UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

The European Under-21 Football Championship is a  Football Competition organized by UEFA

It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978.

Up to and including the 1992 Competition, all entrants were divided into eight qualification groups, the eight winners of which formed the quarter-finals lineup. The remaining fixtures were played out on a two-legged, home and away basis to determine the eventual winner.

For 1998, 9 qualification groups were used, as participation had reached 46.The top seven group winners qualified automatically for the finals, whilst the eighth- and ninth-best qualifiers,played-off for the final spot.

The 2000 Competition also had nine groups, but the 9 winners and 7 runners-up went into a two-legged playoff to decide the eight qualifiers.

In 2004, 10 qualification groups were used, with the group winners and six best runners-up going into the playoff