1960 France

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France 1960

The first European Football Championship was held back in 1960, it was known as The European Nations Cup.

France 1960 was a knockout competition, with only 17 teams playing, with the absence of a few big footballing nations, such as West Germany and Italy. Each team had to play two legs (home and away), with the winning team procedeing to the next round. The Semi Final and Final will be played in one of the four countries remaining in the competition, which happens to be in France, with only one match to determine the finalists, Third and The Champions.

Spain refuse to play against The Soviets

Spain refusal to play against The Russian (known as Soviet Union at the time), therefore had to withdrawn from the Championship, leaving Czechoslovakia (now as Czech Republic), The Soviets, Yugoslavia (now as Serbia and Montenegro) and hosts France, in the last four.

The Soviet Union won quite convincingly against the Czechs, by beating them 3-0 in Marseille. Whilst Yugoslavia were made to work hard, with a thrilling 5-4 victory against France. A game where Yugoslavia were two goals down in two occasions

Czechoslovakia then beat France 2-0 to clinch third place. The final see The Soviets triumphant against Yugoslavia, where Viktor Ponedelnik scores an extra time winner, in 113 minute, to win 2-1. The Soviet Union were led by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin.