VIII EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (FRG 1988)

FINAL STAGE — GAME DETAILS

(From 10-06-1988 to 25-06-1988)

 

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Rheinstadion (Düsseldorf)

DATE: 10-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 62.552

REFEREE: Keith Hackett (ENG)

GOALS: 0-1 (Mancini 52'); 1-1 (Brehme 55')

FRG

Westdeutschland

FRG - Italy

Italia

ITA

1-1 (0-0)

FRG

Immel

Buchwald, Herget, Kohler

Berthold, Matthäus (c), Thon, Brehme (Borowka 76')

Littbarski, Völler (Eckstein 81'), Klinsmann

COACH: Franz Beckenbauer

ITALY

Zenga

Bergomi (c), Baresi, Ferri, Maldini

Donadoni, De Napoli (De Agostini 86'), Giannini, Ancelotti

Vialli (Altobelli 89'), Mancini

COACH: Azeglio Vicini

GAME SUMMARY

In the opening game of the tournament, Italy surprised West Germany (and everyone) by going straight on the attack right from kick-off. Giannini should have opened the scoring in the very first minute when the German full-back Herget lost possession on the edge of his area, but Immel pushed the ball away for a corner. More Italian attacks followed as the West Germans were pushed back into their own half, and so it continued for most of the first 45 minutes, with the home defenders looking nervous at times. However, for all the Italian continuous pressure it was West Germany who threatened more with their counterattacks. After Klinsmann had headed over the bar in the 32nd minute, Matthäus went down in the Italian area appealing for a penalty in minute 39, but the English referee Mr. Hackett was not impressed by the diving skills of the German midfielder and the game remained goalless at halftime.

 

After the restart, Matthäus was in action again when his 30-meter shot was just off target. However, a few minutes later, he and Herget slipped up badly to let the Italians in for the opening goal. Donadoni capitalized on their misunderstanding to feed Mancini for his first international goal with Italy. The Italian joy was short-lived as, three minutes later, Zenga was penalized for taking too many steps in the area. Littbarski touched the free kick to Brehme, whose drive was deflected into the bottom corner of the net. The equalizer encouraged the hosts to take the initiative, but their defense still looked shaky at times. In the closing stages Italy reverted to form, pulled back onto the defensive and the score remained 1-1.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Niedersachsenstadion (Hannover)

DATE: 11-06-1988 (15:30 h)

ATTENDANCE: 60.366

REFEREE: Albert Thomas (NED)

GOALS: 0-1 (Míchel 5'); 1-1 (Laudrup 24'); 1-2 (Butragueño 53'); 1-3 (Gordillo 66'); 2-3 (Povlsen 82')

[Incidents: Míchel missed a penalty shot (min. 35), saved by Rasmussen.]

DEN

Danmark

Denmark - Spain

España

SPA

2-3 (1-1)

DENMARK

Rasmussen

Sivebæk, Nielsen, M. Olsen (c) (L. Olsen 66'), Busk

Helt (“Faxe” Jensen 46'), Laudrup, Lerby, Heintze

Elkjær Larsen, Povlsen

COACH: Sepp Piontek

SPAIN

Zubizarreta

Tomás, Sanchis, Andrinúa, Camacho (c) (Soler 46')

Míchel, Víctor, Gallego, Gordillo (Martín Vázquez 86')

Bakero, Butragueño

COACH: Miguel Muñoz

GAME SUMMARY

Denmark were hoping to avenge their dreadful performance against Spain in the World Cup in Mexico two years earlier, and started the game quite enthusiastically. However, it was Spain who took an early lead when Míchel finished off a one-two with Gallego, placing his shot past Rasmussen. It was not until twenty minutes later that Laudrup equalized for the Danes. Still Spain always looked the more dangerous and the Danish defense were so lacking in pace that it seemed only a question of time before the Spaniards regained the lead. Mïchel was in action again when he was tripped in the area ten minutes before the break, but he spoiled an otherwise superb display by missing the resulting penalty kick.

 

After the interval, Spain went ahead again when Butragueño received a pass from Bakero in a seemingly offside position and found the net. Denmark were upset after this goal, which they thought should have been disallowed, but didn’t give up and tried to equalize. However, after Gordillo scored the third Spanish goal, they looked a beaten side. Povlsen pulled one back for Denmark near the end, but Spain held out to claim their first two points.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Neckarstadion (Stuttgart)

DATE: 12-06-1988 (15:30 h)

ATTENDANCE: 51.373

REFEREE: Siegfried Kirschen (GDR)

GOALS: 0-1 (Houghton 6')

ENG

England

England - Ireland

Éire

IRL

0-1 (0-1)

ENGLAND

Shilton

Stevens, Wright, Adams, Sansom

Waddle, Robson (c), Webb (Hoddle 60'), Barnes

Beardsley (Hateley 82'), Lineker

COACH: Bobby Robson

IRELAND

Bonner

Morris, McCarthy, Moran, Hughton

Houghton, McGrath, Whelan, Galvin (Sheedy 77')

Aldridge, Stapleton (c) (Quinn 62')

COACH: Jackie Charlton

GAME SUMMARY

Ireland’s late qualification had come as quite a surprise in the Republic and, as underdogs, Jackie Charlton’s men were excused the media-hype and pressure to which the English squad were subjected. After only six minutes came the big surprise, as England’s shaky defense were cruelly exposed by the lively Irish attack. Blunders by both Sansom and Stevens left Aldridge clear to lay on a pass to Houghton, who had no difficulty in beating Shilton. England nominally went onto the attack, but were badly let down by their supposed star forward line. Nor were things happy in the defense and, whenever the Irish moved onto the offensive, they caused problems. Hoddle replaced Webb after an hour, and largely prompted by this substitution the second half developed into one-way traffic as England attacked the Irish goal. But the Irish defense stood firm, Bonner in goal pulled off a number of good saves, and England squandered several chances before the referee blew for time.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Müngersdorferstadion (Köln)

DATE: 12-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 54.336

REFEREE: Dieter Pauly (FRG)

GOALS: 0-1 (Rats 52')

NED

Nederland

Netherlands - Soviet Union

СССР

USSR

0-1 (0-0)

NETHERLANDS

Van Breukelen

Van Tiggelen, Rijkaard, R. Koeman, Van Aerle

Vanenburg (Van Basten 59'), Wouters, Van 't Schip, Mühren

Bosman, Gullit (c)

COACH: Rinus Michels

SOVIET UNION

Dasaev (c)

Bessonov, Khidijatullin, Kuznetsov, Dem'janenko

Litovchenko, Mikhajlichenko, Zavarov (Sulakvelidze 90'), Rats

Protasov, Belanov (Alejnikov 82')

COACH: Valerij Lobanovskij

GAME SUMMARY

After soaking up almost continual Dutch pressure during the first half, soon after the interval the Soviet Union broke out of defense and took the lead through Rats. Holland played some delightful football, but when they got the ball into the Soviet area Dasaev was there to deny them. As the game progressed, the Dutch efforts seemed less and less likely to come to anything, and the Russians always posed more danger on the break and held on to their lead with relative ease.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Parkstadion (Gelsenkirchen)

DATE: 14-06-1988 (17:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 70.000

REFEREE: Robert Valentine (SCO)

GOALS: 1-0 (Klinsmann 10'); 2-0 (Thon 85')

FRG

Westdeutschland

FRG - Denmark

Danmark

DEN

2-0 (1-0)

FRG

Immel

Buchwald (Borowka 33'), Herget, Kohler

Rolff, Matthäus (c), Thon, Brehme

Littbarski, Völler (Mill 74'), Klinsmann

COACH: Franz Beckenbauer

DENMARK

Schmeichel

Sivebæk, L. Olsen, Nielsen, Heintze

Vilfort (Berggreen 73'), M. Olsen (c), Lerby, Laudrup (Eriksen 62')

Elkjær Larsen, Povlsen

COACH: Sepp Piontek

GAME SUMMARY

After a poor performance in their opening game, West Germany needed to step up to relieve the pressure from the local media. Denmark also needed to improve their image and made changes in their line-up, but only ten minutes into the game they found themselves trailing to a goal by Klinsmann after a sliced clearance from Lerby. West Germany were playing with immensely more purpose and effort than in their first game, and at halftime remained comfortably in the lead. On the hour Laudrup, who had been unable to get into the game to any effect, was replaced by Eriksen, but he too was easily neutralized by the tough German defense. Lerby came into the game in the last minutes and provided the first real Danish threat, firing in a number of useful long-range shots which tested Immel in the German goal. However, in minute 85 Littbarski sent over a superb corner kick which soared to the back of the penalty box, where Thon headed in to put West Germany en route to the semifinals.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Waldstadion (Frankfurt am Main)

DATE: 14-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 47.506

REFEREE: Erik Fredriksson (SWE)

