UEFA Euro 2016

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 bids}}

Four bids came before the deadline on 9 March 2009. France, Italy and Turkey put in single bids while Norway and Sweden put in a joint bid.{{cite news |title=Four candidates signal UEFA Euro 2016 interest |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=808293.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065013/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=808293.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2018 |publisher=UEFA |date=11 March 2009 |access-date=11 January 2011}} Norway and Sweden eventually withdrew their bid in December 2009.{{cite news |title=Regeringen säger nej till EM 2016-ansökan |url=https://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/svensk-fotboll/2009/12/regeringsnej-till-em-2016/ |work=Swedish Football Association |date=9 December 2009 |access-date=11 January 2011 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215145430/http://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/svensk-fotboll/2009/12/regeringsnej-till-em-2016/ |archive-date=15 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}

The host was selected on 28 May 2010.{{cite news |title=France chosen to host Euro 2016 |url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=1493384.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711015909/https://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=1493384.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2019 |publisher=UEFA |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=2 July 2012}}

• Round 1: Each of the thirteen members of the UEFA Executive Committee ranked the 3 bids first, second, and third. First place ranking received 5 points, second place 2 points, and third place 1 point. Executive members from the countries bidding were not allowed to vote.
• Round 2: The same thirteen-member committee voted for either of the two finalists.

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying}}

File:UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying map.svg

The qualifying draw took place at the Palais des Congrès Acropolis in Nice, on 23 February 2014, with the first matches being played in September 2014.

53 teams competed for 23 places in the final tournament to join France, who automatically qualified as hosts. Gibraltar competed in a European Championship qualifying for the first time since their affiliation to UEFA in 2013. The seeding pots were formed on the basis of the UEFA national team coefficients, with the Euro 2012 champions Spain and hosts France automatically top seeded.

The 53 national sides were drawn into eight groups of six teams and one group of five teams. The group winners, runners-up, and the best third-placed team (with the results against the sixth-placed team discarded) qualify directly for the final tournament. The remaining eight third-placed teams contested two-legged play-offs to determine the last four qualifiers.{{cite web|title=UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying format|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7f0959ed60-b69efa5358f3-1000--uefa-euro-2016-competition-format/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812210436/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7f0959ed60-b69efa5358f3-1000--uefa-euro-2016-competition-format/|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2020|date=19 December 2013|publisher=UEFA}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7f09f4f5fe-751935be9a95-1000--uefa-euro-2016-regulations-published/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 regulations published |publisher=UEFA |date=18 December 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/03/92/81/2039281_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2014–16 |publisher=UEFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219025616/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/03/92/81/2039281_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=19 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In March 2012, Gianni Infantino, the UEFA general secretary at the time, stated that UEFA would review the qualification competition to ensure that it was not "boring". In September 2011, during UEFA's first full strategy meeting, Michel Platini proposed a qualification format involving two group stages, but the member associations did not accept the proposal.{{cite web |title=EURO 2016 qualifying: Platini's plan |url=http://www.football-rankings.info/2011/10/euro-2016-qualifying-platinis-plan.html |work=Football-Rankings.info |date=7 October 2011 |access-date=3 July 2013}} In May 2013, Platini confirmed a similar qualifying format would be again discussed during the September 2013 UEFA executive committee meeting in Dubrovnik.{{cite web |title=EURO 2016: UEFA looking to change qualifying format |url=http://www.football-rankings.info/2013/06/euro-2016-uefa-looking-to-change.html |work=Football-Rankings.info |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=3 July 2013}}

Thirteen of the sixteen teams (including hosts France) that qualified for Euro 2012 qualified again for the 2016 final tournament. Among them were England, who became only the sixth team to record a flawless qualifying campaign (10 wins in 10 matches),{{cite news |last1=McNulty |first1=Phil |title=Lithuania 0–3 England |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33544077 |access-date=16 October 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2015}} defending European champions Spain, and world champions Germany, who qualified for their 12th straight European Championship finals.{{cite news |last1=Grohmann |first1=Karolus |title=Euro 2016 title is next on Germany's list – Schweinsteiger |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-germany-schweinsteiger-idUKKCN0S614N20151012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103195418/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-germany-schweinsteiger-idUKKCN0S614N20151012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2017 |access-date=16 October 2015 |work=Reuters |date=12 October 2015}}

Romania, Turkey, Austria, and Switzerland all returned after missing out in 2012, with the Austrians qualifying for just their second final Euro tournament, after having co-hosted Euro 2008 and first time through qualifying. Returning to the final tournament after long absences were Belgium for the first time since co-hosting Euro 2000, and Hungary for the first time in 44 years, having last appeared at Euro 1972, and 30 years since appearing in a major tournament, their previous one being the 1986 FIFA World Cup.{{Cite news |date=2015-11-15 |title=Hungary earn Euro 2016 spot by beating Norway to end finals drought |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/15/hungary-norway-euro-2016-playoff |access-date=2023-12-26 |issn=0261-3077}}

Four teams secured their first qualification to a UEFA European Championship final tournament: Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.{{cite news |title=Euro 2016: Qualifiers for the tournament in France |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34496764 |access-date=16 October 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2015}} Northern Ireland and Wales had each previously competed in the FIFA World Cup, while Albania and Iceland had never participated in a major tournament. Slovakia meanwhile are making the first tournament as an independent nation, having qualified for three Euro tournaments and eight World Cups under Czechoslovakia.{{Cite web |title=Russia, Slovakia qualify for 2016 European Championship |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/10/12/russia-and-slovakia-qualify-for-2016-european-championship/73840338/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rouse |first=Daniel |date=2015-10-12 |title=Tight win sends Slovakia to Euro 2016; Ukraine faces play-off after loss to Spain |url=https://www.thescore.com/eurcq/news/852492 |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=theScore.com |language=en}} Similarly, both Austria and Ukraine completed successful qualification campaigns for the first time, having only previously qualified as hosts (of 2008 and 2012 respectively).{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Ben |date=2016-06-14 |title=Marcel Koller brings Austria in from the cold and ready for Euro 2016 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jun/14/marcel-koller-austria-euro-2016 |access-date=2023-12-26 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |agency=Press Association |date=2015-11-17 |title=Ukraine through to Euro 2016 as Slovenia manage only a draw |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/17/slovenia-ukraine-euro-2016-play-off-match-report |access-date=2023-12-26 |issn=0261-3077}}

