Countries that have yet to taste the joy of winning Eurovision - What are their best results?

In the 68-year history of the Eurovision Song Contest, 27 countries can boast of having managed to demonstrate at least one victory.

The countries that have won the Eurovision Song Contest!

Ireland, Sweden (7 wins)
France, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Netherlands (5 wins)
Israel (4 wins)
Norway, Denmark, Italy, Ukraine (3 wins)
Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria (2 wins)
Monaco, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Latvia, Turkey, Greece, Finland, Serbia, Russia Azerbaijan, Portugal (1 win)

Of course there are countries that, while they have been very close, did not have the joy and honor of winning, at least for now, the coveted gold medal.

The countries are presented in chronological order, from the year they made their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest.

MALTA

First participation: 1971
Best result: 2nd place (2002, 2005)

Malta debuted in 1971 with Joe Grech and the song “Marija L-maltija”. They came very close to winning twice, finishing second, both in 2002 with Ira Losco and “7th Wonder” and in 2005 with Chiara and “Angel”.

This year, Sarah Bonnici will fly the Maltese flag in Malmö with “Loop” !

CYPRUS

First participation: 1981
Best result: 2nd place (2018)

In 1981, Cyprus made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest, with the band Island and their song “Monika”, reaching the honorable 6th place. Cyprus came one breath away from the trophy in 2018, when Eleni Foureira, enchanted Europe (and the planet in general!) with the now legendary “Fuego” finishing second behind Netta‘s “Toy” in Lisbon.

Silia Kapsis has taken it upon herself this year to elevate Cyprus with “Liar” !

ICELAND

First participation: 1986
Best result: 2nd place (1999, 2009)

The Icelanders made their debut in 1986, with Icy and their song“Gleðibankinn” landing low on the chart at number 16. Like the other two islands, Malta and Cyprus, Iceland’s best result is 2nd place. Iceland placed second both in 1999 with Selma and “All Out of Luck” and in 2009 with “Is It True?” by Yohanna.

In 2020 the country of ice was one of the favorites of both the betting and the fans for the victory in Rotterdam, but the COVID 19 pandemic had different plans, spoiling the party of Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið.

Iceland will be represented this year in Malmö by Hera Björk and “Scared of Heights”!

CROATIA

First participation: 1993
Best result: 4th place (1996, 1999)

Croatia debuted in the competition in 1993 with Put and “Don’t Cry” placing 15th. Their best result to date is 4th place, both in 1996 with “Sveta ljubav” by Maja Blagdan, and in 1999 with “Marija Magdalena” by Doris Dragović.

This year looms as Croatia’s biggest chance of a first win as Baby Lasagna‘s “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” is a fan favorite and is second in the betting odds to win in Malmö.

SLOVENIA

First participation: 1993
Best result: 7th place (1995, 2001)

Slovenia made its Eurovision debut in 1993 with 1XBAND and “Tih deževen dan”, finishing low, only in 22nd place. The 7th place is the best achievement of the Slovenians, a result they achieved on two occasions, in 1995 with “Prisluhni mi” by Darja Švajger and in 2001 with “Energy” by Nuša Derenda.

Will Raiven with “Veronika” manage to achieve a better place for her country in Malmö?

POLAND

First participation: 1994
Best result: 2nd place (1994)

In 1994, Poland made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest. The first participation of the Poles goes hand in hand with their best result to date, with Edyta Górniak and her song “To Nie Ja!” to finish 2nd in Dublin. It is an iconic song that was loved by the fans as a winner.

Poland will be represented this year by LUNA and “The Tower”.

LITHUANIA

First participation: 1994
Best result: 6th place (2006)

Lithuania debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and is the only Baltic country that has yet to achieve its first victory. From the 25th place on debut with Ovidijus Vyšniauskas and “Lopšinė mylimai”, Lithuania’s best result to date was in 2006, when LT United finished 6th, in Athens, with the song “We Are The Winners” .

Silvester Belt with “Luktelk” will be invited to continue, in Sweden, the series of successful participations for the Lithuanians.

ALBANIA

First participation: 2004
Best result: 5th place (2012)

Albania debuted in the competition in 2004 and finished 7th in the Grand Final with the song “The Image of You” by Anjeza Shahini. They had to wait eight years to improve on this result. So in 2012, Rona Nishliu finished 5th in Baku, Azerbaijan with “Suus”.

BESA and “TITAN” have undertaken to represent the Albanian colors this year!

MOLDOVA

First participation: 2005
Best result: 3rd place (2017)

Moldova joined the Eurovision family in 2005, making their debut in neighboring Kiev, Ukraine. Zdob si Zdub were the first artists to represent Moldova with their song“Boonika Bate Toba”, finishing in 6th place. Moldova achieved its best result in the competition in 2017, with Sunstroke Project and “Hey Mamma!” to finish in 3rd place again in Kiev.

This year the Moldovans will be represented in Malmö by a big name and an old acquaintance, who is none other than Natalia Barbu, representative of the country in 2007!

ARMENIA

First participation: 2006
Best result: 4th place (2008, 2014)

Armenia made its Eurovision debut in Athens in 2006 with Andre and “Without Your Love”. In 2008, Sirusho gave Armenia 4th place with “Qélé, Qélé” and in 2014, Aram Mp3 gave Armenia another 4th place with “Not Alone”. The ever-competitive Armenia is also responsible for the 2022 global hit, “Snap” by Rosa Linn.

The French-Armenian group LADANIVA with the ethnic “Jako” were chosen, this year, to carry the burden of representing the Armenians!

CZECHIA

First participation: 2007
Best result: 6th place (2018)

Czechia had to wait until 2007 to make their debut, with Kabát and “Malá Dáma” finishing last in the semi-final. The Czechs’ best result came in 2018, with Mikolas Josef and “Lie To Me” finishing 6th at the Lisbon Final. Last year, the Czech Republic achieved another very good result with Vesna‘s 10th place.

Aiko and the “Pedestal” will be invited to continue the successful streak of the Czechs who have not been absent from the Final for the last two years!

GEORGIA

First participation: 2007
Best result: 9th place (2010,2011)

Georgia made their debut in 2007 with Sopho and “Visionary Dream”. The Caucasians’ best result to date is 9th place, which they have achieved twice, in 2010 with “Shine” by Sopho Nizharadze and in 2011 with “One More Day” by Eldrine.

Nutsa Buzaladze is preparing to travel to Malmö and the “Firefighter” hopes to break the record of 9th place for the Georgians!

SAN MARINO

First participation: 2008
Best result: 19th place (2019)

San Marino made its debut in 2018 with Miodio and “Complice” finishing 19th in their semi-final. The Most Serene Republic had to wait until 2014 to qualify for the Final for the first time. Their best result to date came in just their second Eurovision Grand Final appearance in 2019, with Serhat and the fun “Say Na Na Na” finishing in 19th place.

For this year, San Marino has chosen the Spanish MEGARA , known from Benidorm 2023, who with “11:11” will try to overcome the scope of the semi-finals! They will make it?

AUSTRALIA

First participation: 2015
Best result: 2nd place (2016)

The last country competing this year that has yet to win the competition is Australia. After a great start at Eurovision 2015 with Guy Sebastian and “Tonight Again”, the “kangaroos” touched the prize in 2016 with Dami Im‘s “Sound of Silence” , which won the judges’ vote, to be limited, however, to 2nd in the final combined ranking.

Electric Fields, who combine modern electronic music with Aboriginal culture and sing in English as well as Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, have taken it upon themselves with “One Milkali (One Blood)” to represent the Australians in Malmö this year!

In the above countries we should also add some that are, this year, outside the competition, but they are also expecting their first victory.

BULGARIA: 2nd place – 2017 – Kristian Kostov – “Beautiful Mess”
ROMANIA: 3rd place – 2005 – Luminita Anghel & Sistem – “Let Me Try” & 2010 – Paula Seling & Ovi – “Playing With Fire”
NORTH MACEDONIA: 7th place – 2019 – Tamara Todevska – “Proud”
MONTENEGRO: 13th place – Knez – “Adio”

Which of the above countries would you like to see immediately achieve their maiden victory?

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