GOALS: 1-0 (Vialli 73')

ITA

Italia

Italy - Spain

España

SPA

1-0 (0-0)

ITALY

Zenga

Bergomi (c), Ferri, Baresi

Donadoni, De Napoli, Giannini, Ancelotti, Maldini

Vialli (De Agostini 88'), Mancini (Altobelli 69')

COACH: Azeglio Vicini

SPAIN

Zubizarreta

Tomás, Sanchis, Andrinúa, Soler

Míchel (Beguiristáin 73'), Gallego (M. Vázquez 68'), Víctor, Gordillo (c)

Butragueño, Bakero

COACH: Miguel Muñoz

GAME SUMMARY

Italy imposed their play and never allowed Spain time to get into the game. After only nine minutes, Vialli should have put Italy ahead when his shot went over the bar, and two minutes later he had another goalbound shot deflected for a corner. At halftime the game was still goalless, although Italy had the upper hand. It was not until minute 73 when Vialli again, who had missed another easy chance three minutes before, scored the deciding goal for Italy.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Rheinstadion (Düsseldorf)

DATE: 15-06-1988 (17:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 63.940

REFEREE: Paolo Casarin (ITA)

GOALS: 0-1 (Van Basten 44'); 1-1 (Robson 53'); 1-2 (Van Basten 71'); 1-3 (Van Basten 75')

ENG

England

England - Netherlands

Nederland

NED

1-3 (0-1)

ENGLAND

Shilton

Stevens, Wright, Adams, Sansom

Steven (Waddle 68'), Robson (c), Hoddle, Barnes

Beardsley (Hateley 72'), Lineker

COACH: Bobby Robson

NETHERLANDS

Van Breukelen

Van Aerle, R. Koeman, Rijkaard, Van Tiggelen

Vanenburg (Kieft 60'), Wouters, E. Koeman, Mühren

Gullit (c), Van Basten (Suvrijn 87')

COACH: Rinus Michels

GAME SUMMARY

The game was preceded, the night before, by a street riot in Düsseldorf as English and Dutch fans clashed with local supporters. When the game was played the atmosphere was tense but, fielding a slightly different team, England played the more direct football throughout the first half and were unlucky to be a goal down at the break, after the opportunistic Van Basten was assisted by Gullit. Early in the second half, Robson equalized after playing a one-two with Lineker and, for a brief spell, England took command. However, the English defense still looked shaky and, in minute 71, failed to clear a Mühren free kick and Van Basten scored his second goal after being assisted again by Gullit. Four minutes later, the in-form AC Milan striker completed his hat-trick as England were virtually out of the reckoning for the semifinals.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Niedersachsenstadion (Hannover)

DATE: 15-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 38.308

REFEREE: Emilio Soriano Aladrén (SPA)

GOALS: 1-0 (Whelan 38'); 1-1 (Protasov 74')

IRL

Éire

Ireland - Soviet Union

СССР

USSR

1-1 (1-0)

IRELAND

Bonner

Morris, Moran, McCarthy, Hughton

Whelan, Sheedy, Houghton, Galvin

Stapleton (c) (Cascarino 80'), Aldridge

COACH: Jackie Charlton

SOVIET UNION

Dasaev (c) (Chanov 68')

Sulakvelidze (Gotsmanov 46'), Khidijatullin, Kuznetsov, Dem'janenko

Rats, Alejnikov, Mikhajlichenko, Zavarov

Protasov, Belanov

COACH: Valerij Lobanovskij

GAME SUMMARY

Ireland quickly dispelled any thoughts that their performance against England had been a flash in the pan. The Soviet Union played the same sort of game that had served them so well against Holland and were content to defend and counterattack the Irish for the first half-hour, until they began to apply the pressure themselves. Then, in minute 38, the Irish went ahead with one of the finest goals of the tournament when Ronnie Whelan superbly volleyed a McCarthy long-throw into the Russian net. The score remained unchanged at the interval and then, for almost half an hour, the Irish held firm and, on occasions, looked as if they might go further ahead. But Protasov equalized in minute 74 and the resulting draw meant that both teams only needed to take a point in their last game to reach the semifinals.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Olympiastadion (München)

DATE: 17-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 63.802

REFEREE: Michel Vautrot (FRA)

GOALS: 1-0 (Völler 29'); 2-0 (Völler 51')

FRG

Westdeutschland

FRG - Spain

España

SPA

2-0 (1-0)

