1988 - European Championships

The eighth European Championships were held in West Germany.  This was the second time the country had held a major international tournament after hosting the 1974 World Cup.  They won that tournament and hopes were high of a repeat performance this time round.

After the successful addition of a Semi-Final stage four years previously, UEFA decided not to tinker with the format.  The eight qualifiers were drawn into the following groups;

GROUP A: West Germany, Italy, Denmark, Spain

GROUP B: England, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, USSR

England, Italy and Netherlands all missed the 1984 tournament and were desperate to make an impression this time.  Republic of Ireland were in a major tournament for the first time.

The tournament will be remembered for the Dutch finally succeeded in a major international competition.  Runners-up in the World Cups of 1974 and 1978, they went one better this time.  The hosts expected to win, but fell at the Semis and USSR were the surprise of the tournament.

 

GROUP A

10 June 1988, Rheindstadion, Dusseldorf, 62,552

WEST GERMANY   (0)   1   (Brehme 55)

ITALY   (0)   1   (Mancini 52)

West Germany: Immel; Buchwald, Kohler, Herget, Brehme (Eckstein); Littbarski, Matthaus, Thon, Berthold; Voller (Borowka), Klinsmann

Italy: Zenga; Ferri, F Baresi, Bergomi, Maldini; De Napoli (Altobelli), Ancelotti, Giannini, Donadoni; Mancini, Vialli (De Agostini)

The opening game in Dusseldorf was a potential classic, a repeat of the 1982 World Cup Final.  It was no classic but a hard-fought game.  No goals in the first 45 minutes but soon after the re-start, an error in the German defence saw Donadoni set Roberto Mancini free on the right and his low shot put Italy in front.  It was Mancini’s first international goal.  But the lead lasted for just three minutes when Zenga, the Italian keeper, was penalised for taking too many steps whilst holding the ball.  The free-kick was passed to Andreas Brehme and his deflected goal levelled things up for the home side.  The Italians seemed to settle for a draw and so the two shared the spoils.

11 June 1988, Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, 55,707

DENMARK   (1)   2   (Laudrup 24, Poulsen 82)

SPAIN   (1)   3   (Michel 5, Butragueno 52, Gordillo 67)

Denmark: Rasmussen; Sivabaek, Busk, M Olsen (L Olsen), Nielsen; Heintze, Helt (Jensen), Lerby; Laudrup, Poulsen, Elkjaer

Spain: Zubizarreta; Renones, Munoz, Andrinua, Camacho; Sanchis, Gallego, Bakero, Gordillo; Butragueno, Michel

This was a repeat of the 1984 Semi-Final when Spain won after a shootout.  Spain had also thrashed the Danes, 5-1 in the Second Round of the 1986 World Cup.  They took an early lead this time round when Michel put them in front after just five minutes.  Michael Laudrup equalised twenty minutes later with a fine goal.  Michel then missed an opportunity to put Spain back in front when he missed a penalty.  They weren’t deterred as Butragueno made no mistake soon after, although there was a hint of offside.  On sixty seven minutes, Gordillo curled a free-kick into the net and Spain were now 3-1 up.  Flemming Povlsen then got a consolation, but it was purely that and Spain had got off to a great start.

14^th June 1988, Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, 64,812

WEST GERMANY   (1)   2   (Klinsmann 10, Thon 85)

DENMARK   (0)   0

West Germany: Immel; Buchwald (Borowka), Kohler, Herget, Brehme; Litbarski, Matthaus, Thon, Rolff; Voller (Mill), Klinsmann

Denmark: Schmeichel; Sivebaek, M Olsen, L Olsen, Nielsen; Vilfort (Berggreen), Heintze, Lerby; Laudrup (Eriksen), Elkjaer, Poulsen  

Four days after their first game, the hosts travelled to Gelsenkirchen to meet Denmark.  The Danes needed to bounce back after their opening defeat, but things started badly when Jurgen Klinnsmann put the home side in front in the opening ten minutes.  Although the Germans were well in control, Denmark were technically still in the game with five minutes to go, but Olaf Thon headed in Littbarski’s corner and West Germany were up and running with their first win of the tournament. For Denmark it was the bus home.

14 June 1988, Waldstadion, Frankfurt, 47,506

ITALY   (0)   1   (Vialli 73)

SPAIN   (0)   0

Italy: Zenga; Ferri, F Baresi, Bergomi, Maldini; De Napoli, Ancelotti, Giannini, Donadoni; Mancini (Altobelli), Vialli (De Agostini)

Spain: Zubizarreta; Renones, Andrinua, Munoz, Sanchis; Bakero, Gallego (Vazquez), Soler, Gordillo; Butragueno, Michel (Bergiristain)

In Frankfurt, Italy and Spain fought a tight battle with neither side prepared to give an inch.  These two sides met in the 1986 Under-21 European Championships and Spain won on penalties.  Seventeen players who were on show that day, were in opposition again.  The game was decided by a goal in the 73^rd minute from Gianluca Vialli.  Italy now joined West Germany as the only unbeaten sides in the group.  Spain would need to beat the Germans in their final game to go through.

