.

June 21, 1964: Spain 2 - 1 Soviet Union

Spain won their only major trophy in front of a packed crowd in Madrid after both sides scored in the opening eight minutes.

Jesus Pereda put Spain ahead after six minutes, Galimzian Khusainov equalised two minutes later before Marcelino scored the winner with a diving header past Yashin.

June 10, 1968: Italy 2 - 0 Yugoslavia

Two days after a 1-1 draw in Rome, Italy triumphed 2-0 in the replay in front of their own fans. Luigi Riva, who had just recovered from a broken leg, put them ahead in the 12th minute and Pietro Anastasi added a second before halftime.

June 18, 1972: West germany 3 - 0 Soviet Union

West Germany dominated at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels and went ahead after 27 minutes when Gerd Mueller scored. Herbert Wimmer made it 2-0 after 52 minutes and Mueller wrapped up Germany's first success with a third six minutes later.

June 20, 1976: Czechoslovakia 2 - 2 West germany (Penalties 5 - 3)

Antonin Panenka's chipped penalty remains the enduring memory of a dramatic final in Belgrade which saw the Germans fight back from two goals down to force extra time. Jan Svehlik and Karol Dobias put the Czechoslovaks 2-0 up after 25 minutes. Dieter Mueller (28th) and Bernd Hoelzenbein (89th) scored for the Germans.

June 22, 1980: West Germany 2 - 1 Belgium

The first eight-team tournament ends with West Germany beating a Belgium team in Rome more easily than the scoreline suggests. Horst Hrubesch put the Germans ahead after 10 minutes and he scored the winner two minutes from time after Rene Vandereycken had revived Belgium's hopes with a 75th minute penalty.

June 27, 1984: France 2 - 0 Spain

Michel Platini dominated the tournament in France with nine goals, including the opener in the final at the Parc des Princes after 56 minutes. Bruno Bellone secured France's first title with a last-minute goal five minutes after French defender Yvon Le Roux had been sent off.

June 25, 1988: The Netherlands 2 - 0 Soviet Union

Marco van Basten scored one of the greatest goals of all time when he volleyed home Arnold Muehren's long cross in the 54th minute. Ruud Gullit gave the Dutch a first-half lead while Igor Belanov failed to score for the Soviets when Hans van Bruekelen saved his 58th minute penalty.

June 26, 1992: Denmark 2 - 0 Germany

Most of Denmark's players were on holiday when UEFA decided to allocate them war-torn Yugoslavia's place in the finals. The Danes, clearly suitably refreshed and relaxed, won the last eight-team tournament with goals from John Jensen and Kim Vilfort in the Gothenburg final. Peter Schmeichel was outstanding in the Danish goal.

June 30, 1996: Germany 2 - 1 Czech Republic

England hosted the first 16-team finals but fell to the Germans on penalties in the semi-final. The Czechs also won their semi on penalties against France and took the lead in the final against Germany through a Patrik Berger penalty after 59 minutes. Oliver Bierhoff came off the bench to head in the equaliser with 17 minutes remaining and then won the game for Germany with a 95th minute golden goal.

July 2, 2000: France 2 - 1 Italy

Belgium and Netherlands co-hosted the finals but world champions France triumphed in Rotterdam after Italy were seconds away from glory. Marco Delvecchio's 55th-minute strike had put Italy ahead before substitute Sylvain Wiltord equalised in the last minute. David Trezeguet, who also came on as a substitute, won the game with an exceptional "golden goal" volley 13 minutes into extra time.

July 4, 2004: Greece 1 - 0 Portugal

Greece caused the greatest upset in any major tournament by beating hosts Portugal to be crowned European champions in Lisbon. Angelos Haristeas's second-half goal gave Greece a second victory over Portugal in the tournament and a totally unexpected success.