West Germany recovered from the disappointment of their 1970 World Cup exit with a dominant display.
HOSTS: Belgium, WINNERS: West Germany
West Germany recovered from the disappointment of their 1970 World Cup semi-final defeat by dominating the 1972 European final for a 3-0 win against the USSR in Brussels.
Gerd Muller opened the scoring after half an hour, before Herbert Wimmer doubled the lead on 52 minutes and Muller confirmed the win with a cool chipped finish from 10 yards just before the hour mark.
The win came barely three weeks after Muller had single-handedly torn apart the Soviet side, scoring all four in a 4-1 friendly win.
The forward proved his position as the premier striker of his era with two further goals in the semi-final win over Belgium, adding to the seven he scored in qualifying.
The hosts had qualified for the first time, surprising holders Italy 2-1 in the two-legged quarter-final after topping their preliminary group.
They guaranteed third place with a 2-1 win over Hungary, who were edged-out 1-0 by the Soviets in the other semi-final.
Hungary needed a replay against Romania to reach the last four, who had qualified ahead of Czechoslovakia in Group 1 by virtue of fewest goals conceded.
Passage
West Germany recorded their first win at Wembley as they knocked England out of the competition.
The first-leg tie was 1-1 until five minutes from time, when Gunter Netzer beat Gordon Banks.
Muller added a third, and a goalless return leg in West Berlin ensured passage to the semis.
Meanwhile Holland were knocked out in the group stages, coming second to Yugoslavia - though they did put 14 goals past Luxembourg in two legs, Johann Cruyff grabbing five of those, in a taster of what was to come in the 1974 World Cup.
