Euro 2020 - The final team rankings

Italy are European champions for the first time since 1968 after Gianluigi Donnarumma's heroics in the penalty shoot-out defeat of England following a 1-1 draw at Wembley, completing a remarkable transformation in their fortunes.

It was less than four years ago that the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but Roberto Mancini came in and steadied the ship before steering them to European glory, with the final stalemate also seeing their record unbeaten run extended to 34 matches.

The engrossing finale brought the curtain down on a gripping and exhilarating tournament, which Italy began in thrilling fashion with a 3-0 win over Turkey a month ago that set the tone for their glorious campaign.

With Euro 2020 over, Stats Perform has ranked all 24 teams involved from worst to best.

24. Turkey

Turkey had beaten France and the Netherlands in some style since the start of 2019, also drawing with Germany and Croatia. That earned them the tag of 'dark horses', although they were still ranked a relatively lowly 17th pre-tournament by the Stats Perform Euros Prediction.

Even that forecast proved optimistic, as Turkey hugely underwhelmed. They lost all three group games at a European Championship for the second time (also 1996) – only Denmark, in 1988 and 2000, have also had a pair of pointless campaigns.

23. North Macedonia

For North Macedonia not to be considered the worst team at the tournament is an achievement in itself. The debutants were given a 0.02 per cent chance of taking home the title but at least scored twice before bowing out.

They still failed to earn a point, however, becoming the fourth team to lose every match in their first appearance at the Euros, joining Turkey in 1996, Denmark in 1964 and France in 1960.

22. Scotland

A goalless draw against England at Wembley brought brief cheer, but Scotland's 11th major tournament campaign ended in the same fashion as each of the previous 10: at the group stage.

Hopes for future qualifications have taken a hit of late, too, with Scotland having won only one of their past nine competitive matches after six victories in the prior eight.

21. Poland

Poland were always facing a losing battle after an opening defeat to Slovakia that saw them fail to win their first match for the ninth time in their past 10 major tournament appearances.

In that game, Poland became only the second team in Euros history to have both an own goal and a red card in the same fixture, epitomising a campaign in which they scored in every match but never led.

20. Slovakia

Slovakia profited from that awful Poland outing but were themselves dismal from that point onwards, perhaps fortunate to be ranked this high even with a win to their name.

In an unambitious 1-0 defeat to Sweden, Slovakia failed to attempt a shot on target for the first time at a major tournament. They then repeated the trick against Spain, this time while conceding five – including two horrendous own goals.

19. Russia

Blown away by Belgium in their opening game, Russia were firmly still in the hunt heading into the final group match thanks to a battling win over Finland.

But their hopes were comprehensively ended by Denmark as they conceded four for only the second time at a major tournament. Russia have now lost their third group game in four of their past five tournaments.

18. Finland

Finland's debut win against Denmark was understandably overshadowed and that Joel Pohjanpalo winner was the only goal they scored at their first major tournament. Their 11 shots in the next match versus Russia yielded an underwhelming expected goals total of 0.72.

Markku Kanerva's men kept themselves in each game, though, with only England (two) conceding fewer goals than their three.

17. Hungary

The reason for Hungary's pre-tournament rating – a 0.08 per chance – was clear: they were drawn into the 'Group of Death'. And after shipping three late goals to Portugal in their opener, the Magyars were winless in four European Championship matches having conceded three in each of the most recent three.

But Hungary then ended a five-match losing run in meetings with France and almost improved on that 1-1 draw against Germany, finding themselves mere minutes from a victory that would have taken them through. Even with only two points, a daunting fixture list made Hungary the pick of the eliminated group-stage sides.

16. Wales

All was going so well for Wales when an impressive win against Turkey teed them up to maintain their 100 per cent record of reaching the knockout stages at major tournaments, doing so in the 1958 World Cup, Euro 2016 and now, despite a defeat to Italy, in Euro 2020.

But Rob Page's men were blown away by Denmark in the last 16, going down 4-0 to lose consecutive matches at a major tournament for the first time. Harry Wilson's red card made Wales the first team since 2004 to have two players sent off in a single European Championship.

15. Sweden

Sweden were a pretty painful watch in their first game against Spain, who played the most passes (917) and boasted the most possession (85 per cent) since Opta's Euros records began. A 1-0 win over Slovakia put Sweden in control of Group E, though, beginning a major tournament campaign with consecutive clean sheets for only the third time.

Three goals against Poland encouraged hopes of a more daring approach, but they were then cut down by Ukraine in the last 16 and have still never won a knockout game at the Euros.

14. Austria

Austria won a Euros match for the first time in their opener against North Macedonia but were uninspiring against the Netherlands, meaning Ukraine were considered favourites for their matchday three clash.

A quietly impressive 1-0 win took Austria into the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time, though, and they provided Italy's first stern test before coming up just short.

13. Croatia

Croatia were World Cup finalists just three years ago but many sceptics considered them done at the top level after losing to England and drawing with the Czech Republic – failing to win either of their opening two matches at a major tournament for the first time since 2006.

