Incredible records and statistics from European Championships. There is no lack of Czech signature in them!

The postponed Euro 2020 starts today! What have the European Championships brought in incredible statistics (since 1980)? Can star Cristiano Ronaldo rewrite the footballing textbooks at the Euros, or will we have to wait and see?

Do you remember the Czech national team’s meteoric ride at Euro 2004? Where we were stopped only in the semi-finals by a strongly defensive Greece team, who surprisingly won the whole tournament?

It was the Greeks of 2004 who broke several records that show how lucky they were and how unlucky we were.

The Greeks won the tournament with an average ball possession of 39.9% and an incredibly low xG of 5.2 (xG = number of expected goals) scoring a total of 7 goals. For both possession and xG, these are the lowest numbers of any winners since at least 1980.

We also have a not so glamorous record with Greece. During the European Championships, the Greek Giorgos Karagounis (8) received the most yellow cards.

Our national team, and in particular Radoslav Látal, again holds the first place in red cards! During his playing career, he received two red cards in two tournaments.

Another, and much more positive signature in the history of the Euros, is Karel Poborský! He collected a total of 6 assists at the European Championships, which is still the most of any player. (counted since 1980)

And how long did it take to score the fastest goal of the Euros? This record is held by Dmitry Kirichenko, it took him only 01::05 to score a goal. It happened so at the Euro 2004 in the match of Russia against Greece.

Cristiano Ronaldo may rewrite history

Why unlucky? Because the Portuguese star holds the unlucky record for the European Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post 6 times at the European Championship, the most of any player. (counting since 1980)

This fact may not be so unfortunate for him, as the same number (6) separates him from the phenomenal record! If Ronaldo scores six more goals in the national jersey, he will surpass Ali Daei for the highest number of goals scored for the national team.

Ali Daei is a former Iranian footballer who scored 109 goals for the national team during his career. Can Ronaldo break that record at the Euros?

Sources: OptaJoe, Wiki, Sqawka Football