1976 European Nations Cup - Yugoslavia

Czechoslovakia provides the surprise

The fifth edition of the European nations Cup was organised in Yugoslavia, and was the last to feature four teams in the final phase of the competition.

L'équipe soviétique vient de remporter la première Coupe d''Europe des nations (après avoir battu la Yougoslavie 2-1 après prolongation) effectue un tour d'honneur.

As of 1980 eight teams would feature in a slightly more 'respected' final stage of the tournament.

The surprise of this particular edition was the manner with which Czechoslovakia dominated Holland before beating the title holders Germany in a penalty shoot-out.

What gave the competition increased validity was the balance between the teams. All four matches proved their worth by going beyond the full 90 minutes, three into extra time and one decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Belgium, Holland, Yugoslavia, West Germany and Czechoslovakia, who had beaten England in the eliminators and put the Soviet out in the quarter-finals, were the four finalists.

In the first semi-final Yugoslavia called upon the services of its "mercenaries", most of whom were spread throughout Europe, to confront the Germans,who of course were European and world title-holders.

Yugoslavia zipped into an early two goal lead before a late German fight back sent the match to extra time.

FC Cologne forward Dieter Muller was the hero of the day, coming on in the 81st minute, he scored West Germany's equaliser before netting twice more during extra-time to gift wrap his nation a 4-2 semi-final win.

Cruyff buries his head in the sand

Picture taken 05 July 1974 of Dutch soccer figure Johan Cruijff. One of the best soccer players of all times, 48 selections, 704 matches and 421 goals, Johan Cruijff has been 8 times Dutch champion and captured 5 Dutch Cup titles with the Amsterdam Ajax, won 3 times the European Cup of Champions (1971, 1972, 1973) and was elected European Golden Ball in 1971, 73 and 74.

Many fans were hoping to see Holland gain revenge for their 1974 World Cup final loss to Germany, but the Czechs scored a resounding 3-1 semi-final win over them in Zagreb.

Their star Johan Cruyff failed to shine and got two yellows to ensure he missed the third place play-off, which his teammates went on to win 3-2 without him.

Czechoslovakia grabbed a 2-0 lead in the final before Germany again clawed back with another goal from Muller and then Bernd Holzenbein, sending the match to extra time and ultimately penalties.

In the end, the more relaxed Czechs won 5-3 as Masny, Nehoda, Ondrus, Jurkemic, and Panenka all slotted their efforts home while Uli Hoenes missed his penalty for West Germany.

Did you know ? - 1976

Undated portrait of Germany's national soccer team forward Dieter Müller, who scored a hat trick against Yugoslavia in the 1976 European Nations Championship semifinal.

HAT-TRICK

Dieter Muller carried on where his namesake Gerd left off by scoring four goals in the finals. The Cologne striker had come into the competition as a virtual unknown, but scored with what was his first touch in the semi-final, and added two more in extra time to send Germany into the final.

Portrait of Cesar Luis Menotti, coach of the Argentinian national soccer team, taken in June 1982 in Madrid before the start of the World Cup.

EXPERT

The first impressions of the Argentine coach, Cesar Luis Menotti, who had come to observe the Europeans, proved uncannily precise : "I came to watch the cream of European football. I've admired the discipline of the Germans and the Czechs and the physical condition of most of the players. On the other hand, I haven't seen any players who are technically superior to my Argentines. That's why I remain confident for the following World Cup." In 1978 Argentina won its first World Cup.

RULING

Until 1976, if the two finalists had not managed to impose their superiority after extra time, the match was replayed, as proved the case for Italy-Yugoslavia in 1968. An hour before kick-off for the 1976 final, it was decided to modify the rules. In case of a draw after extra time, the two teams would proceed to a series of penalty kicks.

STAR

Johan Cruyff should have been the star of the 1976 competition... but his team actually played better without him than with him. Perceived as a true "superstar", he even took his breakfasts separately from the rest of the Dutch team. Coach Georges Knobel made the most of Cruyff's departure after a semi-final elimination by modifying the team for their third-place match against Yugoslavia. The Dutch refound their form and won to finish third in the competition.

EXTRA-TIME

All final four matches in the competition (the two semi-finals, the final and the third-place match) needed more than the regulation 90 minutes to decide the winner. In terms of ability, the four teams were close and three of the matches went to extra time, with the final being decided by penalties.