History Of The European Championship: 1960

After the Preliminary and First Rounds, eight teams played off to qualify for the Finals which were to be held in France. Czechoslovakia beat Romania comfortably, knocking five goals past them without reply over the two legs.

France too recorded home and away victories in their tie against Austria. Just Fontaine scored a hat-trick in Paris as a Raymond Kopa inspired French side qualified to play in the Championship with the advantage of being hosts.

Yugoslavia lost 2-1 away to Portugal in the first leg of their quarter-final but then turned it around in the JNA Stadion in Belgrade, winning 5-1 with Kostic scoring twice. Spain refused to travel to the USSR, who thereby qualified for the Finals automatically.

In the semi-finals there were no suprises as two Eastern Bloc countries took their places in the Final. The Soviet Union saw off Czechoslovakia 3-0 with Ivanov scoring twice before Ponedelnik added a decisive third.

In the other semi-final a classic encounter saw the Yugoslavs come out on top against France 5-4, a match in which seven different players scored.

Galic's goal was quickly cancelled out by Vincent before Huette put France 2-1 up just before half-time. Just seven minutes after the break, Wisnieski put France two goals clear and, seemingly, into the Final - but within two minutes Zanetic got Yugoslavia back to 3-2.

With a partisan crowd of 26,000 urging the French forward, Huette scored his secong of the game to give France a two- goal lead for the second time in the match.