Thursday 12 May 2016 15:39, UK
Czechoslovakia were the first side to win a major international tournament by penalty shoot-out.
Czechoslovakia were the first side to win a major international tournament by a penalty shoot-out, defeating holders and world champions West Germany 5-4 after extra-time had failed to add to the 2-2 scoreline.
Two goals in half an hour had put the Czechs ahead, after they had already dispatched Holland after extra-time in a physical semi-final, and USSR and England in the qualifying stages.
But Dieter Muller pulled one back on 28 minutes and a last-minute equaliser from Bernd Holzenbein ensured the game went to extra-time, and the historic penalty shoot-out.
All were converted until Uli Hoeness skied over West Germany's fourth attempt, and Antonin Panenka chipped in the winning penalty past Sepp Maier for Czechoslovakia's only major international trophy.
The favourites West Germany themselves needed extra-time to beat Yugoslavia in their semi-final, Muller grabbing the crucial goals to complete a hat-trick on international debut as 19 goals were scored in the finals, matching the record of 1960.
Eight groups of four teams produced the quarter-finalists, which looked for a time as though it might not include West Germany.
The holders lay two points behind Greece with two games to play after a poor start to their qualifying group, but a 1-0 win over Bulgaria was followed up by a comprehensive 8-0 demolition of Malta. England began well with seven points from four games, including a famous 5-0 win over Cyprus at Wembley where Malcolm MacDonald scored all five.
Wales fared better, edging out fading powers Hungary and Austria in Group 2, while Italy scored only three qualifying goals to finish third in Group 5, behind Poland and qualifiers Holland.
In the quarter-finals Czechoslovakia put out the USSR, who failed to make the final four for the first time, while Wales could not recover a first-leg deficit against Yugoslavia, West Germany beat Spain and Holland crushed neighbours Belgium 7-1 on aggregate.
