1976 European football championships

 

Yugoslavia hosted the 1976 European Championships, the tournament taking place between June 16th and June 20th 1976. Four strong footballing nations qualified for the tournament including the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, West Germany and the hosts Yugoslavia. Czechoslovakia beat Netherlands 3- 1 after extra time in the first semi final, the other was between West Germany and Yugoslavia, which ended in a 4-2 victory to the West Germans. Yugoslavia met West Germany in Belgrade and the Yugoslav’s gave such a fantastic account of themselves that they all but annihilated the vastly experienced West German defence. The West German defence were in tatters during the first half, after a few great opportunities, the Yugoslav’s finally took the lead. Oblak made a great sprint down the left flank and floated a long ball high over the German defence which Popivoda ran on to, holding off Beckenbauer to strike the shot past Maier. The Yugoslav’s scored a deserved second goal straight after as Dzajic scored from close range. The West German’s became a different team coming into the second half, they brought on substitutes Heinz Flohe and Dieter Muller and were back in the thick of the action as Flohe sent the Yugoslav keeper Petrovic the wrong way when his shot cannoned off the chest of Holzenbein in to the Yugoslav’s net. Muller levelled the proceedings towards the end of the second half and the match went into extra time. Muller added another two goals in extra time to complete a match winning hatrick for the Germans.
Franz Beckenbaur led the Germans to the final in Yugoslavia in 1976. Czechoslovakia beat the Germany in a thrilling final; the Czech goalkeeper was their hero in the dynamic and decisive penalty shoot out. With the excitement the Czechs swapped shirts with the beaten Germans before collecting the cup. The Dutch came third in 1976.