EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 1988

The 1988 European Championship was to be held in West Germany. Again, seven qualifiers would join the host nation in the final tournament but for the first time, the holders would not be amongst them. Despite finishing third in the 1986 World Cup, France only won one of their eight qualifying games and were not even close to earning a chance to defend their title.

West Germany opened up the tournament with a draw with Italy, and both teams would ease through Group A with wins over Spain and Denmark. Although it counted for nothing in terms of qualification for the semi-finals, Spain's 3-2 in over Denmark was probably the best match of the group.

One of the real surprises of Group B was the poor form of England, who lost all three of their games, but if England performed below expectations then newcomers Ireland certainly exceeded what was expected of them. A win over England and a draw with the U.S.S.R. left them needing only another draw with the Netherlands to reach the last four, but a goal eight minutes from time ended Irish hopes and took the Dutch through, alongside the Soviets.

In the first semi-final West Germany and the Netherlands were locked together at 1-1 with extra-time approaching thanks to a penalty apiece, but a Dutch goal two minutes from the end of normal time ended the host nation's dreams of a third title. In the second match the Soviet Union beat Italy 2-0 to set up a rematch with a Dutch side they had already beaten in the group stage.

Determined to make up for their earlier loss to the Soviets which had threatened to send them out, the Dutch took the lead in the final just after the half-hour mark thanks to a header from captain Ruud Gullit. Ten minutes into the second half, leading goalscorer Marco Van Basten scored one of the most memorable goals in the history of the game, a volley from a tight angle, to double the lead. With 20 minutes remaining the Soviets were awarded a penalty, but when Igor Belanov's shot was saved there was no way back. On the same ground where they had lost the World Cup final 14 years earlier the Dutch had their first major trophy.