The 1960 UEFA European Football Championship, then called
the 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 2-1 who beat Yugoslavia in Paris
after extra time.
The tournament was a knockout competition; just 17 teams entered with
some notable absences (West Germany and Italy 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 refused to travel to the Soviet Union and withdrew from the tournament,
so the final four had three Eastern Bloc 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 lead 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.
After the Preliminary and First Rounds, eight teams played off to qualify
for the Finals which were to be held in France. Czechoslovakia beat Romania
comfortably, knocking five goals past them without reply over the two
legs.
France too recorded home and away victories in their tie against Austria.
Just Fontaine scored a hat-trick in Paris as a Raymond Kopa inspired French
side qualified to play in the Championship with the advantage of being
hosts.
Yugoslavia lost 2-1 away to Portugal in the first leg of their quarter-final
but then turned it around in the JNA Stadion in Belgrade, winning 5-1
with Kostic scoring twice. Spain refused to travel to the USSR, who thereby
qualified for the Finals automatically.
Legendary Soviet keeper Lev Yashin
In the semi-finals there were no suprises as two Eastern
Bloc countries took their places in the Final. The Soviet Union saw off
Czechoslovakia 3-0 with Ivanov scoring twice before Ponedelnik
added a decisive third.
In the other semi-final a classic encounter saw the Yugoslavs come out
on top against France 5-4, a match in which seven different players scored.
Galic's goal was
quickly cancelled out by Vincent before Huette put France 2-1 up just
before half-time. Just seven minutes after the break, Wisnieski put France
two goals clear and, seemingly, into the Final - but within two minutes
Zanetic got Yugoslavia back to 3-2.
With a partisan crowd of 26,000 urging the French forward, Huette scored
his secong of the game to give France a two- goal lead for the second
time in the match.
Remarkably, Yugoslavia then scored three goals in three minutes - two
for Jerkovic
and one for Knez - which put them ahead for the first time since the 11th
minute.
Despite having 12 minutes left on the clock, France couldn't equalise
and the Parc des Princes crowd had to settle for a 3rd/4th place play-off
for Les Bleus.
In that game the French, a little demoralised after coming so close to
reaching their first major Final, lost tamely to Czechoslovakia 2-0. Only
9,000 watched in Marseille.
The USSR, with legendary goalkeeper Lev
Yashin in their side, overcame Yugoslavia 2-1 in the Final, despite
the Yugoslavs taking a first-half lead through Galic.
His goal, four minutes before the interval, seemed to spur the Soviets
on and soon after the break Metreveli equalised.
Deep into injury time and with just seven minutes left on the clock, Viktor
Ponedelnik scored to win the match and give the USSR the inaugural
European Championship crown.