FRG

Immel

Borowka, Herget, Kohler

Brehme, Littbarski (Wuttke 62'), Thon, Matthäus (c), Rolff

Klinsmann (Mill 83'), Völler

COACH: Franz Beckenbauer

SPAIN

Zubizarreta

Tomás, Andrinúa, Sanchis, Camacho (c)

Míchel, Martín Vázquez, Víctor, Gordillo

Butragueño (Julio Salinas 51'), Bakero

COACH: Miguel Muñoz

GAME SUMMARY

West Germany, much relieved after their triumph over Denmark, set about Spain and, after resisting early pressure, assumed complete control of the midfield through Matthäus. Völler put West Germany ahead at the half hour with a cross shot from just inside the area after being assisted by Klinsmann. As the game progressed, the home side became more and more dominant. Matthäus created the second German goal six minutes after the restart when he dashed half the length of the field before backheeling the ball to Völler, who cleverly toepoked it past Zubizarreta. West Germany settled back on their lead and had no difficulty in holding the few uninspired attacks that the Spaniards were able to muster in the last forty minutes of the game.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Müngersdorferstadion (Köln)

DATE: 17-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 60.500

REFEREE: Bruno Galler (SWI)

GOALS: 1-0 (Altobelli 67'); 2-0 (De Agostini 87')

ITA

Italia

Italy - Denmark

Danmark

DEN

2-0 (0-0)

ITALY

Zenga

Bergomi (c), Ferri, Baresi, Maldini

De Napoli, Giannini, Ancelotti

Donadoni (De Agostini 85'), Mancini (Altobelli 66'), Vialli

COACH: Azeglio Vicini

DENMARK

Schmeichel

Kristensen, L. Olsen, M. Olsen (c) (Berggreen 67'), Nielsen, Heintze

Frimann (Vilfort 58'), “Faxe” Jensen, Laudrup

Povlsen, Eriksen

COACH: Sepp Piontek

GAME SUMMARY

Italy faced Denmark in their last game knowing that a draw would be sufficient to qualify for semifinals, while all that the Danes could hope for was a little self respect. The Danish goalkeeper, Schmeichel, began very shakily and in only the 2nd minute completely mistimed an attempt to gather a Maldini cross, presenting Mancini with a virtual open goal, but the Italian attacker somehow managed to miss it. Thereafter Schmeichel became a liability as he mishandled almost everything that came his way, but it was not until midway the second half that Italy went ahead, when Vialli (once more the catalyst) dribbled past two men on the left wing and crossed the ball to Altobelli, who controlled it and shot from close range with his first touch of the game (he had being brought on as substitute for the ineffectual Mancini only some seconds before). Three minutes from the end De Agostini, the other Italian substitute who had been on the field for less than two minutes, emulated Altobelli’s feat and scored a second goal to kill off Denmark’s hopes of a comeback.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Waldstadion (Frankfurt am Main)

DATE: 18-06-1988 (15:30 h)

ATTENDANCE: 48.335

REFEREE: José Rosa dos Santos (POR)

GOALS: 0-1 (Alejnikov 3'); 1-1 (Adams 16'); 1-2 (Mikhajlichenko 28'); 1-3 (Pasul’ko 73')

ENG

England

England - Soviet Union

СССР

USSR

1-3 (1-2)

ENGLAND

Woods

Stevens, Watson, Adams, Sansom

McMahon (Webb 54'), Robson (c), Hoddle, Steven

Lineker (Hateley 69'), Barnes

COACH: Bobby Robson

SOVIET UNION

Dasaev (c)

Bessonov, Kuznetsov, Khidijatullin, Rats

Litovchenko, Zavarov (Gotsmanov 85'), Mikhajlichenko, Alejnikov

Belanov (Pasul’ko 44'), Protasov

COACH: Valerij Lobanovskij

GAME SUMMARY

England said goodbye to the tournament with an abysmal performance, showing once more their defensive problems. Meanwhile the Soviet Union, who only needed a draw to qualify, wanted an early goal to play calmly and got it when Alejnikov stole from Hoddle. England leveled in minute 16 when central defender Tony Adams superbly headed in a free kick from Hoddle. But the Soviets bounced straight back, and Mikhajlichenko met a cross from the left with a close-range header to make it 2-1 before halftime. In the second half, England had their chances to equalize, but it was the Soviet Union who took theirs as Rats assisted Pasul’ko to ensure their qualification for the semifinals.