17 June 1988, Olympiastadion, Munich, 63,802

WEST GERMANY   (1)   2   (Voller 29, 51)

SPAIN   (0)   0

West Germany: Immel; Brehme, Kohler, Herget, Borowka; Littbarski (Wuttke), Matthaus, Thon, Rolff; Voller, Klinsmann (Mill)

Spain: Zubizarreta; Renones, Andrinua, Munoz, Camacho; Sanchis, Bakero, Gordillo, Vazquez; Butragueno (Salinas), Michel

In Munich, West Germany put together their best performance of the tournament so far.  Rudi Voller scored both goals in this win.  They didn’t find out they’d won the group until the final whistle, but then they only had themselves to blame after their ‘arrangement’ with Austria in 1982.

17 June 1988, Mungersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, 53,951

ITALY   (0)   2   (Altobelli 67, De Agostini 87)

DENMARK   (0)   0

Italy: Zenga; Ferri, F Baresi, Bergomi, Maldini; De Napoli, Ancelotti, Giannini, Donadoni (De Agostini); Mancini (Altobelli), Vialli

Denmark: Schmeichel; Heintze, M Olsen (Bergreen), L Olsen, Nielsen; Frimann (Vilfort), Jensen, Kristensen; Laudrup, Poulsen, Eriksen

Italy compounded Denmark’s misery in Cologne when they brushed them aside with goals from Altobelli and De Agostini.  With the Germans winning 2-0 against Spain, Italy needed to win by three goals, but they’d done enough to get to the Semi-Finals.

GROUP B

12 June 1988, Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, 51,373

ENGLAND   (0)   0

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND   (1)   1   (Houghton 6)

England: Shilton; Stevens, Wright, Adams, Sansom; Waddle, Webb (Hoddle), Robson; Beardsley (Hateley), Lineker, Barnes

Rep Ireland: Bonner; Morris, Moran, McCarthy, Hughton; Houghton, McGrath, Whelan, Galvin (Sheedy); Aldridge, Stapleton (Quinn)

This was an eagerly anticipated meeting as England looked to get their campaign off to a good start against a side making their first appearance in the competition.  Ireland were managed by Jack Charlton, a member of England’s 1966 World Cup winning side.  Six minutes in and a long ball into England’s penalty area, saw Kenny Sansom make a mess of the clearance and Ray Houghton’s header looped over Peter Shilton, and against the odds the Irish were in front.

England then spent the remainder of the game laying siege to the Irish goal but Packy Bonner was in fine form and made a string of fine saves to thwart Lineker, Barnes and Beardsley.  In the end, the Irish hung on to claim a famous victory and England now knew they had an uphill task.

12 June 1988, Mungersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, 54,336

NETHERLANDS   (0)   0

USSR   (0)   1   (Rats 52)

Netherlands: van Breukelen; van Tiggelen, R Koeman, Rijkaard, van Aerle; van’t Schip, Bosman, Wouters, Muhren; Gullit, Vanenberg (van Basten)  

USSR: Dasaev; Besonov, Demianenko, Kuznetsov, Khidiyatullin; Protasov, Belanov (Aleinikov), Zavarov (Sulakvelidze), Lytovchenko; Rats, Mikhailychenko

After England’s defeat earlier in the day, the Dutch could claim an early advantage.  Having missed the 1982 and 1986 World Cups as well as the 1984 European Championships, the Dutch were keen to make an impression this time round.  After a goalless first period the game changed when Rats and Belanov combined to put Rats through and he opened the scoring.  The Dutch then reverted to the long ball to try and find a way back into the game, but the Russians held on and the second upset of the day was complete.

15 June 1988, Rheinstadion, Dusseldorf, 63,940

ENGLAND   (0)   1   (Robson 58)

NETHERLANDS   (1)   3   (van Basten 44, 71, 75)

England: Shilton; Stevens, Wright, Adams, Sansom; Steven (Waddle), Robson, Hoddle; Beardsley (Hateley), Lineker, Barnes

Netherlands: van Breukelen; van Tiggelen, R Koeman, Rijkaard, van Aerle; E Koeman, Wouters, Muhren; Vanenberg (Kieft), Gullit, van Basten (Suvrijn)

England moved on to Dusseldorf to a game against the Dutch which neither side could afford to lose.  England started brightly and both Lineker and Hoddle hit the woodwork, but with a minute to go before half-time Marco van Basten put Netherlands in front.

