The European Nations Cup was started in 1959-60, but it was not until the 1968 event that Scotland took part and the name of the tournament was changed to the European Championships. Then it consisted of eight groups and the winners played in the quarter finals. The semi-finals were then played at a later date in one of the four remaining countries. The format was changed for the 1980 event, where there was a qualifying event before the finals, similar to the World Cup.