 

GROUP STAGE

STADIUM: Parkstadion (Gelsenkirchen)

DATE: 18-06-1988 (15:30 h)

ATTENDANCE: 64.731

REFEREE: Horst Brummeier (AUT)

GOALS: 0-1 (Kieft 82')

IRL

Éire

Ireland - Netherlands

Nederland

NED

0-1 (0-0)

IRELAND

Bonner

Morris (Sheedy 46'), McCarthy, Moran, Hughton

Houghton, McGrath, Whelan, Galvin

Stapleton (c) (Cascarino 83'), Aldridge

COACH: Jackie Charlton

NETHERLANDS

Van Breukelen

Van Aerle, R. Koeman, Rijkaard, Van Tiggelen

Vanenburg, Wouters, Mühren (Bosman 79'), E. Koeman (Kieft 50')

Gullit (c), Van Basten

COACH: Rinus Michels

GAME SUMMARY

In a crowded Parkstadion, with an electric atmosphere in the stands and on the field, Eire and Holland contested for a place in the semifinals. At halftime the match was goalless, although both sides had come near to scoring, and it was the Irish who threatened most as the second half began. But the Dutch started to gain the initiative and pushed the Irish back onto the defensive after Kieft was brought on as substitute of Erwin Koeman. With only eight minutes left, Kieft’s head deflected a Ronald Koeman mishit shot past Bonner with a very strange topspin, and somehow fortunately Holland qualified for the semifinals.

 

1/2 FINAL

STADIUM: Volksparkstadion (Hamburg)

DATE: 21-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 56.115

REFEREE: Ion Igna (ROM)

GOALS: 1-0 (Matthäus [p.] 55'); 1-1 (R. Koeman [p.] 74'); 1-2 (Van Basten 88')

BOOKED: Van Breukelen (60')

FRG

Westdeutschland

FRG - Netherlands

Nederland

NED

1-2 (0-0)

FRG

Immel

Brehme, Herget (Pflügler 46'), Borowka, Kohler

Matthäus (c), Thon, Mill (Littbarski 84'), Rolff

Völler, Klinsmann

COACH: Franz Beckenbauer

NETHERLANDS

Van Breukelen

Van Aerle, R. Koeman, Rijkaard, Van Tiggelen

Mühren (Kieft 58'), Vanenburg, Wouters, E. Koeman (Suvrijn 90+')

Gullit (c), Van Basten

COACH: Rinus Michels

GAME SUMMARY

West Germany were forced to make a last minute change when Littbarski suffered stomach pains in the pre-match warm-up and was replaced by Frank Mill. This late change upset the Germans’ rhythm a little but, nevertheless, the goalless first half was fairly evenly balanced although the Dutch should have scored through Van Basten. Herget, who had been injured in a collision with Gullit, was replaced on halftime by Pflügler.

 

Just as the Dutch started to gain the upper hand after the break, they were set back on their heels when Matthäus scored from the penalty spot in minute 55 after Klinsmann had allegedly been tripped by Rijkaard. To that point Rijkaard had been the man of the match and he did not let the harsh penalty decision affect his game, but carried on supplying a flow of passes to Gullit, whose performance was at last beginning to live up to pre-match expectations. Twenty minutes after the German goal, Holland were back in the game when Ronald Koeman converted an even more dubious penalty awarded after Van Basten had tumbled over the outstretched leg of Kohler. This goal gave Holland the boost that they needed and they took control of the game for the last quarter of an hour, mounting a series of attacks. Just as the match seemed poised to go into extra-time, Wouters found Van Basten with a defense-splitting pass and his sliding shot gave Immel no chance. The Dutch held out for the remaining couple of minutes to claim a place in the final.

 

1/2 FINAL

STADIUM: Neckarstadion (Stuttgart)

DATE: 22-06-1988 (20:15 h)

ATTENDANCE: 61.606

REFEREE: Alexis Ponnet (BEL)

GOALS: 1-0 (Litovchenko 58'); 2-0 (Protasov 62')

BOOKED: Kuznetsov (2'), Bessonov (32'), Gotsmanov (44') / Baresi (33'), De Napoli (78'), Ferri (85')

USSR

СССР

Soviet Union - Italy

Italia

ITA

2-0 (0-0)

SOVIET UNION

Dasaev (c)

Bessonov (Dem'janenko 36'), Khidijatullin, Kuznetsov, Rats

Zavarov, Litovchenko, Mikhajlichenko, Alejnikov

Protasov, Gotsmanov

COACH: Valerij Lobanovskij

ITALY

Zenga

Bergomi (c), Baresi, Ferri, Maldini (De Agostini 65')

Donadoni, Ancelotti, De Napoli, Giannini

Mancini (Altobelli 46'), Vialli

COACH: Azeglio Vicini

GAME SUMMARY

The Soviet Union faced Italy too aware that no less than seven of their players had been booked in previous games and that a second yellow card for any of them would mean automatic exclusion from the final. However, this didn’t seem to concern the Soviets, as they treated their skillful opponents to bone-crunching tackles right from the start. As a result, Kuznetsov was booked after only two minutes and consequently suspended for the next game.

