Europeans Teams - Interesting Facts

Belgium

Did you know- The host country's team placed first at the VII Olympic Games in the early 1920s. Since then, Belgium became the fourth European team to win the international title. The national squad won all its matches. In the gold-medal game, the local team defeated Czechoslovakia 2-0. Fifty-two years on, Belgium, the host country, came third in the European Championship.

Denmark

Did you know- Competing in its first Olympic Tournament in 1908, Denmark placed second in London (England), ahead of the host country. By 1912, the Danish Olympic team also won the silver medal in Stockholm, Sweden, outpacing the Netherlands, Finland, Russia, Norway, and Finland. In the semi-finals, Denmark routed Holland 4-1. In the gold medal match, Denmark lost to Britain 4-2.

Estonia and Lithuania

Did you know- Estonia and Lithuania -both were Soviet republics from the 1940s to the 1990s-- sent national teams to the VIII Olympics in Europe. However, in the first round, they were beaten by America and Switzerland.

France

Did you know- Like Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy, the national team of France was one of the favorites to win the 2002 World Championship in Asia, but the European squad was eliminated in the semi-finals. Certainly France disappointed fans by finishing 28th. On July 12, 1998, it -host country-- won the men's football World Tournament, defeating Brazil 3-0. Without a doubt, the French squad played one of the best matches of its history. It was the first World Cup victory for France.

Italy

Did you know- In the XII FIFA World Championship in Spain, between June 13 and July 11, 1982, Italy tied with Cameroon 1-1, but it won the global event. In the final, the Italian squad,led by Paolo Rossi, defeated West Germany 3-1. During the universal tournament, Mr Rossi scored six goals.

The Netherlands

Did you know- The Dutch men's football team competed in the Summer Games for the second time. At the VI Olympic Games, the national team defeated 9-0 Finland. The Dutch squad finished third and won the bronze medal.

United Kingdom & France

Did you know- By the early 1900, the national squad of the United Kingdom won the First Olympic Tournament in Paris, France. Meanwhile, the local team was runner-up and won the silver medal.

West Germany (now Germany)

Did you know- By the early 1970s, the Olympic Football Tournament took place without Italy, Great Britain, Holland, Argentina, and Uruguay. The winner was Poland, followed by Hungary (silver medal) and the German Democratic Republic (bronze medal).

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans."