Lithuania 0 England 3: How the other perfect European championship qualifiers have fared

England defeated Lithuania 3-0 in Vilnius to become only the sixth team to qualify for a European Championship with a 100 per cent record.

Here we take a look at the very mixed results of the other five teams who have achieved the feat.

FRANCE - 1992

Result: Group stages

Les Bleus failed to qualify for the 1988 European Championship or the 1990 World Cup, but Michel Platini's free-flowing side, inspired by 1991 European Footballer of the Year Jean-Pierre Papin and Eric Cantona, scored 20 goals as they won all eight group games to become the competition's first perfect qualifiers.

But they could not live up to their favourites' tag and endured an embarrassing showing at the finals in Sweden, failing to register a win after draws against the hosts and England, before a 2-1 defeat to eventual winners Denmark saw them finish third. Platini left his post a week after the competition.

CZECH REPUBLIC - 2000

Result: Group stages

The Czechs made up for missing out on the 1998 World Cup by winning 10 out of 10 games, conceding only five goals in a relatively weak group and finishing 12 points clear of second-placed Scotland.

Drawn in arguably the toughest group, the Euro 96 runners-up were knocked out at the first hurdle after defeats to Holland and eventual champions France before bowing out with a 2-0 victory over Denmark in their final group game.

France - 2004

Result: Quarter-finals

Following their disastrous World Cup defence in 2002, France, as in 1992, registered a perfect qualifying campaign after being drawn with Cyprus, Malta, Israel and Slovenia. Under new coach Jacques Santini, Les Bleus scored 29 goals and conceded only two in qualification as the defending champions looked back to their fluent best.

France managed to top their group in Portugal with victories over England and Switzerland, and a draw against Croatia. With Spain, Italy and Germany all being eliminated in the group stages, their road to the final looked set in stone. But the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Lilian Thuram could not prevent the French from losing 1-0 to surprise winners Greece in the quarter-finals.

Germany - 2012

Result: Semi-finals

Germany were a team on a mission after finishing third at the 2010 World Cup as they made easy work of a tough qualifying group including the likes of Turkey and Belgium. Miroslav Klose bagged nine goals as Germany won all 10 of their group games in convincing fashion.

Joachim Low's men continued their rich vein of form as they won all three group games at the finals against Portugal, Holland and Denmark. Die Mannschaft were 4-2 winners against Greece in the quarter-finals but came unstuck against Italy in the semis as Mario Balotelli inspired the Italians to a 2-1 victory.

Spain - 2012

Result: Winners

Defending European and reigning world champions Spain were another team to go unbeaten during the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. Drawn against the Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, and Liechtenstein, Vicente del Bosque's side looked dominant and were billed as pre-tournament favourites ahead of Euro 2012.

The Spaniards topped their group at the finals before defeating France 2-0 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals the Roja needed penalties to overcome Portugal before comfortably beating Italy 4-0 in a one-sided final to become the first side to truly translate promise in qualification into tangible tournament success.

PA