EURO 1960

Lav Yashin stopped Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia

European football competition takes place in regular intervals, every four years. Originally, this competition was called the UEFA European Nations Cup, after two two competitions, 1960. and 1964. it was renamed into UEFA European Championship. The participants of the tournament are the teams that go through a qualifying phase of the competition. In the first five championships qualifications were long and fierce and only four teams were participant of final tournament. 
Od Since 1980. eight teams compete in the finals, and since 1996. 16 national  teams appearances on tournament. Since first day host nation, or host nations has the right to direct entry to the final tournament. Recent rule changes allow more countries to host the championship, so first dual host nations were Belgium and Netherlands in 2000. also Austria and Switzerland hosted the championship in 2008. and the last EURO was in Poland and Ukraine, four years ago.   
Eurpean Championship with 24 national teams, for the first time, will be in France.
Unlike from the World Cup which started to play in 1930., in the „Old Continent“ we had to wait for 30 years for similar competition. So, everything started back in 1960. when on the initiative of the secretary of France Football Federation, Henri Delaunay was held first championship where from the following qualifications participated only four national teams. Final match at the Paris Parc des Princes brought the match of a former countries, Yugoslavia and Soviet Union. Former Yugoslav team took lead by a goal form Milan Galić but Soviets turnover the score and celebrated with 2-1 in extra time of the that extremely intersting and exciting game. 
Only 17 national teams were in qualification for that first European championship. Many football authorities sad - that tournament won't be interesting and exciting. About that opinion in the first row where: Italians, Germans (West Germany), England, so one of the best football teams. West Germany even boycotted qualifications until 1968. 
There have been more intersting conflict of opinion, so in first qualification Spanish dictator Franco did not allow national team to play quarter-final match against communist Soviet Union. It was tough times. 
National team of Yugoslavia during these years had a really great team, and in that year they won gold medail at Olympic Games, many of them were thinking that they are favorite in first Cup of Nations, today European championship. On thier way to the Cup of Nations in France Yugoslavia in cup system eliminated Bulgaria and in that time strong Portugal.

In the first semi-final Cup of Nations, France and Yugoslavia, it was seen nine goals. Although France had 3-1 and 4-2 in the end it ended 5-4 for Yugoslavia. In that match goals for national team of Yugoslavia were scored by Dražan Jerković twice, then Galić, Žanetić and Knez. Dinamo's footballer Jerković played in best form of life.

-Dražen Jerković sticker from Championi Naši Nogometaši

In the second semi-final match Soviet Union without problem won against Czechoslovakia, it was 3-0.

In the match for 3rd place Czechoslovakia beat France 2-0, and final between Yugoslavia and Soviet Union was decided after extra time.

Final match was played in Paris. It was an even match. Yugoslavia was favorite.
„The night before the game, we were confident that we will be champions. That evening before the game we decided to stay in a hotel, becouse we were worry for everyone of us.“ –Željko Perušić, former talent of Dinamo and Yugoslavia national team

In final match Yugoslavia played with: Vidinić, Đurković, Jusufi, Žanetić, Miladinović, Perušić, Šekularac, D. Jerković, Galić, Matuš and Kostić. In that team there were also lot of players from Croatia: Dražan Jerković, Tomislav Crnković, Željko Matuš, Željko Perušić, Ante Žanetić, Tomislav Knez and Branko Zebec.
At the end of first half (42) Galić scored for Yugoslavia lead, but immediately in the beginning of the second in 49. minute Soviet Union scored the equalizer goal by Metreveli. Until the end both teams missed their opportunities and they had to play extra time. On Soviets goal there was one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Lev Yashin. Decision goal was scored by Ponedelnik in 114. minute. Soviet Union became the first champion of Europe.

Author: Andrija Kačić-Karlin, translated by Stickerpedia

 



-Milan Galić Partizan sticker from album Championi Naši Nogometaši




-Yugoslavia team from semi-final match vs France
First line (up): Zebec, Šoškić, Jerković, Jusufi, Galić and Kostić
Second line (down): Durković, Knez, Žanetić, Perušić i Sekularac