The story begins with a wealth of captivating stories which emerged through the qualifying stage: dramatic tales of success, failure and controversy which all combine to add to the allure of this greatest of tournaments.

The finals played out in France, at a time when the European Championship was still in its infancy as an eight-team tournament. It proved a watershed for the competition, as great games in wonderful stadiums captured the imagination across the continent; at a time when idealism still prevailed over pragmatism, when adventurous football was rewarded.

Euro 1984 relives the magical moments of a previously undervalued international competition: the stunning exploits of Michel Platini and eventual winners France, the emergence of the Danish Dynamite, the largely unexpected excellence of the Portuguese, and in the eyes of the author, the greatest European Championship there has ever been.