Early in the 2^nd half, Bryan Robson and Gary Lineker exchanged passes and Robson’s shot rebounded off the keeper and back onto Robson and into the net.  The England fans went wild, and hoped their side were galvanised into a achieving a vital win.  But the game was level until the 71^st minute when van Basten scored his 2^nd of the game.  The Rheinstadion was a sea of orange and the Dutch victory was rounded off when van Basten completed his hat-trick from a Koeman corner.  England were out.  They had been impressive in qualification but now it was all over after just 180 minutes football.

15 June 1986, Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, 38,308

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND   (1)   1   (Whelan 38)

USSR   (0)   1   (Protasov 74)

Republic Ireland: Bonner; Morris, McCarthy, Moran, Hughton; Houghton, Whelan, Sheedy, Galvin; Aldridge, Stapleton (Cascarino)

USSR: Dasaev (Chanov); Demianenko, Khidiyatullin, Kuznetsov, Rats; Zavarov, Belanov, Aleinikov, Sulakvelidze (Gotsmanov); Protasov, Mikhailichenko

After England’s defeat both sides knew a draw would be enough.  The Irish, buoyed by their opening game victory, were the more inventive but they took 38 minutes to break through the Soviet defence.  Ronnie Whelan got the goal and the Irish really partied.  They held the lead until the final fifteen minutes when Belanov put Protasov through and his shot went under Bonner.  The game ended all-square and now Ireland knew a draw against Netherlands would be enough to get them to the Semis.

18 June 1988, Waldstadion, Frankfurt, 48,335

ENGLAND   (1)   1   (Adams 16)

USSR   (2)   3   (Aleinikov 3, Mikhailichenko 28, Pasulko 73)

England: Woods; Stevens, Watson, Adams, Sansom; Steven, Robson, McMahon (Webb), Hoddle; Lineker (Hateley), Barnes

USSR: Dasaev; Besonov, Khidiyatullin, Kuznetsov, Lytovchenko; Belanov (Pasulko), Zavarov (Gotsmanov); Mikhailichenko, Protasov, Aleinikov

England fans moved onto Frankfurt to try and rescue some consolation from a immensely disappointing campaign.  USSR only needed a draw and couldn’t believe their luck when Hoddle gifted them the first goal as he passed straight to Aleinikov who waltzed past a non-existent defence to put USSR in the lead.  Tony Adams was an unlikely scorer of England’s equaliser in the 16^th minute.  But this was a temporary aberration as England’s defence just seemed incapable of repelling any attack and twenty-eight minutes in and Mikhailichenko arrived unmarked in the box to put the Soviet’s back in front.

Pasulko completed the misery in the 73^rd minute and England went home three defeats from three matches.  USSR, on the other hand, had won the group.

18 June1988, Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, 64,731

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND   (0)   0

NETHERLANDS   (0)   1   (Kieft 82)

Rep Ireland: Bonner; Morris (Sheedy), McCarthy, Moran, Hughton; Houghton, McGrath, Whelan, Galvin; Stapleton (Cascarino), Aldridge

Netherlands: van Breukelen; van Tiggelen, Rijkaard, van Aerle; Wouters (E Koeman), Gullit, Muhren (Bosman); Vanenberg, van Basten, Kieft

The Irish had their own chance to win the group if they could beat Netherlands.  Paul McGrath hit the post in the first half as both teams looked to create chances but also make sure they didn’t lose.  Into the final ten minutes and Ronald Koeman volleyed into the ground, and as the ball bounced back up Wim Kieft to glance a header which looked as if it was going wide but the spin on the ball just took it back inside the post.  It was a freaky goal and in the end, it was decided the match.  It sent the Republic back home but they certainly weren’t disgraced.  Netherlands ended second in the group.

SEMI-FINALS

21 June 1988, Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, 61,330

WEST GERMANY   (0)   1   (Matthaus 55 pen)

NETHERLANDS   (0)   2   (R Koeman 74 pen, van Basten 88)

West Germany: Immel; Borowka, Kohler, Herget (Pflugler), Brehme; Matthaus, Thon, Rolff, Mill (Littbarski); Voller, Klinsmann

Netherlands: van Breukelen; van Aerle, R Koeman, Rijkaard, van Tiggelen; Wouters, E Koeman (Suvrijn), Muhren (Kieft); Vanenberg, Gullit, van Basten

These two rivals met in Hamburg.  It was a repeat of the 1974 World Cup Final which was also held on German soil.  The Dutch were determined not to repeat the same scoreline.  The first half included few chances, but the second half soon came to life.  As in 1974 there were two penalties.  Lotthar Matthaus put the home side in front from the spot ten minutes into the half, and then Ronald Koeman equalised with his kick in the 74^th minute.  The game looked to be heading for extra time until, with two minutes to go, Marco van Basten grabbed the winner for the Netherlands. 

