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.
14th
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 73rd 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
2nd 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 71st
minute when van Basten scored his 2nd 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 16th 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 73rd 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 74th 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.
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