Some outtakes show you just how much the tournament meant to the crew covering Euro 2012.
Andres Iniesta did not feature in the contenders for the best player of the 2010 World Cup despite scoring Spain's winning goal in the final, but the midfielder has been recognized for his country's historic triumph at Euro 2012.
CNN's Pedro Pinto shares his final thoughts on a football competition that has shocked, entertained and amazed fans.
CNN's Pedro Pinto and Patrick Snell review the Euro 2012 championship.
Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman is in Madrid when fans react to Spain's Euro 2012 win.
CNN's Amanda Davies is in Rome where fans were watching their team lose 4-0.
Defending champions Spain claimed an historic third successive major international trophy with a 4-0 rout of Italy in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev Sunday.
CNN's Pedro Pinto talks to two leading Italian football journalists about the explosive Manchester City striker.
Pedro Pinto previews the Euro 2012 Final that pits Spain against Italy.
Fan parks in Spain and Italy start to fill up ahead of Sunday's Euro 2012 final in Kiev, Ukraine.
Sunday's showpiece European Championship final in the Ukrainian capital Kiev pits Spain against Italy, between them the winners of the last two World Cups.
CNN's Pedro Pinto reports from Kiev, Ukraine leading up to the final of Euro 2012.
Laurent Blanc stood down as coach of the French national team Saturday in the wake of their quarterfinal exit at Euro 2012.
And then there were two. Sunday's showpiece European Championship final in the Ukrainian capital Kiev pits holders Spain against Italy, between them the winners of the last two World Cups.
Pedro Pinto catches up with fans as they leave the stadium in Warsaw, Poland, following Italy's win.
Pedro Pinto and Tancredi Palmeri share their thoughts on Italy's win over Germany to advance to the Euro 2012 final.
Mario Balotelli's first-half double saw Italy through to the final of Euro 2012 as they stunned Germany in Warsaw.
Denmark goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel gives his thoughts on the Spain/Portugal Euro 2012 semifinal.
Spain became only the second team to reach three successive major tournament finals after winning a nail-biting penalty shootout against Portugal following a tense goalless draw in Donetsk on Wednesday.
Italy's soccer players can heal the "suffering" caused by the country's match-fixing scandal by winning Euro 2012, says AC Milan star Alexandre Pato.
The final two teams left standing at Euro 2012 should come as no surprise, and nor should another painful exit for perennial underachievers England.
With a place in the final at stake, Portugal and Spain face off in the Euro 2012 semifinal. Pedro Pinto reports.
Milan striker Alexandre Pato tells CNN that success at Euro 2012 can lift Italian soccer after its match-fixing scandals.
Italy beat England 4-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals of Euro 2012 after their match in Kiev Sunday ended goalless following extra time.
CNN's Al Goodman reports from Madrid as fans celebrate Spain's victory over France in the Euro 2012 quarterfinal.
Spain remain on course to retain their European Championship crown after seeing off a lackluster France 2-0 in the third Euro 2012 quarterfinal at the Donbass Arena, Donetsk on Saturday.
The Greek heroics in Euro 2004 have now become part of folklore as Greece tries to outwit the German giants of football.
Cristiano Ronaldo's late header sealed a deserved win for Portugal in the Euro 2012 quarterfinal clash against Czech Republic.
Greece striker Giorgios Samaras says the team's players are blocking out the political overtones of Friday's Euro 2012 quarterfinal against Germany.
CNN's Pedro Pinto sits down with Georgios Samaras for a one on one talk about Greece's Euro 2012 dreams.
Greece coach Fernando Santos has urged his players to focus on football rather than the political tensions surrounding his side's Euro 2012 quarterfinal against Germany in Gdansk Friday.
European football's governing body has opened fresh disciplinary proceedings against Croatia over alleged racist behavior by its supporters during a Euro 2012 match against Spain.
Wayne Rooney returned with a goal to send England through to the quarter finals of Euro 2012 as Group D winners.
UEFA's decision to fine Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner for revealing a sponsor's name on his underpants during a Euro 2012 game may have opened a can of worms for football's European governing body.
Denmark's Nicklas Bendtner has been fined US $125,800 for exposing boxer shorts adorned with the logo of an online betting company as he celebrated scoring against Portugal at Euro 2012.
Italy and Spain reached the quarter finals of Euro 2012 -- but the World and European champions Spain were given a real fright before sealing their progress as group winners in Gdansk.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal beat the Netherlands 2-1 to book their passage to the quarterfinals of Euro 2012 behind Group B winners Germany who saw off Denmark by the same score.
With Germany looking safe at the top of Group B, will Portugal, Holland or Denmark secure the other qualifying position?