West Germany had hoped to match France in 1984 and win on home soil, but the Dutch spoiled the party.

22 June 1988, Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, 61,606

USSR   (0)   2   (Litovchenko 58, Protasov 62)

ITALY   (0)   0

USSR: Dasaev; Kuznetsov, Khidiyatullin, Besonov (Demianenko), Rats; Zavarov, Litovchenko, Gotsmanov; Mikhailichenko, Protasov, Aleinikov

Italy: Zenga; Ferri, Bergomi, F Baresi, Maldini (De Agostini); De Napoli, Ancelotti, Giannini, Donadoni; Mancini (Altobelli), Vialli

Both these countries went out in the Second Round at the 1986 World Cup and so were keen to progress as far as they could at this tournament.  The first half failed to produce a goal but as the hour approached Litovchenko opened the scoring after good work from Mikhailichenko.  Four minutes later they had doubled their lead when Protasov made it 2-0.  Italy pressed to get back into the game but the Soviets were far too strong and were through to their fourth ever European Final.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 1988

25 June 1988

NETHERLANDS   (1)   2   (Gullit 32, van Basten 54)

USSR   (0)   0

Netherlands: van Breukelen; van Tiggelen, Rijkaard, R Koeman, van Aerle; Wouters, E Koeman, Muhren; Vanenberg, Gullit, van Basten

USSR: Dasaev; Demyanenko, Khidiyatullin, Lytovchenko, Gotsmanov; Zavarov, Mikhailichenko, Rats; Belanov, Protasov, Aleinikov  

The Dutch really believed this was their time.  Their first international tournament since 1980 and after losing in both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup Finals, they thought this was their chance to make amends.  USSR were in their fourth European Championship Final.  They won in 1960 but were beaten in 1964 and 1972.

The Dutch were overwhelming favourites due to players like Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Erwin and Ronald Koeman and Frank Rijkaard.  They seemed to start nervously but on the half-hour a cross from the left saw Gullit unmarked in the area and his bullet header beat Dasaev.  Netherlands lead 1-0 at half-time, but you always felt the USSR could find a way back.  Ten minutes into the second half and the Dutch scored the goal which confirmed their name on the trophy and what a goal it was.  Many who saw it still recall the technique required to control the shot.  Marco van Basten was positioned in the Soviet area around the right-hand edge of the six-yard area.  Arnold Muhren, once of Ipswich and Man Utd, crossed from the left into the Soviet area, and the ball fell over van Basten’s right shoulder as he turned away from the goal.  As the ball fell, van Basten caught it on the volley with his right foot and it looped over Dasaev and into the left hand corner of the Soviet net.  It was a goal to grace any final anywhere and it rather proved this was to be the Netherlands year.

The Soviets had a boost when van Breukelen was adjudged to have brought down Gotsmanov in the area, although the keeper looked to be knocking the ball towards the corner flag and the Gotsmanov appeared simply to fall over him.  But the referee pointed to the spot.  Igor Belanov stepped up but van Breukelen guessed right and saved the kick. More evidence it was to be a Dutch year.

USSR failed to make an impression after that and the Dutch had won.  They had played some of the best football during the tournament and in van Basten and Gullit probably had two of the best players in Europe at that time. 

CONCLUSION

As in the last three tournaments, the team who had played the best football won the trophy.  Netherlands bounced back from losing their opening game, ironically against USSR , the side they eventually beat in the Final.  West Germany fully expected to lift the trophy on home soil, they appeared in three successive Euro Finals in 1972, 1976 and 1980, but had missed out in the next two tournaments.

Italy continued their rebuilding after the disaster of not qualifying in 1984, USSR had reached their fourth Final yet had still only won one of them.  England had also recovered from the failure to qualify for France ’84, but their resurgence in the World Cup in ’86, could not be matched here.  Spain were expecting good things after they reached the Quarter-Finals in Mexico ’86, and were losing finalists in France ’84, but they had come to rely on Butragueno too much and he had a disappointing tournament.  Ireland were the breath of fresh air, in their first ever international tournament they did not disgrace themselves and only a late, freak goal by the eventual champions, denied them a Semi-Final place.  Denmark, were in competition with England for the most feeble performance, although England could point to their domination of the Ireland game and the period when they had Netherlands on the rack.  The only time Denmark were matched their opponents in any of their games was prior to kick-off.

Overall, the tournament was a success and, as you’d expect from the Germans, it was well organised.  There was crowd trouble but not during any of the matches.  Gradually this tournament was becoming an important part of the international calendar.

History of European Championships

Regarded as the international tournament, second only to the World Cup.  In Brazil and Argentina, they refer to it as ‘the World Cup without us’.