Scotland were the only team from the British Isles not to qualify for the finals,{{cite news |last1=Eccleshare |first1=Charlie |title=Euro 2016: How will England, Wales, Northern Ireland and possibly Republic of Ireland fare in France? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/euro-2016/11926143/Euro-2016-How-will-England-Wales-Northern-Ireland-and-possibly-Republic-of-Ireland-fare-in-France.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/euro-2016/11926143/Euro-2016-How-will-England-Wales-Northern-Ireland-and-possibly-Republic-of-Ireland-fare-in-France.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=16 October 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=12 October 2015}}{{cbignore}} and it also marked the first time that both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland qualified for the same major tournament finals.{{cite news |last1=FIFA.com |title=O'Neills relishing landmark EURO challenge |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/o-neills-relishing-landmark-euro-challenge-2770488 |access-date=14 December 2020 |work=FIFA |date=17 March 2016}} Greece, champions in 2004, finished bottom in their group and failed to qualify for the first time since 2000. Two other previous champions, the Netherlands (1988) and Denmark (1992), missed out on the finals. The Dutch team failed to qualify for the first time since Euro 1984 (also held in France), missing out on their first major tournament since the 2002 FIFA World Cup and only 16 months after having finished third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news |title=Netherlands 2–3 Czech Republic |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33544119 |access-date=16 October 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2015}} Denmark did not appear at the Euro finals for the first time since 2008, after losing in the play-off round against Sweden.

As of 2024, this was the last time that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland qualified for either the World Cup or European Championship finals, the only time that Iceland qualified, as well as the last time that Denmark, the Netherlands and Scotland failed to qualify.

{{:UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying}}

The draw for the finals took place at the Palais des Congrès de la Porte Maillot in Paris on 12 December 2015, 18:00 CET.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-finals/draws/round=2000448/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126083356/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-finals/draws/round=2000448/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2015 |title=Finals draw |publisher=UEFA}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d804ed9e972-a2d116ee5177-1000--uefa-euro-2016-finals-draw-made-in-paris/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 finals draw made in Paris |publisher=UEFA |date=12 December 2015 |access-date=12 December 2015}} The 24 qualified teams were drawn into six groups of four teams, with the hosts France being automatically placed in position A1. The remaining teams were seeded into four pots of five (Pot 1) or six teams (Pots 2, 3, and 4). As the title holders, Spain were seeded in Pot 1, while the other 22 teams were seeded according to the UEFA national team coefficients updated after the completion of the qualifying group stage (excluding the play-offs), which were released by UEFA on 14 October 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7ff81f18c7-c5ee9c7af223-1000--euro-2016-play-off-final-tournament-draw-info/ |title=EURO 2016 play-off, final tournament draw info |publisher=UEFA |date=30 June 2015 |access-date=30 June 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d805626ec1c-c3cf9e347db8-1000--uefa-euro-2016-draw-pots-take-shape/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 draw pots take shape |publisher=UEFA |date=14 October 2015 |access-date=14 October 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7f910cca7e-911ebb4ca7ea-1000--euro-2016-draw-pots-confirmed-for-12-december/ |title=EURO 2016 draw pots confirmed for 12 December |publisher=UEFA |date=17 November 2015}}{{cite web|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512054523/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/29/41/14/2294114_DOWNLOAD.pdf|archive-date=12 May 2022|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/29/41/14/2294114_DOWNLOAD.pdf|title=National Team Coefficients Overview 2015|publisher=UEFA|date=14 October 2015|access-date=8 June 2022}}

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{{legend|#ccffcc|Automatically selected as a top-seeded team into pot 1, irrespective of their ranking position.}}

{{notelist}}

Teams were drawn consecutively into Group A to F. First, the Pot 1 teams were assigned to the first positions of their groups, while next the positions of all other teams were drawn separately from Pot 4 to 2 (for the purposes of determining the match schedules in each group).

The draw resulted in the following groups:

Ten stadiums were used for the competition. Initially, twelve stadiums were presented for the French bid, chosen on 28 May 2010. These venues were to be whittled down to nine by the end of May 2011, but it was suggested in June 2011 that eleven venues might be used.{{cite news |title=France to host Euro 2016 at eleven venues |url=http://www.supersport.com/football/france/news/110616/France_to_host_Euro_2016_at_11_venues |work=Supersport |agency=Reuters |date=16 June 2011 |access-date=16 June 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/MediaRelease/uefaorg/MediaReleases/01/48/83/27/1488327_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA European Football Championship – Final Tournament 2016 – Bid Evaluation Report |publisher=UEFA |access-date=20 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601191141/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/MediaRelease/uefaorg/MediaReleases/01/48/83/27/1488327_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=live }} The French Football Federation had to decide which nine would be selected.

The choice for the first seven was undisputed – the national Stade de France, four newly constructed ones in Lille Metropole (Villeneuve-d'Ascq), Décines-Charpieu (Lyon Metropolis), Nice and Bordeaux, and two stadiums in the two largest cities, Paris and Marseille. After Strasbourg opted out for financial reasons following relegation,{{cite news |title=Strasbourg se rétracte |url=http://www.sport24.com/football/euro-2016/fil-info/strasbourg-se-retracte-402364/ |work=Sport24 |date=29 July 2011 |access-date=19 July 2011 |language=fr |trans-title=Strasbourg pulls out}} two more venues were selected to be Lens and Nancy, leaving Toulouse and Saint-Étienne as reserve options.

