Hosts: France
Winners: France

France won their first major title thanks to goals in every game from Michel Platini, culminating in a 2-0 triumph over Spain.

The midfielder opened the scoring in the final just before the hour mark, his free-kick somehow squeezing under the body of Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada.

Though Yvon Le Roux was sent off for Les Bleus, Bruno Bellone's injury-time goal sparked jubilation at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

Semi-finals returned for 1984, though France required extra-time to dispatch Portugal 3-2 in their memorable clash.

Platini scored a last-minute winner, after he set up Jean-Francois Domergue for a scrappy equaliser four minutes earlier.

Rui Jordao had given the Portuguese a shock lead with his second of the game, but the unfancied challengers could not hold on against the pre-tournament favourites.

Spain progressed from an even tighter semi-final after penalties against Denmark, Preben Elkjaer firing the decisive effort over the crossbar.

The hosts, after a nervy 1-0 win against Denmark, romped through the rest of the group - thanks largely to two hat-tricks from Platini.

Denmark made second place, trouncing Yugoslavia 5-0 and coming from behind to beat Belgium in the decider.

In Group B, Germany were eliminated by a last-minute Antonio Maceda header for Spain, who topped the group ahead of Portugal.

Romania came last, though they had qualified at the expense of Czechoslovakia and world champions Italy.

There was also qualifying heartbreak for Northern Ireland, who after twice beating West Germany watched as Gerd Strack scored a crucial late winner against Albania in the final group game.

In Group 7, Spain needing to beat Malta by 11 goals in their final match to qualify instead of Holland, but were only leading 3-1 at half-time.

Yet the eventual runners-up proceeded to score nine more after the break, the last coming in the 86th minute from Juan Antonio Senor, to book an unlikely finals spot.