Ceret Sports: Euro Cup 1988 Semi-final Italy USSR

June 22, 1988

Semi-final
Neckarstadion

Stuttgart

West Germany

68.000 spectators

Referee: Ponnet (Belgie)

Italy: Zenga, Bergomi, Maldini (64`De Agostini ), Baresi, Ferri, Ancelotti, Donadoni, De Napoli, Mancini (46`Altobelli ), Giannini, Vialli. Coach: Azeglio Vicini.

USSR: Dasaev, Bessonov (35`Demianenko ), Rats, Aleinikov, Kuznetsov, Khidiatullin, Litovchenko, Zavarov, Protasov, Mikhailichenko, Gotsmanov. Coach: Valery Lobanovsky.

The USSR had begun nervously and the game was less than two minutes old when Kuznetsov, imperious at the heart of their defence throughout in West Germany, picked up a yellow card that would rule him out of any final. Yet the identity of the Netherlands' opponents three days later remained hard to guess as the sides went in for half-time at 0-0.

That was a positive portent for the unbeaten Azzurri, whose three group games had also been goalless at the interval – yet it was the USSR that stepped it up. The breakthrough came on 58 minutes, when Kuznetsov advanced deep into Italy's half before laying off for Mykhailychenko. The midfielder scrambled the ball into Litovchenko's feet and although his initial shot was blocked he prodded in the rebound.

Soon it was 2-0, as the diminutive Olexandr Zavarov darted away on the left before squaring the ball to Protasov with the outside of his right boot; the striker needed no invitation. Italy showed resolve, with 23-year-old Gianluca Vialli squandering their best opening, but it was the USSR who booked a final meeting with a Netherlands side they beat 1-0 in their group stage opener.