In June 2011, the number of host venues was increased to eleven due to the new tournament format featuring 24 teams, instead of the previous 16.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Bisson |title=France gets go-ahead to stage Euro 2016 in 11 host cities |url=http://worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=34449 |work=World Football Insider |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=6 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703204042/http://worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=34449 |archive-date=3 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=France to host Euro 2016 at 11 venues |url=https://dawn.com/2011/06/17/france-to-host-euro-2016-at-11-venues.html |agency=Reuters |work=Dawn |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=6 July 2011}} The decision meant that the reserve cities of Toulouse and Saint-Étienne joined the list of hosts. Then, in December 2011, Nancy announced its withdrawal from the tournament, after plans for the stadium's renovation were cancelled,{{cite news |title=Nancy renonce à accueillir l'Euro 2016 |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2011/12/02/euro-2016-nancy-renonce-a-accueillir-l-euro-2016_1612889_3242.html |agency=Agence France-Presse |work=Le Monde |date=2 December 2011 |access-date=4 December 2011 |language=fr |trans-title=Nancy gives up Euro 2016 hosting}} finalising the list of host venues at ten.

Two other possible options, the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes and the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier (venues which were used for the 1998 World Cup) were not chosen. The final list was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee on 25 January 2013.{{cite web|title=Executive Committee confirms EURO 2016 venues|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7ed568f51e-cb1d9304ecc8-1000--executive-committee-confirms-euro-2016-venues/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812212319/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7ed568f51e-cb1d9304ecc8-1000--executive-committee-confirms-euro-2016-venues/|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2020|date=25 January 2013|publisher=UEFA}} Capacity figures are those for matches at UEFA Euro 2016 and are not necessarily the total capacity that the venues are capable of holding.

Each team had a "team base camp" for its stay between the matches. The teams trained and resided in these locations throughout the tournament, travelling to games staged away from their bases. From an initial list of 66 bases, the 24 participating teams had to confirm their selection with UEFA by 31 January 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7fd60c8313-5c83671adc07-1000--uefa-euro-2016-base-camp-catalogue-launched/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 base camp catalogue launched |publisher=UEFA |date=5 September 2014}}

The selected team base camps were announced on 2 March 2016:{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d80db0bcbf1-95862b7e3dfa-1000--where-will-your-team-be-based-at-euro-2016/ |title=Where will your team be based at EURO 2016? |publisher=UEFA |date=2 March 2016}}

To accommodate the expansion from a 16-team finals tournament to 24 teams, the format was changed from the one used in 2012 with the addition of two extra groups in the group stage, and an extra round in the knockout stage. The six groups (A to F) still contained four teams each, with the top two from each group still going through to the knockout stage. In the new format, however, the four best third-ranked sides also progressed, leaving 16 teams going into the new round of 16 knockout stage (ahead of the usual quarter-finals, semi-finals and final), and only eight teams going out after the group stage.{{cite news |first=Martyn |last=Ziegler |title=Uefa admit expansion of European Championships to 24 teams 'not ideal' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/uefa-admit-expansion-of-european-championships-to-24-teams-not-ideal-7594801.html |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Limited |location=London |date=28 March 2012 |access-date=28 March 2012}} The format was the same as the one which was applied to the 1986, 1990, and 1994 FIFA World Cups, except for the absence of a third place play-off.

This format generated a total of 51 matches, compared with 31 matches for the previous 16-team tournament, played over a period of 31 days. UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino previously described the format as "not ideal" due to the need for third-ranked teams in the group stage advancing, leading to difficulty in preventing situations where teams might be able to know in advance what results they needed to progress out of the group; this led to the risk of a lack of suspense for fans, or even the prospect of mutually beneficial collusion between teams.

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 squads}}

Each national team had to submit a squad of 23 players, three of whom had to be goalkeepers, at least ten days before the opening match of the tournament.{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d814293cea1-a0e72fd077c9-1000--all-24-uefa-euro-2016-squads-confirmed/ |title=All 24 UEFA EURO 2016 squads confirmed |date=1 June 2016 |publisher=UEFA |access-date=2 June 2016}} If a player became injured or ill severely enough to prevent his participation in the tournament before his team's first match, he could be replaced by another player.

On 15 December 2015, UEFA named eighteen referees for Euro 2016.{{cite web |title=Eighteen referees appointed for UEFA EURO 2016 |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d805377d8c2-6ae4ce068058-1000--eighteen-referees-appointed-for-uefa-euro-2016/ |publisher=UEFA |date=15 December 2015 |access-date=15 December 2015}} The full referee teams were announced on 1 March 2016.{{cite web |title=Full UEFA EURO 2016 referee teams named |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d8114b712bc-76c01c9b581f-1000--full-uefa-euro-2016-referee-teams-named/ |publisher=UEFA |date=1 March 2016 |access-date=1 March 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/Refereeing/02/33/82/21/2338221_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=Match Officials – UEFA EURO 2016 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=1 March 2016 |access-date=22 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815201748/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/Refereeing/02/33/82/21/2338221_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=15 August 2018 |url-status=live }} England was the only country to have two referees in the tournament.

Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai was chosen to officiate the opener between France and Romania.{{cite news |title=UEFA EURO 2016 referee appointments |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d813bcef6a0-7b44d328d94c-1000--who-is-the-referee-uefa-euro-2016-appointments/ |publisher=UEFA |access-date=8 June 2016}} English referee Mark Clattenburg was chosen to officiate the final between Portugal and France.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36743405 |title=Euro 2016: Mark Clattenburg to referee Portugal-France final |work=BBC Sport |date=8 July 2016 }}

{{notelist-ua}}

Two match officials, who serve only as fourth officials, and two reserve assistant referees were also named:

File:Uefa Euro 2016 Opening Ceremony.jpg

An hour before the first match at the Stade de France on 10 June 2016, 20:00 CEST, the opening ceremony of the tournament was held. The ceremony featuring 600 dancers, 150 of which were involved in a traditional French dance before an uptempo version of "La Vie en rose" by French singer Édith Piaf was played. Following this, French DJ David Guetta took to the stage, he performed shortened versions of some of his hits before he was joined on stage by Swedish singer Zara Larsson to perform the official song of the tournament "This One's for You".

