Football News: From Euro 2024 to the World Cup
Football has long been a global game, a fact exemplified by the players who have represented nations other than their birth countries in major tournaments. In this article, we take a look at some of the stars who have won the Euros while playing for a country different from their place of birth.
1984 Euro Champions: France
As hosts of Euro 1984, France won their first major trophy with a squad that included midfield maestro Jean Tigana, born in Bamako, the capital of French Sudan (modern-day Mali).
1988 Euro Champions: Netherlands
The Netherlands’ Euro 1988 triumph featured winger John van ‘t Schip, born in the westernmost province of Canada: British Columbia.
2000 Euro Champions: France
France’s victorious Euro 2000 squad contained four players born outside contiguous France, hailing from Senegal, Ghana, Guadeloupe, and New Caledonia:
- Patrick Vieira (Senegal)
- Marcel Desailly (Ghana)
- Lilian Thuram (Guadeloupe)
- Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia)
2004 Euro Champions: Greece
Greece’s surprise Euro 2004 triumph included Dimitrios Papadopoulos, born in the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan while it was part of the Soviet Union.
2008 Euro Champions: Spain
Marcos Senna, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2008 victory, their first major success since winning the same competition 44 years earlier.
2016 Euro Champions: Portugal
Portugal’s maiden major title at Euro 2016 was achieved with the help of players from South America and Africa, including:
- Pepe (Brazil)
- Eder (Guinea-Bissau)
- Danilo (Guinea-Bissau)
- William Carvalho (Angola)
2020 Euro Champions: Italy
Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph saw three Brazilians contribute to the Azzurri’s success:
- Jorginho
- Emerson Palmieri
- Rafael Toloi
As we look ahead to Euro 2024, several more players born outside Europe could join this list of Euros champions, including Argentina’s Mateo Retegui (Italy), Ivory Coast’s Marc Guehi (England), and Angola’s Eduardo Camavinga (France).
Football’s global reach is undeniable, and these stories highlight the diverse nature of the sport’s top international competitions.
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