1. The European Championshiputilized penalty shootouts earlier than the World Cup to determine the champion.
2. In 1976, the Czechoslovakian team won the European Championship for the only time in their history through a penalty shootout, defeating West Germany 5-3. This marked the first instance of penalty shootouts being used in the European Championship.
3. The World Cup, on the other hand, adopted the penalty shootout rule for the first time during the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. In the final match, Brazil and Italy played to a 0-0 draw and it was Brazil who triumphed 3-2 in the penalty shootout.
4. The penalty shootout, as a fair and thrilling method of deciding a match, tests players' technique and psychological resilience, and has become a focus for fans, adding suspense and drama to the game.
5. The early adoption of the penalty shootout rule in the European Championship provided a reference for later international football events such as the World Cup.
6. The penalty shootouts in the European Championship have often become memorable moments in football history, etching their way into the hearts of fans and adding to the allure and conversation topics of the sport.
7. Therefore, the European Championshippreceded the World Cup in using penalty shootouts to decide the champion, a rule that has played a significant role in football competitions and left many unforgettable moments.