{{hidden

| style = width: 20em;

| headercss = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 16em;

| contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 16em;

| header = David Guetta's setlist[https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DuXjFGmAMwpc&ved=2ahUKEwiD_N3htJniAhXwUBUIHXecA54QwqsBMAx6BAgDEAU&usg=AOvVaw1DmGbEQz7bqxrGlIjkbiRV] {{dead link|date=August 2021}}

| content =

1. "I Gotta Feeling"
2. "Play Hard"
3. "Bang My Head"
4. "Titanium"
5. "This One's for You" (with Zara Larsson)

}}

The ceremony ended with a fly over from the Patrouille Acrobatique de France of the French Air Force, trailing the French blue, white, and red. The ceremony also featured a tribute to the victims of the November 2015 Paris attacks. Following the ceremony, the hosts France beat Romania 2–1 in the opening game of the tournament.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/euro-2016-opening-ceremony-david-guetta-can-can-when-does-it-start-who-is-performing-how-can-i-watch-a7073971.html|title=David Guetta and 150 can-can dancers, welcome to the Euro 2016 opening ceremony|date=10 June 2016|website=The Independent}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/10/euro-2016-opening-ceremony-live/amp/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/10/euro-2016-opening-ceremony-live/amp/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Euro 2016 opening ceremony: can-can girls, giant dancing lips, ballet and... lollipops?|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}

[[File:UEFA Euro 2016 map.svg|thumb|upright=1.8|Result of teams participating in UEFA Euro 2016

{{col-begin}} {{col-3}}{{legend|#2B42A3|Winner}} {{legend|#34B0BE|Runner-up}} {{col-3}}{{legend|#81C846|Semi-finals}} {{legend|#E4E454|Quarter-finals}}{{col-3}}{{legend|#ff9f40|Round of 16}}{{legend|#B94954|Group stage}}{{col-end}}]]

UEFA announced the tournament schedule on 25 April 2014,{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7f4b4673e9-240e6e162309-1000--uefa-euro-2016-match-schedule/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 match schedule announced |publisher=UEFA |date=25 April 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/09/59/58/2095958_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Euro 2016 Match Schedule |publisher=UEFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427000219/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/09/59/58/2095958_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=27 April 2014 |url-status=live }} which was confirmed on 12 December 2015, after the final draw.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d804d9ffe1a-7cb08295efda-1000--uefa-euro-2016-final-tournament-schedule/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 final tournament schedule |publisher=UEFA |date=12 December 2015 |access-date=1 December 2015}}

Group winners, runners-up, and the best four third-placed teams advanced to the Round of 16.

All times are local, CEST (UTC+2).

France beat Romania 2–1 in the 1st match of EURO 2016.

If two or more teams were equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following tie-breaking criteria were applied:

1. Higher number of points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;
2. Superior goal difference resulting from the matches played between the teams in question;
3. Higher number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question;
4. If, after having applied criteria 1 to 3, teams still had an equal ranking (e.g. if criteria 1 to 3 were applied to three teams that were level on points initially and these criteria separated one team from the other two who still have an equal ranking), criteria 1 to 3 were reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams who were still level to determine their final rankings. If this procedure did not lead to a decision, criteria 5 to 9 applied;
5. Superior goal difference in all group matches;
6. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
7. If only two teams had the same number of points, and they were tied according to criteria 1–6 after having met in the last round of the group stage, their ranking was determined by a penalty shoot-out. (This criterion was not used if more than two teams had the same number of points.);
8. Fair play conduct (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card);
9. Position in the UEFA national team coefficient ranking system.

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 Group A}}

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{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=third

|class_rules=1) Higher number of points obtained; 2) Superior goal difference; 3) Higher number of goals scored; 4) Fair play conduct; 5) Position in the UEFA national team coefficient ranking system.

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d818cd682ef-6b178979a7aa-1000--how-the-uefa-euro-2016-third-placed-teams-ended/ UEFA]

|team1=GrB |team2=GrE |team3=GrF |team4=GrC |team5=GrD |team6=GrA

|result1=KO |result2=KO |result3=KO |result4=KO

|win_GrA=1 |draw_GrA=0 |loss_GrA=2 |gf_GrA=1 |ga_GrA=3

|win_GrB=1 |draw_GrB=1 |loss_GrB=1 |gf_GrB=3 |ga_GrB=3

|win_GrC=1 |draw_GrC=0 |loss_GrC=2 |gf_GrC=2 |ga_GrC=2

|win_GrD=1 |draw_GrD=0 |loss_GrD=2 |gf_GrD=2 |ga_GrD=4

|win_GrE=1 |draw_GrE=1 |loss_GrE=1 |gf_GrE=2 |ga_GrE=4

|win_GrF=0 |draw_GrF=3 |loss_GrF=0 |gf_GrF=4 |ga_GrF=4

|name_GrA={{fb|ALB}}

|name_GrB={{fb|SVK}}

|name_GrC={{fb|NIR}}

|name_GrD={{fb|TUR}}

|name_GrE={{fb|IRL}}

|name_GrF={{fb|POR}}

|show_groups=T

|group_GrA=A

|group_GrB=B

|group_GrC=C

|group_GrD=D

|group_GrE=E

|group_GrF=F

|res_col_header=Q

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knockout stage

}}

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage}}

In the knockout stage, extra time and a penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary.

As with every tournament since UEFA Euro 1984, there was no third place play-off.

All times are local, CEST (UTC+2).