But this campaign should be remembered for what came next: a first win over Scotland that took them into the knockout stage at a third consecutive tournament and then the epic 5-3 extra-time defeat to Spain, finishing the campaign with seven goals – Croatia's most at a single European Championship.

12. Germany

This campaign did not start well for Germany as they lost a Euros opener for the first time; only the Netherlands in 1988 have won this competition after being beaten in their first match. Even in beating Portugal and Hungary, Germany conceded first on both occasions – one of just four teams at Euro 2020 to do so in each group game.

By the time they bowed out to England in the last 16, Joachim Low's men had one win in six European Championship games, having failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those matches

11. Netherlands

The Netherlands headed into this campaign having lost each of their past four Euros games, but three wins from three in the first round meant the Oranje were unbeaten in 10 matches at major tournaments (excluding penalties) – at the time the longest ongoing run among European nations.

However, their title tilt – and Frank de Boer's tenure – was swiftly ended in frustrating if familiar fashion. The most recent example of a team winning all of their group games at the Euros and then crashing out of the first knockout round inside 90 minutes were the Netherlands at Euro 2008; a 2-0 defeat to the Czech Republic saw them repeat the trick.

10. Portugal

Despite scares against Hungary and Portugal, France ended another group stage unbeaten, their run without defeat in such matches extending to 12 games – all four matchday three fixtures in that stretch have been draws.

Another draw proved costly in the round of 16, with Switzerland taking France to penalties and dumping Les Bleus out. Not since the 2010 World Cup had France failed to make the quarter-finals.

9. France

Despite scares against Hungary and Portugal, France ended another group stage unbeaten, their run without defeat in such matches extending to 12 games – all four matchday three fixtures in that stretch have been draws.

Another draw proved costly in the round of 16, with Switzerland taking France to penalties and dumping Les Bleus out. Not since the 2010 World Cup had France failed to make the quarter-finals.

8. Ukraine

Ukraine were extremely fortunate to advance even from the group stage as the fourth-best third-placed team, although a late winner against Sweden took Andriy Shevchenko's men to the quarter-finals of a major tournament for only the second time.

A shaky Ukraine defence proved their undoing against England. They went down 4-0, conceding in an 11th straight Euros games – the longest run in the competition's history. They are still without a clean sheet in the championship.

7. Switzerland

Switzerland had never scored more than twice in a Euros game heading into the matchday three meeting with Turkey when an excellent 3-1 win secured their progress. World champions France in the last 16 were their reward.

Again the Swiss scored three, reaching penalties and advancing, only to lose on spot-kicks to Spain in the quarter-finals. In that match, they joined Poland from earlier in the tournament in having a red card and scoring an own goal in the same game.

6. Czech Republic

The Czech Republic were given a 0.23 per cent chance of winning the competition before it started, trailing the likes of Turkey and Wales in that regard, and any run of note still seemed improbable when they were paired with the Netherlands in the second round.

But a shock first knockout win at a major tournament since 2004 set up a quarter-final against Denmark – the side the Czechs had dumped out 17 years previously. It was not to be this time, though.

5. Belgium

Belgium breezed through the group stage but were dealt a draw that would put their credentials as the world's top-ranked team to the test. After beating Portugal while France lost to Switzerland, though, the Red Devils were the favourites.

Five straight major tournament wins – tying a national record – took Belgium into the last eight, but there they met Italy, a team they have yet to conquer. The Azzurri were 2-1 victors and are five without defeat against Belgium at tournaments.

4. Spain

Consecutive draws prompted concerns about the state of this Spain team, but they responded by becoming the first team in European Championship history to score five goals in consecutive matches in wins over Slovakia and Croatia.

The latter game went to extra time, though, and La Roja increasingly rode their luck. They beat Switzerland on penalties and went to spot-kicks again against Italy, tying the record for extra time periods (three) in one Euros and this time losing a major tournament semi-final for the very first time.

3. Denmark

Denmark lost talisman Christian Eriksen in alarming circumstances in their opening match and could not then beat Belgium despite a strong performance. From there, though, their tournament turned.

Blistering wins over Russia and Wales were followed by victory over the Czech Republic that gave Denmark three in a row at the Euros for the first time in their history. But when they were pipped by England, the neutral's favourites become the fifth team at a European Championship or World Cup to both win and lose three games in the same tournament.

2. England

It was so close yet so far for England, who reached a first major tournament final since the 1966 World Cup, ending a 55-year wait – the longest in the history of the Euros and the World Cup. Getting to a European Championship final after 37 games was also a record.

After a tough, tense 1-1 draw with Italy that went to extra time, penalties again proved the Three Lions' undoing. Although they had won their most recent tournament shoot-out against Colombia in 2018, England have triumphed on spot-kicks only twice in nine such attempts. That is the worst record among European nations.

1. Italy

Outstanding throughout the tournament, Italy were worthy winners as they maintained an astonishing unbeaten run throughout the campaign, now without defeat in 34. They were at least tested by England, trailing for 65 minutes in the final having been behind for only 44 minutes in their prior 33 games.

But the Azzurri showed their resilience and took home the trophy, their second European Championship – a record 53 years on from their first – and sixth major honour. Only Germany (seven) have won more among European nations.