In the year 2012, the then World Champions, Spain, came to defend their existent European title from 2008, in Ukraine. They played their final match against Italy, and at half-time, the Spaniards were already up, 2-0. The Italians had to play the better part of the second half with 10-men after Thiago Motta was injured. Spain went on to score two more goals, through Fernando Torres and Juan Mata, making it 4-0, the largest-ever winning margin in a European Football Championship final. This made Spain the only team that has defended the European Championship title so far. This is history as most football fans in Goa remember it. And in a matter of a few days, another chapter in the same history books will be written once more. The 15th European Championship will be held in France from June 10 to July 10, 2016. The tournament will consist of 24 participating teams, a transformation from the previous system of 16 participants. However, who will fans rally behind? Who do they think will be champions at the end of it all? Many fans in Goa have, in recent times, taken to chanting the names of Spain and Germany, given the success of both squads in the recent past. Portugal is a firm favourite too, and there are many who pledge their allegiance to France, and Italy or England.