The idea for this type of competition was originally proposed back in 1927 by Henri Delaunay.  Delaunay was secretary-general of the French Football Federation, and was involved with Jules Rimet, in developing the idea for the World Cup.  Delaunay went on to become General Secretary of UEFA until his death in 1954.  Ironically, his dream of a European tournament didn’t become reality until 1958.  Just as the original World Cup trophy was named after Rimet, the trophy for the European Championships was named after Delaunay.

The first competition was called the European Nations Cup.  Only 17 nations entered, with countries such as West Germany, Italy and England declining to take part.  The format was simply a knock-out over 2 legs until the Semi-Finals.  When the final four teams were known, one of them was selected as a host and then Semi-Finals and Final matches were played over 5 days in July 1960.

The competition continued in this format right up to 1976.  From 1980, UEFA started to expand the tournament to include more teams for the finals.

Republic of Ireland were involved in a Preliminary Round where they lost 2-4 to Czechoslovakia, after winning the 1^st leg, 2-0.  In the First Round, France, who had finished third in the World Cup in 1958, thumped Greece, 7-1, with Juste Fontaine (top scorer in Sweden in ’58) and Raymond Kopa amongst the goals.  Spain beat Poland, 7-2 on aggregate with Di Stefano scoring 3.

After France had beaten Greece, 8-2, they then saw off Austria, 9-4 in the Quarter-Finals.  Fontaine grabbed a hat-trick in the 1^st leg.  Yugoslavia overturned a 1-2 deficit to beat Portugal, 5-1.  Czechoslovakia were barely in trouble against Romania, as they won 5-0 over 2 legs.  There were only 3 ties in the Quarter-Finals as Spain refused to travel to Soviet Union and so withdrew from the tournament.

The four nations to compete the final stages of the tournament were USSR, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and France.  France was selected as hosts.

6^th July 1960 in Parc des Princes, Paris saw the first Semi-Final between France and Yugoslavia.  The two had met in the Group stages in Sweden ’58, with Yugoslavia winning 3-2.  The Yugoslavs took the lead in the 11^th minute, but the French hit back a minute later.  France lead, 2-1 at the break and within 10 minutes of the re-start, they were 3-1 up.  Zanetic then got a goal back, before Heutte scored his 2^nd of the game and France lead 4-2.  Into the last 15 minutes and the Yugoslavs remarkably hit back with 3 goals in 4 minutes, to progress to the final.  Two of the goals were scored by Drazan Jerkovic, who would go on to share the Golden Boot in the World Cup in 1962.

All of a sudden, the hosts were out and fears for the future of this type of tournament seemed valid.  USSR easily beat Czechoslovakia, 3-0 in the other Semi, in Marseille.  The Czechs won the Third Place Play-off, beating France, 2-0, a day before the first ever European Championship Final.

10^th July 1960 was the date for the inaugural European Championship Final.  A disappointing crowd of just 17,966 at the Parc des Princes, witnessed a match decided after extra time.  Galic had given Yugoslavia the lead 2 minutes before half-time, which was then equalised by Metreveli, 4 minutes into the second period.  With 7 minutes of extra time remaining, Viktor Ponedelnik headed the winner for the USSR and they won 2-1.  It still remains the only major international championship won by either USSR or Russia.

Trivia fans might be interested to know the referee for the first final was one Arthur Ellis, who would later attract fame as referee on ‘It’s-a-Knockout’.

10^th July 1960, Parc des Princes, Paris, 17,966

USSR   (0)   2   (Metreveli 49, Ponedelnik 113)

YUGOSLAVIA   (1)   1   (Galic 43)

USSR: Yashin; Chokheli, Maslenkin, Krutikov; Voinov, Netto; Metreveli, Ivanov, Ponedelnik, Bubukin, Meskhi

YUGOSLAVIA: Vidinic; Durkovic, Mladinovic, Jusufi; Zanetic, Perusic; Matus, Sekularac, Galic, Kostic; Jerkovic

The second tournament saw an increase in the countries competing as 29 nations took part.  Austria, Luxembourg and USSR received a bye to the first round and Greece withdrew after they were drawn against Albania.

West Germany was still missing, but Italy and England decided to enter this time round.  England were up against France.  A 1-1 draw at Hillsborough, then saw England being given an exhibition in Paris when France romped home, 5-2.  An England team which included Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton had been dumped out at the first hurdle.  Italy didn’t have any trouble with Turkey.  4 goals from Alberto Orlando helped them win 6-0 in the 1^st leg, then a solitary goal was enough in the 2^nd leg.

Northern Ireland beat Poland, 2-0 in both legs, but Wales lost, 2-4 to Hungary.  There was drama between Bulgaria and Portugal.  Portugal lost the 1^st leg, 1-3, but were 3-0 up in the return with 6 minutes to go before Iliev grabbed a late goal for Bulgaria and the tie was levelled.  The replay was held in Rome, in front or barely 2,000 spectators, with Georgi Asparuhov scoring the only goal of the game to give Bulgaria the win with just 4 minutes to go.

