ITALY
ITALY 2-0 YUGOSLAVIA
Before hostilities amongst the 31 entrants got underway, there were major off-field developments with the tournament taking on its modern-day moniker - the European Football Championship - replacing the original European Nations' Cup.
Reigning world champions England qualified for the semi-final stages for the first time in their history, and with the same squad that overcame Germany 4-2 in the 1966 final, were hotly-tipped to add continental glory to their world crown.
England were drawn against the talented but temperamental Yugoslavs, who had swept aside France 5-1 in the home leg of their quarter-final.
In a bad-tempered game in Florence, Bobby Charlton rose above the foul-strewn mediocrity to twice come close to sending England through to the final.
But the Yugoslavs - who had looked dangerous on the break - delivered the telling blow just four minutes before full-time, Dzajic chesting down Petkovic's cross before smashing the ball past Gordon Banks to send the Balkan side through.
Alan Mullery's red card just a minute from the end merely compounded the world champions' woes.
Italy had a more comfortable - if infinitely more fortuitous - passage to the final, 'defeating' the USSR on the toss of a coin.
And the fates smiled on the host nation once again in the final.
Yugoslavia were leading 1-0 through Dzajic when the Azzurri were awarded a free-kick. With the Balkan side still lining up their defensive wall, Domenghini took the kick quickly, catching the Yugoslavs napping to snatch an equaliser.
The game finished all square.
The Italians made five changes to their line-up for the replay while the Yugoslavs kept faith with the eleven from the first game, the Azzurri finally overcoming their tired opponents 2-0 with goals from Riva and Anastasi.
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