West Germany won the vote to host the 1988 competition but had to give an undertaking that none of the matches would be played in West Berlin. The Eastern Bloc nations did not consider Berlin part of the Federal Republic and had threatened a boycott if matches were allocated there. The holders, France failed to qualify.
Teams were required to wear numbers on their shorts as well as the back of their shirts for the first time.
West Germany
Italy
Both teams were rebuilding and fielded young sides in an entertaining match. Italy took the lead through Mancini in the 52nd minute but Germany hit back almost immediately.
Spain
Denmark
Spain had beaten Denmark in both the previous European Championship and World Cup finals and made it three in a row, Michel giving them the lead after 5 minutes. Laudrup equalised after 24 minutes but in the second half, Spain dominated and scored twice more. Povisen scored a second for Denmark with eight minutes left but the result was never really in doubt.
(Θάνος Σπηλιωτακάρας, Stein Jacobsen)
West Germany
Denmark
The Germans marked Laudrup, the star of the aging Danish team, out of the game and finished as comfortable winners. Denmark became the first team to be eliminated from the finals as a result.
(Stein Jacobsen)
Italy
Spain
The young Italian side were the better of the two teams but struggled to find a way through Spain's defence until Gianluca Vialli scored in the 71st minute. Defending a lead was what the Italians did best and Spain were unable to break through in the remaining time.
West Germany
Spain
The hosts saw off Spain, Rudi Völler scoring twice to put West Germany into the semi-finals.
Italy
Denmark
Italy cruised past Denmark and into the semi-finals thanks to two second-half goals by Altobelli and De Agostini.
Republic of Ireland
England
Ireland, making their first appearance in the European Championship finals took a shock lead after just six minutes following a long free-kick by Kevin Moran, Ray Houghton finishing with a header while the English defence were all over the place. In the second half England finally woke up and were constantly on the attack but they squandered chance after chance while Bonner performed heroics in goal.
Soviet Union
Netherlands
The Soviet team packed the midfield to stifle the creativity of the Dutch and their tactics paid off after the splendidly named Rats gave them what proved to be the winner seven minutes into the second-half.
(Stewart Brown)
Netherlands
England
After defeat in their opening games, a win in this match was vital for both sides. England hit the post twice in the first half and were perhaps unfortunate to be a goal down at half-time. Brian Robson equalised shortly after the restart but van Basten scored twice in three minutes to complete his hat trick.
Republic of Ireland
Soviet Union
Critics who dismissed Ireland's result against England as a fluke were confounded as Jack Charlton's men achieved a very creditable draw against a strong USSR team. Ronnie Whelan gave them the lead with a brilliant volley and they were perhaps unfortunate to concede a late equaliser.
Soviet Union
England
After Glen Hoddle gifted the ball to Serguei Alenikov who ran through an absent England defence to score after three minutes it was clear that the team touted as possible tournament winners was seriously out of its depth. Adams gave them some hope with an equalising goal on 16 minutes but two more goals (Mykhailychenko 28, Pasulko 73) completed England's humiliation.
Netherlands
Republic of Ireland
Ireland played heroically to hold out against constant Dutch attacking and might have taken the lead when Paul McGrath hit the post with a header from their only corner of the first half. The goal, when it came with eight minutes left was a freakish affair, Wim Kift's glancing header curling viciously past Bonner. The Irish fans stayed in the ground for half an hour after the match ended to applaud their team's effort.
Netherlands
West Germany
The Dutch were determined to gain revenge for their 1974 World Cup final defeat (also in Germany). There were no goals in the first half and when Matthäus put West Germany into the lead (55 min's) the Netherlands were up against it. Koeman leveled the scores in the 74th minute and van Basten snatched the winner with two minutes to go.
Soviet Union
Italy
With no goals at half-time, Italy were confident they would get the better of their opponents in the second half but it was the Soviet team that took the honours thanks to Litovchenko and Protasov.
Netherlands
Soviet Union
Nerves prevented the game from coming to life in the first half-hour. Gullit broke the deadlock just after the half-hour and nine minutes into the second half, van Basten, having the tournament of his life, scored with an astonishing volley from an impossible angle. The USSR almost got back into the game when they were awarded a penalty but Igor Belanov's kick was blocked by van Breukelen. This was the Netherlands' first major trophy.