The opening match of the tournament got off to a perfect start for the hosts France as European footballer of the year Michel Platini scored the only goal of the game against Denmark.

Platini proved to be the star of the Championships, scoring hat-tricks in both Les Bleus remaining group matches, a 5-0 rout of Belgium and a 3-2 victory against Yugoslavia.

Denmark joined France into the knockout rounds with a 5-0 defeat of Yugoslavia and a thrilling 3-2 victory against Belgium. Denmark only needed a draw, but Belgium went 2-0 ahead with goals from Jan Ceulemans and Franky Vercauteren. The Danes pulled one back just before half time with Frank Avnesen converting a penalty, and second half goals from Kenneth Brylle and Preben Elkjær sealed their place in the semi-finals.

The second group failed to live up to the excitement of the other group with only nine goals within the group matches compared to that of 23 in Group one. Spain topped the group with 1-1 draws against Portugal and Romania, and a 1-0 victory against West Germany. The Germans only needed a draw against Spain to qualify, but in injury time, Antonio Maceda scored the winner, to put the Spaniards through.

Portugal joined Spain in the semi-finals with a 1-0 win against Romania having already drawn 0-0 with West Germany.

In the first semi-final France were involved in another five goal thriller. Les Bleus took the lead with a goal from Jean-François Domergue, but Rui Jordão equalised to take the game into extra-time. Another goal from Jordão put Portugal ahead, but the French fought back with Domergue scoring his second before Platini fired the winner in the final minute of extra-time, just as a penalty shootout seemed inevitable.

However, the other semi-final did go to penalties. The match finished 1-1 and after no goals in extra-time, the Spanish won the shoot-out 5-4.

The final proved to be free-flowing, attack-minded football, but remained goalless at half-time. In the second-half Platini once again opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the tournament, and Bruno Bellone scored in the last minute to ensure France became European Champions.