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage|bracket}}

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage|g1}}

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{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 final}}

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2016 final|j1}}

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 statistics}}

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2016 statistics|Goalscorers}}

{{See also|UEFA European Championship awards}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Patrício

| RB = Kimmich

| RCB = Boateng

| LCB = Pepe

| LB = Guerreiro

| RCM = Kroos

| LCM = Allen

| RW = Griezmann

| SS = Ramsey

| LW = Payet

| CF = Ronaldo

| caption = UEFA Team of the Tournament

}}

;UEFA Team of the Tournament

The UEFA Technical Team was given the objective of naming a team of eleven players during the tournament, a change from the 23-man squads in the past competitions.{{cite news |title=UEFA EURO 2016 Team of the Tournament revealed |url=https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/0286-1932648cbbd6-015b5937ebfc-1000--uefa-euro-2016-team-of-the-tournament/ |publisher=UEFA |date=11 July 2016 |access-date=11 July 2016}} The group of analysts watched every game before making the decision following the final. Four players from the winning Portuguese squad were named in the tournament.

;Player of the Tournament

The Player of the Tournament award was given to Antoine Griezmann, who was chosen by UEFA's technical observers, led by UEFA chief technical officer Ioan Lupescu and including Sir Alex Ferguson and Alain Giresse.

• {{fbicon|FRA|1974}} Antoine Griezmann

;Young Player of the Tournament

The Young Player of the Tournament award, open to players born on or after 1 January 1994, was given to Renato Sanches who was named above Kingsley Coman and Portugal teammate Raphaël Guerreiro. The particular player, who deserved the award, was also chosen by UEFA's technical observers.

• {{fbicon|POR}} Renato Sanches – {{birth date and age2|2016|07|10|1997|8|18|df=y}}

;Golden Boot

The Golden Boot was awarded to Antoine Griezmann, who scored one goal in the group stage and five in the knockout stage.

• {{fbicon|FRA|1974}} Antoine Griezmann – 6 goals, 2 assists (555 minutes){{cite news |title=France forward Antoine Griezmann wins Golden Boot |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d81bfa51831-f90b77575376-1000--france-forward-antoine-griezmann-wins-golden-boot/ |publisher=UEFA |date=10 July 2016 |access-date=11 July 2016}}

;Silver Boot

The Silver Boot was awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored two goals in the group stage and one in the knockout stage, as well as providing two assists.

• {{fbicon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo – 3 goals, 2 assists (625 minutes)

;Bronze Boot

The Bronze Boot was awarded to Olivier Giroud, who scored one goal in the group stage and two in the knockout stage, as well as providing two assists; compatriot Dimitri Payet amassed the same tally, but played 50 more minutes than Giroud.

• {{fbicon|FRA|1974}} Olivier Giroud – 3 goals, 2 assists (456 minutes)

;Goal of the Tournament

The Goal of the Tournament was decided by online voting. A total 5 goals were in the shortlist. On 13 July 2016, after an open vote with over 150,000 entries, UEFA announced that Hungarian midfielder Zoltán Gera's goal against Portugal had been named as fans' goal of the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7e2e624a3c-33a243e7b5f5-1000--gera-wins-fans-goal-of-the-tournament/ |title=Gera wins fans' Goal of the Tournament |publisher=UEFA |date=13 July 2016}} In a separate poll, UEFA's technical observers decided that Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri's goal against Poland deserved top spot in their list of the ten best goals of the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/TechnicalReport/competitions/EURO/02/40/26/69/2402669_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Euro 2016 technical report: Goals of the tournament |work=UEFA |page=64 (33 of PDF) |year=2016 |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825063602/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/TechnicalReport/competitions/EURO/02/40/26/69/2402669_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=25 August 2017 |url-status=live }}

• Fans: {{fbicon|HUN}} Zoltán Gera (vs Portugal)
• Technical observers: {{fbicon|SUI}} Xherdan Shaqiri (vs Poland)

A total of €301 million was distributed to the 24 teams contesting in the tournament, a growth from the €196 million payment in the preceding event. Each team was rewarded €8 million, with further rewards depending on their performances. Portugal, the champions of the competition, were awarded €8 million in addition to any prize money earned in earlier rounds – the biggest prize attainable was €27 million (for winning all group matches and the final).{{cite news |title=UEFA Euro 2016 prize money substantially increased |url=http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2317451.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728165851/http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2317451.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 July 2017 |publisher=UEFA |date=11 December 2015 |access-date=12 June 2016}}

Full list:

• Prize for participating: €8 million

Extra payment based on team's performance:

• Champions: €8 million
• Runners-up: €5 million
• Reaching the semi-finals: €4 million
• Reaching the quarter-finals: €2.5 million
• Reaching the round of 16: €1.5 million
• Winning a group match: €1 million
• Drawing a group match: €500,000

A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:

• Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious offences)
• Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches; yellow cards expired after the completion of the quarter-finals (yellow card suspensions were not carried forward to any other future international matches)

The following suspensions were served during the tournament:{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/DisciplinaryChart/uefaorg/UEFACompDisCases/02/37/03/30/2370330_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=Booking List before Final tournament Matchday 1 |publisher=UEFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101100121/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/DisciplinaryChart/uefaorg/UEFACompDisCases/02/37/03/30/2370330_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=1 January 2018 |url-status=live }}

Pre-tournament concerns included heavy flooding of the River Seine in Paris,{{cite news |last1=Lichfield |first1=John |title=Paris flooding: Fears grow ahead of Euro 2016 with River Seine set to rise further |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/paris-flooding-flood-alert-today-euro-2016-river-seine-eiffel-tower-latest-a7061276.html |access-date=2 July 2016 |work=The Independent |date=2 June 2016}} and strikes in the transport sector shortly before the beginning of the event.{{cite news |last1=Calder |first1=Simon |title=Euro 2016: French strikes wreck travel plans for thousands of football fans and tourists |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/euro-2016-france-strikes-wreck-travel-plans-for-thousands-of-football-fans-and-tourists-a7074466.html |access-date=2 July 2016 |work=The Independent |date=10 June 2016}}

