1976 Yugoslavia

Euro 2008 Ads

Yugoslavia 1976

The fifth installment of the European Football Championship, consists of four teams in the final stages of the tournament. Like its precedors, the hosting country is not picked until the final four teams are named. This would be the final year where the Championship only has four teams participating, as the 1980 Finals will undergo some major changes.

Four games, four score draws

For the first time, The Soviet Union did not make it to the latter stages of the competition, as they lost to Czechoslovakia 4-2 on aggeragate. The Netherlands eased past neighbours Belgium, by winning convincingly 7-1. Holders West Germany and eventual hosts, Yugoslavia, completes the lineup.

All four matches were score draws, and needed an extra 30 minutes to detemine the winner of each match. The Czechs drew with the Dutch, 1-1, before two extra time goals which saw the Czechs going through to the final. Yugoslavia and Germany drew 2-2, Germany's Dieter Muller, scores twice in extra time, completing his hat trick in the process. The Netherlands took third place with a 3-2 win, 2-2 draw during the 90 minutes against Yugoslavia. Czechoslovakia and West Germany drew 2-2, and with no extra time goals, means the destination of the trophy had to be settled on a penalty shoot out. The Czechs won 5-3, after Germany's Uli Hoeness hitting the crossbar.