After losing the 1976 final to Czechoslovakia on penalties, West Germany were determined to put things right in Italy. A side boasting soon-to-be-crowned European Footballer of the Year Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Karlheinz Föster and Hansi Müller avenged that defeat in the group stage. Among the contenders – whose number had risen from four to eight teams – were 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cup finalists the Netherlands, England and a solid Italy side hoping to win on home soil for the second time in 12 years. But this was to be West Germany's – and Horst Hrubesch's – tournament.

Teams
Winners: West Germany
Runners-up: Belgium
Third: Czechoslovakia
Fourth: Italy
Group stage: Netherlands, Greece, Spain, England

Top scorers: Klaus Allofs (West Germany) – 3

Did you know?
Italy were the first country to host the competition twice, having also staged – and won – the 1968 finals.

Also in 1980
European Champion Clubs' Cup winners: Nottingham Forest FC (1-0 v Hamburger SV)

European Footballer of the Year: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (FC Bayern München)

Eurovision Song Contest winner: Johnny Logan (Republic of Ireland) singing What's Another Year?

European Golden Boot winner: Erwin Vandenbergh (Lierse SK)

Nobel Peace Prize winner: Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (human rights advocate, Argentina)

Men's Olympic 100m champion: Allan Wells (United Kingdom) running 10.25 seconds

Formula 1 world champion: Alan Jones (Australia) driving a Williams

Oscar for Best Picture: Ordinary People

Key events
21 March – United States president Jimmy Carter announces his country will boycott the forthcoming Olympics in Moscow

22 May – Pac-Man, the best-selling arcade game of all time is released

8 December – John Lennon is shot and killed in New York City