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Euro ever-presents

Spain beat Italy to lift Euro 2012 - but have they appeared in every finals © Getty Images

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As the qualifying for the European Championship football gets into full swing, has there been an ever-present team at the finals, like Brazil at the World Cup? asked Jeremy Porter

No team has been present at all 14 European Championships tournaments - the first one was in 1960 - mainly because the early ones were limited to just four teams after a qualifying period.

Germany missed the first three finals tournaments, but have been at every one since (as West Germany until 1988): 11 appearances is the overall record. Russia (initially as the Soviet Union) have appeared in the final stages ten times, the Netherlands and Spain nine, and Czechoslovakia (latterly as the Czech Republic), Denmark, England, France and Italy all eight times. Austria, Latvia, Norway, Slovenia and Ukraine have all made just one appearance at the finals.

For the first time, Euro 2016 will feature 24 teams. There were four from 1960 to 1976, eight from 1980 to 1992, and 16 since 1996.

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