Following the attacks on Paris on 13 November 2015, including one in which the intended target was a game at the Stade de France, controversies about the safety of players and tourists during the upcoming tournament arose. Noël Le Graët, president of the French Football Federation, explained that the concern for security had increased following the attacks. He claimed: "there was already a concern for the Euros, now it's obviously a lot higher. We will continue to do everything we can so that security is assured despite all the risks that this entails. I know that everyone is vigilant. Obviously, this means that we will now be even more vigilant. But it's a permanent concern for the federation and the [French] state".{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |title=Euro 2016 organisers facing up to growing terrorism risk to finals |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/14/euro-2016-finals-terrorism-risk |access-date=15 November 2015 |date=14 November 2015 |work=The Guardian}}

A "suspicious vehicle" near the Stade de France was destroyed by a police-mandated controlled explosion on 3 July, hours before the venue held the quarter-final between France and Iceland.{{cite news |last1=Fenton |first1=Siobhan |title=Controlled explosion on suspicious vehicle outside Stade de France before France and Iceland Euro 2016 quarter-final |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stade-de-france-explosion-paris-euro-2016-iceland-quarter-final-a7117256.html |access-date=3 July 2016 |work=The Independent |date=3 July 2016}}

{{Further|Violence at UEFA Euro 2016}}

The day before the tournament, fighting broke out between local youths and England fans in Marseille; police dispersed the local youths with tear gas. On 10 June, English fans at Marseille clashed with police.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36496745 |title=Euro 2016: England fan arrested after Marseille clash |work=BBC News |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=14 June 2016}} Six English fans were later arrested and sentenced to prison.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/13/football/england-fans-sentenced-to-prison-for-euro-2016-violence/index.html |title=England fans sentenced to prison for Euro 2016 violence |publisher=CNN |date=13 June 2016 |access-date=14 June 2016}} On 11 June, violent clashes erupted in the streets of the same city before and after the Group B match between England and Russia that ended in a 1–1 draw.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36506917 |title=Euro 2016: Violence mars England-Russia match |work=BBC News |date=11 June 2016 |access-date=11 June 2016}} One English fan was reported to be critically ill in the hospital while dozens of others were injured in the clashes.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/11/england-and-russia-fans-clash-in-marseilles-ahead-of-euro-2016-g/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/11/england-and-russia-fans-clash-in-marseilles-ahead-of-euro-2016-g/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=England fan fighting for his life and dozens more injured as English fans and Russian thugs clash at Euro 2016 in Marseille |website=The Telegraph |access-date=11 June 2016}}{{cbignore}} On 14 June, the Russian team were given a suspended disqualification, fined €150,000, and warned that future violence would result in their removal from the cup. Additionally, 50 Russian fans were deported. The English team was also warned about disqualification, but was not formally charged.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36528403 |title=Euro 2016: Russia given suspended disqualification |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 June 2016 |access-date=14 June 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/14/euro-2016-violence-latest-with-uefa-set-to-reveal-russia-punishm2/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/14/euro-2016-violence-latest-with-uefa-set-to-reveal-russia-punishm2/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Euro 2016 violence: Uefa gives Russia suspended disqualification and €150,000 fine as French authorities set to deport up to 50 Russian fans |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 June 2016 |access-date=14 June 2016}}{{cbignore}} Violence between English and Russian fans arose again in Lille, where a total of 36 fans were arrested, and 16 people were hospitalised.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/15/england-and-russia-fans-brawl-in-lille-at-euro-2016 |title=Euro 2016: dozens arrested in Lille after England and Russia supporters clash |date=16 June 2016 |work=The Guardian |access-date=16 June 2016}}

Late in the Group D match between the Czech Republic and Croatia, flares were thrown onto the pitch from where Croatia supporters were massed. The match was paused for several minutes while they were cleared up. There was also fighting in the Croatia supporters' area.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2016/06/17/croatia-v-czech-republic-euro-2016-match-suspended-after-sports/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2016/06/17/croatia-v-czech-republic-euro-2016-match-suspended-after-sports/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Croatia v Czech Republic Euro 2016 match suspended after 'sports terrorists' fight and throw flares on pitch |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=17 June 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}}{{cbignore}} Later that same day, there was violence involving Turkish fans after Turkey's defeat by Spain. As a result of these incidents and earlier crowd troubles after the countries' first matches, UEFA launched official procedures against the Croatian and Turkish football federations.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36567326 |title=Croatia sorry for crowd trouble at Czech Republic match |work=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2016}} The Croatian federation was fined €100,000 for the incidents.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36575116 |title=Euro 2016: Uefa fines Croatia over crowd trouble in Czech Republic match |date=21 June 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

The football pitches at French stadiums were criticised during the group stage for their poor quality. France coach Didier Deschamps was especially critical.{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/deschamps-blasts-velodrome-pitch |title=Deschamps blasts Velodrome pitch |work=FourFourTwo |date=15 June 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/european-championship/story/2894743/france-manager-didier-deschamps-blames-ac-dc-concert-for-poor-pitch-conditions |title=France manager Didier Deschamps blames AC/DC concert for poor pitch |work=ESPN FC |first1=Mark |last1=Rodden |first2=Dan |last2=Kilpatrick |date=16 June 2016 }} UEFA tournament director Martin Kallen blamed heavy rain for damaged turf, though the press speculated that non-football events may have also been a contributor.{{cite news |last=Dunbar |first=Graham |date=17 June 2016 |title=UEFA blames heavy rain for damaging fields at Euro 2016 |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d943730e49ed4f759c2600795c4bc6e8/uefa-blames-heavy-rain-damaging-fields-euro-2016 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=19 June 2016 |archive-date=18 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618155742/http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/d943730e49ed4f759c2600795c4bc6e8/uefa-blames-heavy-rain-damaging-fields-euro-2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/19692/10316717/euro-2016-pitches-should-be-better-says-uefa-official |title=Euro 2016 pitches 'should be better' says UEFA official |work=Sky Sports |date=17 June 2016}}