The First Round saw Northern Ireland pull off a great result by holding Spain to a 1-1 draw in Bilbao.  Unfortunately, Gento grabbed the only goal of the game at Windsor Park and the Irish were out.  The shock of the round was when Luxembourg went to Rotterdam and beat the Dutch, 2-1.  This was enough to see them progress with, probably, the best result of their history.  Italy were then knocked out by the defending champions, USSR.

In the Quarter-Finals, Spain beat Republic of Ireland, 7-1 on aggregate, and USSR saw off Sweden, 4-2.  France were beaten at home by Hungary, 1-3 and then in front of over 70,000 spectators, the Hungarians finished the job off with a 2-1 win.  Luxembourg continued their excellent form with a 3-3 draw against Denmark.  Ole Madsen scored a hat-trick for the Danes and then grabbed another double in the 2^nd leg, but a late goal from Schmit saw Luxembourg force a replay.  Madsen then scored again in the replay, which Denmark won 1-0.

The final tournament was held in Spain in June 1964.  In Madrid, Spain were taken to extra time by Hungary, before Armancio won it for the hosts.  In Barcelona, USSR won through to their 2^nd successive final as they beat Denmark, 3-0. 

Ironically, the final would be between Spain and USSR.  The irony was that four years earlier the Spanish refused to play their opponents on political grounds, but presumably because the final was held in their country, they ignored this minor detail.  Until their win in 2008, this remained Spain’s only major tournament success.

The Final was held in Madrid on 21^st June 1964, in front of over 79,000 supporters.  The USSR contained just two survivors from their 1960 triumph.  Both teams scored in the opening 10 minutes, but the game seemed to heading for extra time before Spain won with a late goal from Marcelino Martinez in the last 6 minutes. 

21^st June 1964, Bernabeu, Madrid, 79,115

SPAIN   (1)   2   (Pereda 6, Marcelino 84)

USSR   (1)   1   (Khusainov 8)

Spain: Iribar; Rivilla, Oliveila, Calleja; Zoco, Fuste; Amancio, Pereda, Marcelino, Luis Suarez, Lapetra

USSR: Yashin; Anichkin, Shustikov, Shesternyov, Mudrik; Voronin, Koreneyev; Chislenko, Ivanov, Pondelnik, Khusainov

This was when the competition had a makeover.  Renamed the European Championships, it now consisted of a qualifying competition with 31 teams divided into 8 groups.  Each group winner then went into a knock-out stage.  Holders Spain, won their group, as did Bulgaria, USSR, Hungary and France.  Italy won a goal-laden group.  Italy, Romania and Switzerland all scored 53 goals between them.  Group 4 contained just 3 teams, West Germany, Yugoslavia and Albania.  Yugoslavia pulled off the first surprise by beating West Germany, 1-0 in Belgrade twelve months after the Germans were losing finalists in the ’66 World Cup.  West Germany then won the return, 3-1, and then travelled to Tirana in December 1967, needing a 1-0 win to progress.  They couldn’t do it, and remarkably Albania held their illustrious opponents to a 0-0 draw with Yugoslavia going through.  To date, Germany/West Germany has then qualified for the finals of every major tournament since.

Group 8 contained the home nations and the results were taken from the British Home International Championships of 1967 and 1968.  15^th April 1967 is a date many Scottish fans remember as Scotland became the first side to beat the World Champions, England.  Dennis Law gave the Scots a first-half lead at Wembley.  Bobby Lennox then doubled it with 12 minutes to go, before Jackie Charlton got a goal back 6 minutes from time.  Jim McCalliog then scored Scotland’s 3^rd and Geoff Hurst’s goal 2 minutes from the end was merely a consolation.  Scotland had been held in Cardiff and then lost 0-1 in Belfast, which ultimately cost them as England twice beat Wales and Northern Ireland.  This set things up for the big game at Hampden in February 1968.  Martin Peters 20 minute goal was then cancelled out by John Hughes (his only ever international goal) and the game ended 1-1 and England were through.

The Quarter-Finals were held around April and May and played over 2 legs.  Italy overturned a 2-3 deficit to beat Bulgaria, 4-3 on aggregate, and USSR came from 0-2 down in 1^st leg to win 3-0 in return against Hungary.  France were held at home 1-1 by Yugoslavia, but then in Belgrade they were stuffed, 1-5.  England were up against Spain and a Bobby Charlton goal 6 minutes from time won the 1^st leg at Wembley.  A month later in Madrid, Spain took the lead but then Martin Peters and Norman Hunter won it for England.

