1968 European football championships

 

The third episode in the European Championships history took place in the year 1968; the finals tournament took place between June 5th and June 10th. The tournament had transformed its name from the European Nations Cup to the European Championships.
There was also a change in the structure of the qualifying rounds, the two legged home and away ties were replaced by the group phase. Only four nations could qualify for the finals tournament. The hosts were announced after qualification, meaning one of the four teams that reached the finals could host the competition. Once again both the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia qualified for the finals along with England and Italy who were to be the hosts.
Italy added glamour by bringing French singer Esablte Obrey to make the draw for the finals.
The opening match of the semi- finals between Italy and USSR ended 0-0, and the finalist was decided on the toss of a coin. Italy went through to the final. England had mixed fortunes in their first European Championship tournament. The qualified by eliminating Scotland and were looking to build on their 1966 world cup victory. England sailed past Spain in qualifying to meet Yugoslavia in the semi- final that took place in Florence on June 5th. The tie was a hard fought, cynical encounter that culminated in the second period with Mullery being dismissed, the first time an England player had been sent off. England were down to ten men and struggled to hold down the young Yugoslav team and with four minutes remaining the outstanding Yugoslav winger, Dragan Dzajic, scored the only goal of the encounter.
Three days later England dispatched the Soviet Union 2-0 including a goal from Geoff Hurst. In the final Yugoslavia played the host nation Italy, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, and a replay was to be played in which the Italians won 2-0. Riva and Anastasie were on the score sheet for Italy.