Pedro Pinto reports on Polish heartache as the country's fans watch their team crash out of Euro 2012.
The highly-fancied Russia team and co-hosts Poland crashed out of Euro 2012 on Saturday as the Czech Republic and Greece became the first nations to secure quarterfinal berths.
Cristiano Ronaldo has the weight of a nation on his shoulders at Euro 2012, but the world's most expensive footballer is struggling to make an impact for Portugal.
Former Portugal international Vitor Baia has been left disappointed with the country's defensive tactics at Euro 2012.
European football's governing body opened disciplinary proceedings Saturday against Croatia over what it said was racist behavior by its supporters during a Euro 2012 match against Italy.
Former Czech Republic international, Patrick Berger was impressed with his side's display against Greece at Euro 2012.
Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine were brought back down to earth after their opening match heroics as France clinched a 2-0 victory in stormy Donetsk.
UEFA has had a busy time of it during Euro 2012 handing out fines and sanctions to various federations for undesirable behavior.
Former England international, Gareth Southgate told CNN that he is concerned about the fitness of the squad.
In the lead up to Euro 2012 Italian football was hit by allegations of match fixing, but will this impact their success?
Fernando Torres rediscovered his scoring touch as Spain soared to the top of Euro 2012 Group C and knocked the Republic of Ireland out of the tournament.
Former Spanish international, Michel Salgado tells CNN that Spain should change their tactics against Ireland.
The scenes were shocking. Hooliganism is supposed to be a thing of the past, but the fighting in the streets of Warsaw during the opening week of Euro 2012 was a stark reminder that football's "disease" has not been cured.
Germany inflicted a second successive Euro 2012 defeat on the Netherlands when one of football's great rivalries was renewed on Wednesday.
Sports journalist Michal Pol talks to CNN's Pedro Pinto about clashes between Polish and Russian supporters at Euro 2012.
Italy striker Antonio Cassano has apologised for apparent homophobic comments he made in a Euro 2012 press conference.
At least 11 people were injured in clashes Tuesday in Warsaw between Russian and Polish fans before and after a Euro 2012 soccer match, Polish officials said.
A sensational strike from Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski kept alive the co-hosts' hopes of reaching the quarter finals of Euro 2012 as they held Russia to a 1-1 draw.
European football's governing body UEFA will investigate alleged incidents of racist chanting at two Euro 2012 matches in Polish cities, it was announced on Tuesday.
Andrei Shevchenko enhanced his iconic standing as a Ukrainian national hero as he sparked scenes of national celebration with a match-winning double in Kiev.
Host countries Poland and Ukraine have been told to take a tough stance on racism during the Euro 2012 soccer tournament by European football's governing body UEFA.
CNN's live text reporting on the Euro 2012 match between England and France, followed by Ukraine against Sweden in Monday's other Group D game.
CNN's Pedro Pinto reports from host city Gdansk where defending champions, Spain were held to a draw by Italy.
CNN's Pedro Pinto talks to Italian football journalist Tancredi Palmeri about Italy's battling performance against Spain.
For all of Holland's great players the footballing giants have not won the European Championship since 1988.
A former star of the Polish national team has urged UEFA to confront the problem of racism that is threatening to overshadow Euro 2012.
Russia emerged as genuine contenders for football's European crown with a thumping 4-1 win over Czech Republic after co-hosts Poland and 2004 champions Greece had opened the tournament with a dramatic 1-1 draw in Warsaw.
Former Dutch Captain Ruud Gullit and former player Paul Elliott talk to CNN about racism at the Euro championships.
UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino describes racist to the Dutch team "absolutely unacceptable."
Former Poland striker Emmanuel Olisadebe says that racism is still a big part of the game, but is being confronted.
CNN live text reporting of Poland v Greece in Euro 2012's opening game.
Former Denmark goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel talks to CNN about his country's Euro 92 triumph.
The captain of the Dutch national team says his players were subjected to racial abuse at a training session in the Polish city of Krakow this week, just days before the Euro 2012 football tournament was due to begin in Poland and Ukraine.
In the end it was the clown who had the last laugh.
Football stars upset by racist abuse at Euro 2012 must let match officials deal with the problem, insists UEFA president Michel Platini.
As national teams arrive in Poland and Ukraine, will the tournament be a football success or overshadowed by racism?
CNN's panel of football experts discuss the teams competing for Euro 2012 championship glory.
Euro 2012 is almost upon us and Europe's finest footballers will be marked men -- in more ways than one.
If the pre-vote predictions had been accurate, football heavyweights Italy would be preparing to host the 2012 European Championship.
A huge chunk of Europe's male population is salivating at the imminent arrival of Euro 2012 -- a month long festival of football between the continent's best soccer sides.