The finals were held in Italy and contained two nations (Italy and England) who weren’t interested in the competition when it first started in 1960.  The first Semi-Final in Naples was a 0-0 draw between Italy and USSR.  Neither side could be separated after 120 minutes of football and so the bright idea UEFA had to settle it all was, the toss a coin!  The Soviet captain called incorrectly and Italy were through to the final.  In Florence, the game between Yugoslavia and England looked to be heading for extra time before Dragan Dzajic scored a late winner and the World Champions were out.

Goals from Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst gave England a 2-0 win over USSR to claim third place.  The Final was played in front of 85,000 in Rome and Dzajic was on the scoresheet again giving Yugoslavia a first half lead.  Angelo Domenghini levelled things with just 10 minutes remaining.  The game ended 1-1 after extra time, and this time a replay was necessary.  Only 55,000 turned up two days later to see Italy carry off the trophy with a 2-0 win.

8^th June 1968, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, 68,817

ITALY   (0)   1   (Domenghini 80)

YUGOSLAVIA   (1)   1   (Dzajic 32)

Italy: Zoff; Burgnich, Guarneri, Castano, Facchetti; Lodetti, Ferrini, Juliano; Domenghini, Anastasi, Prati

Yugoslavia: Pantelic; Fazlagic, Paunovic, Holcer, Damjanovic; Trivic, Pavlovic, Acimovic; Petkovic, Musemic, Dzajic

10^th June 1968, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, 32,866

ITALY   (2)   2   (Riva 12, Anastasi 31)

YUGOSLAVIA   (0)   0

Italy: Zoff; Burgnich, Guarneri, Salvadore, Rosato, Facchetti; Mazzola, De Sisti; Domenghini, Anastasi, Riva

Yugoslavia: Pantelic; Fazlagic, Paunovic, Holcer, Damjanovic; Trivic, Pavlovic, Acimovic; Hosic, Musemic, Dzajic

The Qualifying round had settled into the standard group phase, with 8 groups of 4.  As in previous qualifying phases, Eastern European teams came to the fore.  Hungary won their group containing France, and USSR won theirs containing Spain.  Yugoslavia beat Netherlands to Group 7, and holders Italy were unbeaten in theirs.  Belgium won Group 5, beating Scotland in the process, and Romania won Group 1, which contained Wales.  West Germany won Group 8 with Gerd Muller scoring 6 of their 10 goals.

England were in Group 3 with Switzerland, Greece and Malta.  They won the group, unbeaten, conceding just 3 goals.  England were quite a changed team from the one which reached the Quarter-Finals in the World Cup in Mexico 1970, illustrated by just 5 of their 15 goals being scored by players who were in the World Cup squad that year.

During the Quarter-Finals, Belgium pulled off a shock when they knocked-out the holders, Italy.  A 0-0 draw in Milan saw Belgium win 2-1 in Brussels.  USSR continued their tradition of good performances in this competition by beating Yugoslavia, 3-0 over 2 legs.  Hungary needed a replay to get past Romania.  1-1 in Budapest and then 2-2 in Bucharest, as the away goals rule didn’t apply.  Hungary won the replay, 2-1 in Belgrade.  The 4^th tie was a repeat of the 1966 World Cup Final as England took on West Germany.  The Germans, still buoyant from having put out England in Mexico, scored first at Wembley through Uli Hoeness.  Into the final 15 minutes and Francis Lee equalised.  Then with 5 minutes left, Gunter Netzer converted a penalty and Gerd Muller finished things off and England had been beaten 1-3 at home.  Two weeks later in Berlin the game ended 0-0 and England were out.

From the four qualifiers, Belgium was announced as hosts.  The final competition was held between 14^th June-18^th June 1972.  The hosts, Belgium were up first against West Germany and Gerd Muller, in Antwerp.  ‘Der Bomber’ scored another 2 goals and the Germans prevailed 2-1.

The other Semi-Final, in Brussels saw Anatoli Konkov score the only goal of the game to see USSR beat Hungary, 1-0, and reach their 3^rd final in the last 4 tournaments.  Belgium won the Third Place play-off, and then came the main event between West Germany and USSR.

The Germans were in a transition period, but were putting together a squad of players who would dominate European football for much of the decade.  9 of the players were drawn from just 2 clubs, Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach.  Gerd Muller scored 2 more goals to take his tally to 11 for the competition, and West Germany won comfortably, 3-0.

