This July 12, a grand European Cup final between Italy and England to start, it is worth noting that this game on both sides of the lineup are missing the figure of Real Madrid players, this phenomenon since the 1996 European Cup final for the first time.
Looking back to the Euro 1996 final, Germany beat the Czech Republic 2-1 and there were no Real Madrid players involved in that match. Rewind to 2000, France beat Italy 2-1, and France's Anelka and Karembe were Real Madrid players. Then look at the Euro 2004 final, where Greece beat Portugal 1-0, and Portugal's top player at the time, Figo, was a member of Real Madrid.
Going into 2008 and 2012, Spain won both Euro finals. in 2008, Spain's Casillas and Ramos and Germany's Metzelder were all former Real Madrid players. In 2012, Spain's Casillas, Ramos, Albiol, Aveloa and Alonso also have Real Madrid backgrounds.
Coming into the Euro 2016 final, Portugal beat France 1-0, with two Real Madrid players, Cairo and Pepe, also playing key roles in the Portuguese team.
