The
preliminary competition match numbers include England's home and away
quarter-finals matches against Spain in the 1968 competition, which ended in 1-0 and 2-1
victories, and their home and away quarter-finals matches against West Germany in the 1972 competition, which finished in a 1-3 loss
and a 0-0 draw. Under the format then in place, these matches were played after preliminary group
qualification but before the final tournament.
The preliminary match
numbers also include England's home and away playoff matches
against Scotland in the 2000 competition, which ended in a 2-0 win and a 0-1 loss.
Under the format for that competition, the second place team with the best
record in the nine qualifying goups qualified for the final tournament and
the eight other second place teams were paired for the playoffs with the
four winning teams also advancing to the finals.
England's 1996 quarterfinal match against Spain, which ended 0-0 after extra time, and semifinal match
against Germany, which finished 1-1 after extra time, are recorded as draws under the
accepted custom although England advanced to the semifinal over Spain on
penalty kicks, 4-2, and although Germany advanced to the final over England on
penalty kicks, 6-5.
England's 2004 quarterfinal match
agains Portugal, which ended 2-2 after extra time ia also recorded as a
draw.
To
and including the 1992 final tournament, two points were awarded for a
win and one for a draw. In
the later tournaments, a win earned three points and a draw
one. The table's points averages have been calculated on the basis
of two points for a win for all tournaments in order to allow comparison
between tournaments. The numbers which represent conversions from three
points per win to two points per win have been bracketed.