1968 European Nations Cup - Italy

The Italian miracle

The Italian national soccer team poses before its friendly match against France 16 March 1966 in Paris. (Standing from L : Sandro Salvadore, Roberto Rosato, Giovanni-Baptiste Pirovano, Enrico Albertosi, Giacinto Facchetti, Luigi Riva; front row, from L : Mario Corso, Sandrino Mazzola, Narcisio Burgnich, Angelo Domenghini, Gianni Rivera) AFP PHOTO

(FILES) - Portrait taken 08 May 1970 in Italy, of Italian defender Giancinto Fachetti who played for the Italian national soccer team during the 1970 World Soccer Cup.

Long before penalty shoot-outs or the golden goal, Italy beat the USSR in one memorable semi-final on the toss of a coin, the game having ended in a 0-0 stalemate even after extra-time.

Italy captain Jacinto Facchetti emerged from the dressing room, where the toss had taken place, and ran out onto the pitch to alert the fans to this wildly celebrated but rather hollow victory.

In the final against Yugoslavia the teams again could not be separated and after extra time the match finished 1-1, though this time the contest went to a replay.

Two days later in the same Olympic stadium in Rome and with only 32,886 spectators, as compared to the 68,817 for the original final, Italy lifted the European nations Cup with a 2-0 win.

For the third edition of the competition, the countries of the "Old Continent" picked up the momentum of four years earlier, this time with 31 countries taking part in the eliminators with, for the first time and following in the footsteps of the World Cup, the introduction of 8 groups.

From these groups one team would qualify : Spain, Bulgaria, the USSR, Yugoslavia (who eliminated West Germany), Hungary, Italy, England and France.

The semi-finals featured the Yugoslavia of Osim and Dzajic, the Soviets (for the third time in a row), Bobby Charlton's England - with Charlton arriving on the heels of European Cup victory with Manchester United - and host nation Italy.

A leading role for Mazzola

In the first semi-final in Florence, world champions England found their match, and subsequent conquerers, in a superb Yugoslav team inspired by Dragan Dzajic, who scored in the final minute of play. Playmaker Ivica Osim had unceremoniously been deprived of all creativity by Nobby Stiles and his accomplices.

(FILES) - Portrait taken 08 May 1970 in Italy, of Italian forward/midfielder Sandro Mazzola who played for the Italian national soccer team during the 1970 World Soccer Cup.

For their part, the "azzurri" made the most of a favourable draw in Rome with the afore-mentioned toss of the coin.

In the final Yugoslavia controlled much of the game and scored first through Dzajic five minutes before half-time.

A young and inspirational goalkeeper Dino Zoff kept Italy in it before an Angelo Domenghini free-kick 12 minutes from time provided relief and an equaliser for the Italians, sending the final to a first ever replay.

In the replay Gigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi effectively handed Italy its first European nations Cup. Though at times lucky, Italy, inspired by playmaker Sandro Mazzola, largely merited the home win.

Did you know ? - 1968

The English national soccer team players pose for a group picture after their victory over West Germany in the World Cup final in London in 1966. Standing, left-to-right: Ray Wilson, Jimmy Greaves, Paul Bonetti, Nobby Stiles, Bobby Moore (captain), John Connelly; Front row: Alan Ball, Jacky Charlton, George Eastham, Geoff Hurst, George Cohen. Absents on the picture: Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters and Roger Hunt. Les joueurs de l'équipe d'Angleterre posent pour une photo de groupe après leur victoire contre l'Allemagne, en finale de la Coupe du Monde de Football, le 07 juillet 1960 à Londres. De gauche à droite : Ray Wilson, Jimmy Greaves, Paul Bonetti, Nobby Stiles, Bobby Moore (capitaine), John Connelly. Accroupis : Alan Ball, Jacky Charlton, George Eastham, Geoff Hurst, George Cohen. Absents de la photo: Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters et Roger Hunt.

DRACULA: During the match to decide third place between England and the USSR, the Italian public quickly began to support the Soviets. Each time England, the reigning world champions, kicked the ball, they were met with whistling. Manchester United's rugged midfielder, Nobby Stiles, was one of the players picked out for special treatment. Already nicknamed "Dracula" by the Italian press, Stiles, who was in the habit of taking his teeth out before each game, reciprocated the gesture by waving to the crowd, and offering them a big, toothless smile.

(FILES) - Portrait taken in 1970 in Rome of midfielder Luigi Riva who played for the Italian national soccer team.

COLLECTION: "Gigi" Riva, one of the two players who scored for Italy in the replayed final against Yugoslavia, was a Sardinian idol. Since his arrival on the island he helped Cagliari to promotion into Serie A. As the European champions the previous year, Cagliari's supporters went as far as taking a mass collection to prevent the big-money clubs from the north coming in for their prized asset.

SERVICE INCLUDED: The Swiss referee during the first final was far from being neutral. Indeed, partiality and provocative gestures towards the Yugoslav players made it clear on which side of the fence Mr Dienst was sitting. He even went as far as refusing Yugoslavia an indisputable penalty in the first half. Having been dominated the whole match, the Italians hung on for a draw (1-1 after extra time), and the refereeing was deemed "scandalous".

CONSOLATION: During numerous competitions at European level in 1968, many French teams had been knocked out at one stage or another by the finalists. Saint-Etienne by Benfica in the European Cup, Lyon by Hamburg in the Cup Winners' Cup and the French national team by Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals of the European nations Cup.