 

At halftime the game was goalless, although the Italians had come closest to scoring, and it was not until thirteen minutes into the second half that the deadlock was broken. Kuznetsov started the move when he broke from defense and, after some hesitation, Litovchenko stabbed the ball into the Italian net. Just four minutes later the man of the match, Zavarov, tore down the left flank and found Protasov as the Italians floundered, and his first-time shot whistled past Zenga for the second goal. The Italians attacked for the remaining half-hour but, despite one or two scrambles in goalmouth, they achieved nothing and the Soviet Union progressed to yet another European Championship final.

 

FINAL

STADIUM: Olympiastadion (München)

DATE: 25-06-1988 (15:30 h)

ATTENDANCE: 72.308

REFEREE: Michel Vautrot (FRA)

GOALS: 1-0 (Gullit 32’); 2-0 (Van Basten 54’)

BOOKED: Wouters (37’), Van Aerle (49’) / Dem'janenko (31’), Litovchenko (34’), Khidijatullin (42’)

[Incidents: Belanov missed a penalty shot (min. 60), saved by Van Breukelen.]

NED

Nederland

Netherlands - Soviet Union

СССР

USSR

2-0 (1-0)

NETHERLANDS

Van Breukelen

Van Aerle, R. Koeman, Rijkaard, Van Tiggelen

Vanenburg, Wouters, Mühren, E. Koeman

Gullit (c), Van Basten

COACH: Rinus Michels

SOVIET UNION

Dasaev (c)

Dem'janenko, Khidijatullin, Alejnikov, Rats

Litovchenko, Mikhajlichenko, Zavarov, Gotsmanov (Baltacha 68')

Belanov, Protasov (Pasul’ko 71')

COACH: Valerij Lobanovskij

GAME SUMMARY

Forgetting their 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Soviet Union earlier in the competition, Holland were determined to win and knew that the absence of key defender Kuznetsov would enable them to open up the center of the Russian defense as they had been unable to do before. In minute 6, Ronald Koeman showed the tremendous speed of his shooting when he blasted a free kick over the bar, and over the next twenty-five minutes the play swung from end to end. On the half-hour the Soviet Union should have gone ahead when Litovchenko shot straight at Van Breukelen, but two minutes later the Dutch took the lead. Erwin Koeman took a corner on the right; when it was headed out, he took he return pass and crossed with his left foot to the far post. With the Soviet defence coming out to play offside, Van Basten headed square towards the unmarked Gullit, whose own header beat Dasaev for power rather than accuracy. The Soviets came back onto the attack and, a few minutes later, should have equalized when the unmarked Belanov ballooned his shot over the Dutch bar.

 

After the interval the Dutch weathered further Russian attacks before moving ahead in minute 54, when Holland took their chance magically. A bad touch by Zavarov allowed Van Tiggelen to intercept and run forward before feeding Mühren wide on the left. His instant high cross went deep across the Soviet penalty area. When Mühren’s cross reached Van Basten, he was eight metres from goal and only five or six from the right-hand goal line, with no obvious option except a cross towards Gullit inside him. Instead, from that tight angle, full of confidence after the tournament he had been having, he hit an astonishing top-spin volley over the head of the best goalkeeper in Europe and just inside the far post. It was the greatest single strike in any top-level final and the crowning moment of the entire competition. Six minutes later Van Breukelen conceded a penalty with an unnecessary and clumsy foul on Gotsmanov when there was absolutely no danger, but redeemed himself by saving Belanov’s kick, whose long run-up did more to upset his own rhythm than terrify the Dutch goalkeeper. In the remaining half-hour, the Soviet Union attacked with decreasing enthusiasm and the Dutch always seemed to pose the greater threat when they had the ball. In the dying minutes they came close to make it 3-0 through Rijkaard. When the final whistle sounded, a sea of orange fans celebrated their country’s first-ever major championship win, after the “Clockwork Orange” failed to collect any major success in the 70s.

 

 

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