1960 UEFA European Football Championship
Encyclopedia
The 1960 UEFA European Nations Cup was the first European Football Championship
, held every four years and endorsed by UEFA
. The final tournament was held in France. It was won by the Soviet Union
, who beat Yugoslavia
2–1 in Paris after extra time.
The tournament was a knockout competition; just 17 teams entered with some notable absences, West Germany
, Italy
and England
among them. The teams would play home-and-away matches until the semi-finals; the final four teams would move on to the final tournament, whose host was selected after the teams became known.
Spain
, still under Francisco Franco
's far-right dictatorship, refused to travel to the Soviet Union
, the main supporter of the Second Spanish Republic
in the Spanish Civil War
, and withdrew from the tournament, so the final four had three Communist countries: USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia, to go with hosts France. In the semi-finals, the Soviets made easy work of the Czechoslovaks in Marseille
, beating them 3–0. The other match saw a nine-goal thriller as Yugoslavia came on top 5–4, coming back from a two-goal deficit twice. Czechoslovakia beat the demoralized French 2–0 for third place.
In the final, Yugoslavia scored first, but the Soviet Union, led by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin
, equalized in the 49th minute. After 90 minutes the score was 1–1, and Viktor Ponedelnik
scored with seven minutes left in extra time to give the Soviets the inaugural European Championship.
Czechoslovakia won 4–2 on aggregate.
----
----
----
----
----
----
----
Romania won 3–2 on aggregate.
----
Portugal won 5–2 on aggregate.
----
Austria won 6–2 on aggregate.
----
Soviet Union won 4–1 on aggregate.
----
Spain won 7–2 on aggregate.
----
Czechoslovakia won 7–3 on aggregate.
----
Yugoslavia won 3–1 on aggregate.
----
----
Yugoslavia won 6–3 on aggregate.
----
Czechoslovakia won 5–0 on aggregate.
2 goals Valentin Ivanov
Viktor Ponedelnik
Milan Galić
Dražan Jerković François Heutte
1 goal Tomislav Knez
Ante Žanetić
Vlastimil Bubník
Ladislav Pavlovič
Jean Vincent Maryan Wisnieski Slava Metreveli
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
, held every four years and endorsed by UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
. The final tournament was held in France. It was won by the Soviet Union
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
, who beat Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
2–1 in Paris after extra time.
The tournament was a knockout competition; just 17 teams entered with some notable absences, West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
among them. The teams would play home-and-away matches until the semi-finals; the final four teams would move on to the final tournament, whose host was selected after the teams became known.
Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, still under Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's far-right dictatorship, refused to travel to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the main supporter of the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, and withdrew from the tournament, so the final four had three Communist countries: USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia, to go with hosts France. In the semi-finals, the Soviets made easy work of the Czechoslovaks in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, beating them 3–0. The other match saw a nine-goal thriller as Yugoslavia came on top 5–4, coming back from a two-goal deficit twice. Czechoslovakia beat the demoralized French 2–0 for third place.
In the final, Yugoslavia scored first, but the Soviet Union, led by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin
Lev Yashin
Lev Ivanovich Yashin nicknamed as "The Black Spider", was a Soviet-Russian football goalkeeper, considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game. He was known for his superior athleticism in goal, imposing stature, amazing reflex saves and inventing the idea of...
, equalized in the 49th minute. After 90 minutes the score was 1–1, and Viktor Ponedelnik
Viktor Ponedelnik
Viktor Vladimirovich Ponedelnik is a former Soviet football player, regarded as one of the best strikers in Soviet football history....
scored with seven minutes left in extra time to give the Soviets the inaugural European Championship.
Preliminary round
----Czechoslovakia won 4–2 on aggregate.
First leg
--------
----
----
----
----
----
Second leg
France won 8–2 on aggregate.----
Romania won 3–2 on aggregate.
----
Portugal won 5–2 on aggregate.
----
Austria won 6–2 on aggregate.
----
Soviet Union won 4–1 on aggregate.
----
Spain won 7–2 on aggregate.
----
Czechoslovakia won 7–3 on aggregate.
----
Yugoslavia won 3–1 on aggregate.
Quarter-finals
Spain refused to travel to the Soviet Union for their quarter-final, so the USSR were awarded a walkover victory.First leg
--------
Second leg
France won 9–4 on aggregate.----
Yugoslavia won 6–3 on aggregate.
----
Czechoslovakia won 5–0 on aggregate.
Final tournament
Semi-finals
----Third place play-off
Final
Goalscorers of the final tournament
There were 17 goals scored in 4 games, for an average of 4.25 goals per game.2 goals Valentin Ivanov
Valentin Kozmich Ivanov
Valentin Kozmich Ivanov was a football winger/striker, co-leading scorer at the 1962 World Cup and co-1960 European Nations' Cup top scorer.Ivanov appeared 59 times for the Soviet Union, scoring 26 goals...
Viktor Ponedelnik
Viktor Ponedelnik
Viktor Vladimirovich Ponedelnik is a former Soviet football player, regarded as one of the best strikers in Soviet football history....
Milan Galić
Milan Galic
Milan Galić is a former Serbian footballer.He scored 37 international goals in 51 matches for the Yugoslavia national football team. He participated in the 1960 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal, the 1960 UEFA European Football Championship, where Yugoslavia finished second , and the 1962...
Dražan Jerković François Heutte
François Heutte
François Heutte is a French former football striker. He played for France in the Euro 1960.-References:* *...
1 goal Tomislav Knez
Tomislav Knez
Tomislav Knez is a former footballer from Yugoslavia.During his club career he played for Borac Banja Luka, NK Dinamo Zagreb, SV Schwechat, SK Rapid Wien, Kapfenberger SV and SV Güssing. He earned 14 caps for the Yugoslavia national football team, and participated in the 1960 European Nations'...
Ante Žanetić
Ante Žanetic
Ante Žanetić is a former Croatian footballer.During his club career he played for NK Hajduk Split, Club Brugge K.V. and Racing White. He earned 15 caps for the Yugoslavia national football team, and participated in the 1960 European Nations' Cup...
Vlastimil Bubník
Vlastimil Bubník
Vlastimil Bubník was a Czech ice hockey player and footballer.Bubník played in the Czechoslovak Extraliga. He played for HC Brno and Královo Pole. He also won a bronze medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics...
Ladislav Pavlovič
Ladislav Pavlovic
Ladislav Pavlovič is a former Slovak football player. He played for Czechoslovakia national team in 14 matches and scored two goals....
Jean Vincent Maryan Wisnieski Slava Metreveli
Slava Metreveli
Slava Kalistratovich Metreveli was a Georgian football player and later a football manager.Metreveli played most of his career for Torpedo Moscow and Dinamo Tbilisi ....
External links
- 1960 Nations Cup Review with images and video from the tournament