Portugal took part in the first European Championships in 1960 but perhaps rather surprisingly 2012 will only be their seventh tournament. The team did not establish themselves as regulars in the tournament until the mid-90s but have never lifted the trophy until this year perhaps.Heres the Selecos history at the tournament starting with the very first tournament:Euro 1960Held in France, Euro 1960 was the first European Football Championship held, it was also Portugals first ever major tournament. Back then the tournament was a knockout tournament with teams playing home and away matches until the semi-finals. Little is known about this tournament Kelly Oubre Jr. Jersey bar the results.Portugal would face East Germany in the first round winning 2-0 in the first leg and 3-2 in the second, winning 5-2 on aggregate. In the semi-finals the Seleco won the first leg against Yugoslavia 2-1 but were thrashed 5-1 in the second leg, losing 6-3 on aggregate.Position: Quarter-finalistsSquad: GK Acurcio Carrelo, DF Germano, Mrio Joo, ngelo Martins, Virgilio Mendes, MF Hernani Da Silva, Mrio Coluna, David Jlio, Fernando Memede Mendes, FW Lucas Da Fonseca, Domiciano Cavm, Joaquim SantanaManager: Jos Maria AntunesAction from the very first Euro tournamentEuro 198424 years after their first tournament the Seleco put in one of their most memorable Euro performances and proved they were not just in the tournament to make up the numbers. Ranked at 14/1 the team were seen as a rising force and was packed full of offensive power and a gritty defence.Portugal found themselves placed in the group of death alongside Germany, Spain and Romania. The first two matches were negotiated with creditable draws, 0-0 against Germany and 1-1 against Spain. Victory in the final group game against Romania was a must in order to book a place in the semi-final but the game looked like it was going to end in another draw until Nen, who was warming up on the sidelines, shouted to coach Fernando Cabrita: Senhor Cabrita, throw me on and Ill score a goal! And that was precisely what happened, nine minutes from the final whistle.Portugals next task to was play France on their own turf, the game is known as one of the greatest shows in the history of football, which was only decided in extra time. Domergue gave France a half-time lead, but Portugal shocked the host country by equalising on 74 minutes, and then taking the lead Grant Hill Jersey in extra time, thanks to a brace from Rui Jordo. With little over five minutes separating Portugal from the final, Domergue grabbed an equaliser for France, and the knockout blow was delivered by Michel Platini (his 8th goal of the tournament), after an unbelievable run from Jean Tigana.Portugal had been beaten, but it was a marvellous participation and announced the re-emergence of the National Team, which had been an absentee on the big stage for many years. Chalanas mesmeric displays throughout earned him the nickname of the little genius. France went on to win the tournament.Position: Semi-finalistsSquad: GK Manuel Bento, Jorge Martins, Vtor Damas, DF Antnio Lima Pereira, Joo Pinto, Antnio Veloso, Eurico Gomes, lvaro, Eduardo Lus, MF Carlos Manuel, Fernando Chalana, Vermelhinho, Jaime Pacheco, Antnio Frasco, Antnio Sousa, Antnio Bastos Lopes, FW Fernando Gomes, Tamagnini Nen, Rui Jordo, Diamantino MirandaManager: Fernando CabritaMichel Plantini celebrates afterhis goal knocksPortugal out of Eur0 1984Euro 199696 marked the start Portugals regular stint at the European competition and was Cheick Diallo Jersey the first appearance of the so-called golden generation at a major tournament at senior level. The European Championship now involved 16 teams and Portugal found themselves in a group comprising of Denmark, Turkey and Croatia. With the likes of Lus Figo, Paulo Sousa, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto and Vitor Baa well on their way to worldwide stardom, the Seleco found itself in the unusual position of being highly fancied to make progre s.The first game, against reigning champions Denmark, was a vibrant, fairly disputed encounter. It finished in a draw thanks to goals from Brian Laudrup and Ricardo S Pinto. It was during this game that Ruud Gullit, working for the BBC as a commentator, first coined the phrase sexy football, to describe the Portuguese style of play. Straightforward victories followed, 1-0 over Turkey, thanks to a Fernando Couto goal, and a 3-0 thumping against an already qualified Croatia, Lus Figo, Joo Vieira Pinto and Domingos with the goals. This set Portugal up nicely for a quarter-final game against the Czech Republic.As group winners, the Seleco appeared to have hit the jackpot by avoiding Germany in the first round of the knockout phase. Portugal dominated the quarter-final practically from start to finish, but lost the match. In the second half, a rare Czech attack looked harmle Deandre Ayton Jersey s enough, but a deflection off Oceano saw the ball land at Karel Poborskys feet. The skilful winger, who would later play for Benfica, spotted Vitor Baa slightly off his line and produced a wonderful chip over the Portuguese goalkeeper, who days later would be transferred to Barcelona.Portugal were left to rue their luck and a traditional flaw of the Seleco the lack of a killer instinct to make good on their excellent approach play. But the golden generation had announced themselves to the world on the senior stage, and it signalled the Shaquille O'Neal Jersey start of their feats.Position: Quarter-finalistsSquad: GK Vtor Baa, Alfredo Castro, Rui Correia, DF Fernando Couto, Carlos Secretrio, Hlder, Dimas, Paulo Madeira, MF Rui Costa, Joo Pinto, Vtor Paneira, Jos Tavares, Oceano, Paulinho Santos, Pedro Barbosa, Paulo Sousa, Lus Figo, FW Jorge Cadete, Ricardo S Pinto, Domingos Pacincia, Antnio Folha, Hugo PorfirioManager: Antnio OliveiraPortugalsFernando Couto (centre) takes the acclaim after his strike against TurkeyEuro 2000This tournament kicked off a golden decade for the Seleco. Portugal would play three games in the group phase against England, Romania and Germany, and at the outset few people would have risked money florins on the Selecos chances. Not only were the English and the Germans powerful opponents, but Romania had got the better of Portugal in the qualification phase.The moment Humberto Coelhos team clicked was on 12 June 2000, in Eindhoven, around 20 minutes into the opening game against England. Two goals down early on, what happened next was truly historic: Lus Figo cracked in a phenomenal shot from miles out that left David Seaman rooted to the spot as it rocketed into the top corner. Joo Pinto then produced one of his typical diving headers from a Rui Costa cro s to equalise before the break. Nuno Gomes, who would be Portuga