The pitch at Lille received particular attention with players slipping continuously and with groundsmen forced at halftime to try to repair the cut up pitch.{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/euro-2016/2016/0621/797182-uefa-to-replace-lille-pitch-after-ireland-game/ |title=UEFA to replace Lille pitch after Ireland clash |work=RTE |date=21 June 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016}} Despite UEFA applying numerous methods to rectify the problems, such as a ban on pre-match training on the pitch, use of fertilisers, seeding, mowing, light therapy, drying and playing with the roof closed to avoid rain, it was decided that the pitch at Lille had to be entirely replaced following the Italy–Republic of Ireland group match on 22 June.{{cite news |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-pitch-lille-idUKKCN0Z726M |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817181108/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-pitch-lille-idUKKCN0Z726M |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 August 2016 |title=UEFA decides to replace Lille pitch after poor weather |newspaper=Reuters |date=21 June 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016}} The new pitch was replaced with Dutch grass and was ready before the last sixteen match between Germany and Slovakia on 26 June.{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/euro-2016/2016/0624/798003-lille-groundsmen-place-their-faith-in-dutch-grass/ |title=Lille groundsmen place their faith in Dutch grass |work=RTE |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/euro-2016-new-pitch-in-lille-already-familiar-to-germany-2872012/ |title=Euro 2016: New pitch in Lille already familiar to Germany |work=The Indian Express |date=23 June 2016 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=17 August 2021 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/pitch-lille-euro-2016-venue-8270082 |title=Pitch at Lille Euro 2016 venue replaced ahead of Germany vs Slovakia last-16 tie |first=James |last=Whaling |work=Irish Mirror |date=23 June 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016}} UEFA also stated that repair work was also required at the St Denis and Marseille pitches.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d818b229d21-632bc47b50b2-1000--stade-pierre-mauroy-pitch-to-be-replaced/ |title=Stade Pierre Mauroy pitch to be replaced |work=UEFA |date=21 June 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016}} This was the second time that a Euro championship pitch needed to be re-laid mid-tournament. The first time was the St. Jakob-Park in Basel during Euro 2008.{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Iain |date=18 June 2008 |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-euro-pitch/soccer-euro-newly-laid-basel-pitch-ready-for-use-uefa-says-idUKL1817831020080618 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528214812/https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-euro-pitch/soccer-euro-newly-laid-basel-pitch-ready-for-use-uefa-says-idUKL1817831020080618 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 May 2018 |title=Soccer-Euro-Newly-laid Basel pitch ready for use, UEFA says |work=Reuters |access-date=19 June 2018}}

UEFA's Leeds-based consultant Richard Hayden had come under criticism as it was reported he ordered local groundsmen to re-lay three pitches (Lille, Nice, and Marseille) with Slovak grass, provided by an Austrian company for an estimated €600,000 (£460,000). On 22 June it was reported that France's grass association officials had blamed Hayden for continued problems with the pitches, citing "it is amazing that it is only these pitches that have problems today".{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/22/euro-2016-turf-war-french-blames-english-based-groundsman-over-p/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/22/euro-2016-turf-war-french-blames-english-based-groundsman-over-p/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Euro 2016 turf war: French blame English-based groundsman over 'poor pitches' |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Tom |last=Morgan |date=22 June 2016}}{{cbignore}} The Austrian manufacture of the turf, Richter, responded to the French grass association officials by saying "the turf for the stadiums in Lille and Marseille was delivered in top condition" and that "the turf placement and further care were handled by French companies and no one other than the French grounds-people had control over the grounds condition".{{cite web |work=Channel NewsAsia |date=22 June 2016 |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-uefa-orders-euro-2016-stadium-pitch-relaid-7981556 |title=UEFA orders Euro 2016 stadium pitch relaid |access-date=19 June 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619215426/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-uefa-orders-euro-2016-stadium-pitch-relaid-7981556 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |work=New Vision |agency=AFP |date=21 June 2016 |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1427534/uefa-euro-2016-stadium-pitch-relaid |title=UEFA orders Euro 2016 stadium pitch relaid |access-date=19 June 2018 }} In a statement, UEFA rejected the criticism against Hayden as baseless and stated they were satisfied with his work.

Before the final match started, the stadium was invaded by Silver Y moths, which caused some irritation to the players, staff and coaches. The reason this occurred is because the workers at the stadium left the lights switched on the day before the match which attracted huge swaths of insects. The players and coaches of each team during the warm-up tried swatting the moths, and ground staff used brushes to clean moths from the walls, ground and other places.{{Cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |date=11 July 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36696772 |title=Portugal 1–0 France (AET) |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=11 July 2016}}{{cite news |last=Barkham |first=Patrick |date=11 July 2016 |title=Why the Euro 2016 final was overrun by moths |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2016/jul/11/why-the-euro-2016-final-was-overrun-by-moths |work=The Guardian |access-date=11 July 2016}} One moth was infamously captured flying on and around Cristiano Ronaldo's face when he was sitting on the pitch after being injured during the match.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/07/11/even-cristiano-ronaldos-euro-2016-final-moth-is-attracted-to-fam/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/07/11/even-cristiano-ronaldos-euro-2016-final-moth-is-attracted-to-fam/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Even Cristiano Ronaldo's Euro 2016 final moth is attracted to fame |first=Marcus |last=Armytage |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=11 July 2016 |via=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}

The UEFA Euro 2016 video game was released by Konami as a free DLC on Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.konami.com/games/ca/en/topics/74/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 Content Will Be Free for Existing PES 2016 Users |work=Pro Evolution Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222132334/https://pes.konami.com/pes/konami-announce-next-years-uefa-euro-2016-content-will-be-free-for-existing-pes-2016-users-delivered-in-a-data-pack-featuring-euro-early-next-year/ |archive-date=22 December 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d8062d27ca9-32a1fc4685c5-1000--konami-acquires-euro-2016-video-game-licence/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 |date=5 August 2015 |publisher=UEFA}} The DLC was available for existing Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 members on 24 March 2016 for major platforms (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows).{{cite news |title=Konami to release UEFA Euro 2016 game in April |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d81131e63f8-fa9bf70e3002-1000--konami-to-release-uefa-euro-2016-game-in-april/ |publisher=UEFA |date=26 February 2016 |access-date=12 June 2016}} The game was released physically and digitally on 21 April for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 users.

