The fifth European Championship finals were held in Yugoslavia and were the last to be held under the old format. For the first time, penalties were used to decide the winner if scores were level after extra time. In fact extra time was required in every game.
This was the first time that kits with the iconic Adidas three-stripe design appeared in the finals.
Czechoslovakia
Netherlands
Czechoslovakia led for most of the game but late in the game Ondruš, who had scored for the Czechs, put through his own goal. With penalties looming, the Czechs scored twice in the last six minutes of extra time to end Dutch hopes of their first title.
West Germany
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia, playing on their own turf, led 2-0 at half-time but the German team was renowned for refusing to give up and with eight minutes of normal time left, they drew level. In extra time they scored twice in four minutes to sink Yugoslavia.
(Duda Sampaio, Franc Forjan)
Netherlands
Yugoslavia
A measly crowd turned out to watch "the little final" and were entertained by an exciting game. The Dutch scored twice in the first half but the home team pulled one back just before half-time. Dragan Džajić leveled the scores with eight minutes left but Geels scored the winner, his second, after 107 minutes.
(Franc Forjan)
Czechoslovakia
West Germany
Once again West Germany found themselves trailing by two goals against the underdogs and once again they refused to lie down, scoring the equaliser in the last minute of normal time. There was no further scoring so for the first time a penalty competition would decide the championship. After Uli Hoeneß put his effort over the bar, Antonin Panenka calmly chipped the ball into the middle of the net, over the diving Sepp Maier. This style of penalty became known as "the Panenka."