IELTS Reading: football- “The Euros”

The UEFA European Championship, commonly known as the Euros, is a prestigious international football tournament contested by the senior men’s national teams of UEFA member associations. Here is an IELTS reading passage about the Euros with a selection of true/false/not given and paragraph heading questions.

The Euros: Europe’s Premier Football Showpiece

Paragraph 1
The UEFA European Championship, or the Euros, is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Held every four years since 1960, it is the second-most prestigious international football tournament after the FIFA World Cup. The competition has grown significantly in popularity and stature over the years, with the 2016 edition in France attracting a combined television audience of over 2 billion viewers.

Paragraph 2
The first European Championship, then known as the European Nations’ Cup, was held in 1960 and featured just four teams – the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, France, and Czechoslovakia. The tournament has since expanded to include 24 national teams, with the host nation(s) automatically qualifying for the final tournament. The remaining teams compete in a qualifying competition to secure one of the remaining spots.

Paragraph 3
Germany and Spain lead the way with three titles each, followed by France with two victories.[1] The most recent edition, Euro 2020, was held across 11 different cities in 11 UEFA countries due to the tournament’s 60th anniversary, with Italy emerging as champions after defeating England in the final at Wembley Stadium.The next edition, Euro 2024, will be hosted by Germany, marking the country’s second time as hosts after the 1988 tournament.

Paragraph 4
The Euros have produced numerous iconic moments and memorable matches over the years. The 1976 final between Czechoslovakia and West Germany, which the latter won on penalties after a 2-2 draw, is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in the tournament’s history. Other notable moments include Marco van Basten’s stunning volley for the Netherlands against the Soviet Union in the 1988 final, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick against Spain in the 2012 semifinals.

True/False/Not Given Questions

1. The Euros is the most prestigious international football tournament.
2. The first European Championship featured only four teams.
3. Germany and Spain have won the most European Championship titles.
4. Euro 2020 was held in a single host country.
5. The 1976 final between Czechoslovakia and West Germany is considered one of the greatest matches in the tournament’s history.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Spain in the 2012 final.

Paragraph Headings

Match paragraphs 1-4 with one of the paragraph headings below.

i. A Humble Beginning
ii. Iconic Moments and Matches
iii. The Expansion of a Prestigious Tournament
iv. Dominant Nations
v. The Pinnacle of European Football