Travel Guide to Soccer's European Championships

Updated: June 1, 2008, 6:22 PM ET

Comment Email Print Share

ESPNsoccernet staff for ESPN SportsTravel

Expect a packed house June 29 at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadion for the Euro 2008 final. (All photos in guide by Getty Images)

• Photo gallery: Euro 2008 host cities

Held every four years since 1960, the UEFA European Championships is revered around the world as the most prestigious tournament for European international soccer teams.

And our Travel Guide will serve as your tour book to Euro 2008's eight host cities.

The brainchild of Frenchman Henri Delaunay (after whom the trophy is now named) began life as the European Nations Cup, before a name change in 1968.

After decades of changes, Euro 1996 brought about the expansion to the 16-team and four-group format that continues today.

Euro 2008 features the second successful bid by two nations to host the championships -- Belgium and the Netherlands being the first at Euro 2000 -- with the games split between the host nations Austria and Switzerland.

This year the final will be held June 29 at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna, and a newly designed trophy will be given to the winners. Other cities hosting Euro 2008's kickin' competition include Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, Basel, Berne, Geneva and Zurich.

While the host countries were given safe passage through the qualifying phases, the rest of Europe's elite have been forced to battle it out in a rigorous group stage since August 2006, with only 14 teams making it through to the concluding tournament in June.

Of the notable absences, England tops the bill, with former manager Steve McClaren paying a heavy price for not ensuring qualification; but others -- including the Ukraine, Serbia, Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria and Scotland -- also missed out.

Euro 2004 winner Greece made it through and will hope to cause as much of a shock as it did in the previous competition, while 2006 World Cup victor Italy has the eyes of the soccer world upon it in another bid for glory.

With the likes of France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Germany all keen to add another major trophy to their cabinets, this tournament could be the most hotly contested in years. And fans can bet there will be a surprise or two in store.

Croatia, Turkey, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Sweden make up the rest of the teams hoping to upend this year's competition.

Apart from hoisting the 17�-pound (8-kg) trophy, the winner will also earn the right to represent UEFA at the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.

• Photo gallery: Euro 2008 host cities | Complete Euro 2008 coverage from ESPNsoccernet