18^th June 1972, Heysel, Brussels, 43,437

WEST GERMANY   (1)   3   (Muller 27, 58, Wimmer 52)

USSR   (0)   0

West Germany: Maier; Hottges, Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck, Breitner; Hoeness, Wimmer, Netzer; Heynckes, Muller, Kremers

USSR: Rudakov; Dzodzuashvili, Khurtsilava, Kaplychnyi, Istomin; Troshkin, Kolotov, Konkov (Dolmatov); Baidachny, Banishevski (Kozynkevych), Onischenko

This would be the last tournament with just 4 teams in the final stages.  During the qualifying round, Yugoslavia beat Northern Ireland to win Group 3.  Spain beat Scotland to win Group 4, and USSR beat Republic of Ireland to win Group 6.  Belgium reached the Quarter-Finals again, by beating France to win Group 7.  Netherlands, runners-up in the 1974 World Cup, won their group beating Italy in the process.  World Champions, West Germany won Group 8 despite only winning 3 of their 6 matches.  In Group 2, Wales were drawn with Hungary, Austria and Luxembourg.  They lost their opening match, 1-2 in Vienna and then won the rest of them, conceding just a further 2 goals, and stormed to become group winners.  There were plenty of goals in this group, and all against Luxembourg, who conceded 28 goals in their 6 matches.  Tibor Nyilasi scored 5 when Hungary beat them 8-1.  Wales beat them 5-0 and Austria won 6-2.

England were drawn in Group 1 along with Czechoslovakia, Portugal and Cyprus.  Having failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, Don Revie had replaced Alf Ramsey.  England began well beating the Czechs, 3-0 at Wembley, but were then held at home to a 0-0 draw by Portugal.  In April 1975 they beat Cyprus, 5-0 when Newcastle United’s Malcolm MacDonald scored all 5.  Kevin Keegan scored the only goal of the game to win in Cyprus but then just when they were leading in Bratislava to a Mick Channon goal, the Czechs then hit back and won 2-1.  England couldn’t win in Lisbon either and they finished 2^nd in the group to Czechoslovakia.

The Quarter-Final stage saw Czechoslovakia beat USSR, 4-2 on aggregate.  West Germany beat Spain, 3-1, and Wales were beaten by the same score by Yugoslavia.  Netherlands were up against neighbours, Belgium.  Rob Rensenbrink scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win for the Dutch in Rotterdam.  Johnny Rep and Johann Cruyff then scored in Brussels and Netherlands progressed 7-1.

From the four nations who qualified, Yugoslavia was named as hosts.  Czechoslovakia were up against Netherlands, including most of the side who were runners-up in the recent World Cup.  19 minutes in and Czech captain, Anton Ondrus opened the scoring.  This remained the only goal of the game until Ondrus scored again with 17 minutes to go.  Unfortunately for the Czechs, it was at the wrong end and the game went into extra time.  In the second period of extra time, Nehoda and Vesely completed a surprise 3-1 win for Czechoslovakia.

The next day, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia were 2-0 up inside the opening half-hour with goals from Popivoda and Dzajic.  Heinz Flohe then got a goal back midway through the 2^nd half, before Dieter Muller (no relation to Gerd) forced extra time.  Muller then scored twice in extra time to complete his hat-trick and West Germany were through to their 3^rd successive major Final.

Netherlands then won the Third Place Play-off, which again went to extra time.  The Final looked set for another major trophy for West Germany.  Jan Svehlik put the Czechs in front in the opening 10 minutes.  Karol Dobias then doubled the lead, before Dieter Muller got a goal back.  With a minute to go, Bernd Holzenbein grabbed a dramatic late equaliser for West Germany, to take the game into extra time.  The two sides couldn’t be separated and so, for the first time in international football, a major Final went to penalties. 

The Czechs lead 4-3 as each kicker had been successful, before Uli Hoeness skied his kick over the bar.  Up stepped Antonin Panenka.  Score and his nation were European Champions, miss and the Germans were still in the game.  Panenka, who played his football for Bohemians Prague, calmly stepped up to the ball and as Sepp Maier dived to his left, he coolly chipped the ball into the middle of the goal.

This was the first time the watching football world had seen this type of penalty and it went down in history, mainly down to, not just the cheek of it, but the fact that Panenka, hitherto unknown, could commit such an act under such pressure.

Czechoslovakia were European Champions.  This was the last tournament under this 4-nation final stage, as the tournament was expanded to 8 countries for the next competition.

20^th June 1976, Belgrade, 30,790

CZECHOSLOVAKIA   (2)   2   (Svehlik 8, Dobias 25)

WEST GERMANY   (1)   2   (Muller 29, Holzenbein 90)

Czechoslovakia: Viktor; Pivarnik, Ondrus, Gogh, Capkovic; Dobias (Vesely), Panenka, Moder; Masny, Svehlik (Jurkemik), Nehoda

West Germany: Maier; Vogts, Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck, Dietz; Bonhof (Bongartz), Beer, Wimmer (Flohe); Hoeness, Muller, Holzenbein

Czechoslovakia won 5-3 on penalties.

For the rest of this series we will concentrate on each tournament.  Next up is the 1980 Championships in Italy.