Portugal have never won a major tournament at senior level, could this be the year the Euro 2012 underdogs shine?
UEFA has decided not to make a charitable donation to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster as part of the social projects it has opted to support during Euro 2012, which is being co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland.
Some of Europe's best footballers will be missing in Poland and Ukraine this month, as the effects of another grueling season takes its toll.
Spain will try to defend their European Championship without top scorer David Villa and defense stalwart Carles Puyol.
CNN's Pedro Pinto sits down with UEFA President, Michel Platini to talk about the build up to Euro 2012.
Euro 2012 is nearly here and the 16 competing nations have announced the final 23-man squads they hope will propel them to glory in Poland and Ukraine.
Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine and Poland have told CNN World Sport a documentary accusing football fans from both nations of racism was "unbalanced and biased."
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo says that right now, he is better than his Barcelona rival Lionel Messi.
Italian police descended on the national team's Euro 2012 training base Monday to speak to Zenit St Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito as part of a wide-ranging investigation into match fixing.
David Villa was top goalscorer at Euro 2008 as Spain secured a first major championship in 44 years, but the world champions' all-time leading marksman will not be part of next month's title defense in Poland and Ukraine.
UEFA president Michel Platini talks to Pedro Pinto about the Champions League final, financial fair play and Euros.
UEFA president Michel Platini is confident German Chancellor Angela Merkel would attend the final of Euro 2012 in Ukraine -- if Germany reach the tournament's showpiece in Kiev on July 1.
Former England defender Sol Campbell has told CNN World Sport he is baffled by England coach Roy Hodgson's decision to omit Rio Ferdinand from the forthcoming Euro 2012 tournament.
Carles Puyol is poised to miss Spain's defense of their European Championship crown after Barcelona confirmed their captain will be out for six weeks with a knee injury.
No one used the word reward, but the subtext was clear for all to see.
Russian premier Vladimir Putin has criticized plans by European leaders to boycott next month's Euro 2012 football finals due to the treatment by Ukrainian authorities of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Football fans traveling to Ukraine for this summer's European Championships have been warned they will face a "criminal" police force mired in so many abuse scandals that their behavior threatens to ruin the showpiece tournament.
Roy Hodgson was appointed England manager on a four-year contract on Tuesday, ending months of speculation over who would lead the national team at Euro 2012.
Pressure is mounting on Ukraine to clean up its human rights record ahead of the Euro 2012 finals next month, with the EU Commission's president the latest high-profile leader to boycott the football championships.
Poland and Ukraine will host the European Championships for the first time in 2012, welcoming 14 other teams and football fans from across the continent.
Polish football fans have celebrated the launch of the biggest stadium for this year's Euro 2012 finals with a free music festival and fireworks display.
CNN's Pedro Pinto talks to Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny about the Euro 2012 finals in his native Poland.
The European Football Championships head east as Poland and Ukraine co-host the 13th edition of UEFA's Euro.
CNN's Pedro Pinto looks at the success of football's World and European champions.
Poland and Ukraine nearly ready to host the Euro 2012 in June. CNN's Pedro Pinto reports.
CNN's Pedro Pinto talks to a panel of former football players about the 2012 Euro Championships.
Ukraine football captain Andriy Shevchenko talks to CNN about his expectations for the 2012 European Championships.
CNN's Pedro Pinto breaks down next summer's Euro 2012 football match-ups.
Pedro Pinto goes on a whirlwind tour of Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine, visiting all the match sites in a day.
Spain's world champions will begin the defense of their European title against fellow football superpowers Italy next June, after both were drawn in Group C on Friday.
The great and good of European football are assembling in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to learn the fate of the 16 nations involved. Poland and Ukraine will host the tournament, that kicks off on June 8, and with CNN World Sport's live commentary, you won't miss a thing.
UEFA president Michel Platini admits the build up to the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine has been a "complicated adventure" but predicted a successful soccer tournament when the action kicks off in June.
On Friday the countdown will officially begin to soccer's Euro 2012 finals -- arguably the climax to the second biggest festival of football on the planet behind the World Cup.
Ukrainian boxing star Vitali Klitschko hopes that co-hosting football's European Championship next year will help his country's bid to become part of the European Union.
Andriy Shevchenko has told CNN Sport's Pedro Pinto that the Euro 2012 finals in his native Ukraine will be his final major football tournament, and he is determined to end his international career on a high.
Now the 16 finalists have been decided, the build-up to next year's European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine has truly begun.
With less than 200 days to go to Euro 2012 and the 16-team line-up for the four-yearly championship decided after a grueling qualifying campaign, football fans across Europe can start to look forward to the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.