The official logo was unveiled on 26 June 2013, during a ceremony at the Pavillon Cambon Capucines in Paris.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/EURO/01/96/71/90/1967190_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA EURO 2016 logo Launch |date=26 June 2013 |publisher=UEFA |access-date=28 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817082244/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/EURO/01/96/71/90/1967190_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2013 |url-status=dead }} Conceived by Portuguese agency Brandia Central, which also created the visual identity for the previous European Championship, the design is based on the theme "Celebrating the art of football". The logo depicts the Henri Delaunay Trophy with the blue, white and red colours of the French flag, surrounded by a mixture of shapes and lines representing different artistic movements and football elements.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7ef3821a1d-312d88cc479b-1000--uefa-euro-2016-logo-unveiled/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 logo unveiled |date=26 June 2013 |publisher=UEFA |access-date=28 June 2013}}

On 17 October 2013, UEFA announced the official slogan of the tournament: Le Rendez-Vous. Asked about its meaning, Jacques Lambert, chairman of the Euro 2016 organising committee, told that the slogan "is much more than a reminder of dates (...) and venues". He further explained that "UEFA is sending out an invitation to football fans throughout the world and to lovers of major events, an invitation to meet up and share the emotions of an elite-level tournament".{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7ef3dfee07-6f33dd50a1fc-1000--uefa-euro-2016-le-rendez-vous/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016: 'Le Rendez-Vous' |publisher=UEFA |date=17 October 2013}}

{{Main|Adidas Beau Jeu}}

For the first time in the tournament's history, two official match balls were used.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d8195b95ebe-fa8291551f66-1000--ball-for-uefa-euro-2016-knockout-rounds-unveiled/ |title=Ball for UEFA EURO 2016 knockout rounds unveiled – UEFA EURO – News – UEFA |last=UEFA.com |date=20 June 2016 |publisher=UEFA}} The "Adidas Beau Jeu", used for the group stage, was unveiled on 12 November 2015 by former France player Zinedine Zidane.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d809b7a300c-6fa30bcd7798-1000--zidane-reveals-beau-jeu-as-official-match-ball/ |title=Zidane reveals Beau Jeu as official match ball |publisher=UEFA |date=12 November 2015}} During the tournament, the "Adidas Fracas" was introduced as the exclusive match ball for the knockout rounds.

The official mascot of the tournament, "Super Victor", was unveiled on 18 November 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=2181876.html |title=Introducing the UEFA EURO 2016 mascot |publisher=UEFA |date=18 November 2014 |access-date=5 January 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He is a child superhero in the kit of the France national football team, with a red cape at the back, to echo the colours of the flag of France. The cape, boots and ball are claimed to be the child's superpowers. The mascot first appeared during the match between France and Sweden at the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille on 18 November 2014. The name of the mascot was revealed on 30 November 2014 after receiving about 50,000 votes from the public on the official UEFA website, beating the other nominated names of "Driblou" and "Goalix".{{cite web |url=http://en.mascot.uefa.com/ |title=UEFA EURO 2016 mascot |publisher=UEFA |access-date=18 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619214722/http://en.mascot.uefa.com/ |archive-date=19 June 2016 }} It is based on the idea of victory and references the boy's super powers that he gained when he found the magic cape, boots and ball.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7f8721d500-2f33b44d59c9-1000--euro-mascot-name-revealed-as-super-victor/ |title=EURO mascot name revealed as Super Victor |date=30 November 2014 |publisher=UEFA |access-date=11 June 2015}}

The name of the mascot is the same as the name of a sex toy. UEFA said that this 'coincidence' was not their responsibility because the name was selected by fan voting.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/09/uefa-euro-2016-mascot-sex-toy |title=Euro 2016: Uefa red-faced as mascot shares name with sex toy |work=The Guardian |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=10 June 2016}}

The competition's official opening song was "This One's for You" by David Guetta featuring Zara Larsson, and the official closing song was "Free Your Mind" by Maya Lavelle.{{cite web |url=http://www.thesportsleagues.com/2016/05/uefa-euro-2016-information-schedule/ |title=UEFA Euro 2016 Information & Schedule}}{{cite web |url=https://thisonesforyou.com/ |title=This One's For You |access-date=12 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528172424/https://thisonesforyou.com/ |archive-date=28 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=David Guetta Gets One Million Fans for Euro Song |date = 27 April 2016|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d811bfdb9ab-fbe5b0889274-1000--david-guetta-gets-one-million-fans-for-euro-song/ |publisher=UEFA |access-date=28 May 2016}} It was reported that David Guetta sought one million fans to add their voices to the official anthem via a website.{{cite web |title=David Guetta Is Seeking One Million Fans for UEFA Anthem |url=http://www.edmtunes.com/2015/12/david-guetta-uefa-anthem/ |website=EDM Tunes |date=16 December 2015 |access-date=28 May 2016}}

File:Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-303 TC-JOH (UEFA 2016 livery).jpg aeroplane, decorated with UEFA EURO 2016 emblems.]]

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 broadcasting rights}}

The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) was located at the Paris expo Porte de Versailles in Paris' 15th arrondissement.

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140304074221/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/index.html UEFA Euro 2016] at UEFA.com
• [https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/TechnicalReport/competitions/EURO/02/40/26/69/2402669_DOWNLOAD.pdf Official Technical Report]

{{UEFA Euro 2016}}

{{UEFA Euro 2016 finalists}}

{{UEFA Euro 2016 stadiums}}

{{UEFA European Championship}}

{{2015–16 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{European championships in 2016}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uefa Euro 2016}}

2016

Euro 2016

Category:2015–16 in French football

2016

Category:June 2016 sports events in France

Category:July 2016 sports events in France