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History of the European Championships

 
 

 

1992

Hosts: Sweden
Winners: Denmark

Denmark gatecrashed a European Championships dominated by political turmoil, beating world champions and newly-reunified Germany 2-0 in the final.

John Jensen crashed in the opener from the edge of the penalty area on 19 minutes, and with Peter Schmeichel keeping a clean sheet for Denmark, Kim Vilfort slotted in the second goal off the post with 11 minutes remaining.

The Danes had replaced Yugoslavia in the tournament because of the Balkan wars, and got to the final after penalties against Holland - Schmeichel decisively saving Marco van Basten's effort after extra-time failed to produce a winner from a 2-2 draw.

Denmark had struggled to get out of their finals group, a Lars Elstrup goal 12 minutes from time allowing a 2-1 win over France in the deciding game, after they failed to score against Sweden and England.

The French, who had won all their qualifying games, disappointed in the finals - as did England - with Sweden the strongest team in Group A.

But the hosts fell 3-2 to Germany in the other semi-final, Karlheinz Riedle chipping in with two goals.

The Germans themselves struggled in Group B, coming second to Holland.
A Thomas Hassler strike rescued a point against the CIS, and after a 2-0 win against Scotland the Germans fell to a comprehensive 3-1 defeat against the Dutch.

CIS also held Holland to a draw, but were trounced 3-0 by Scotland in their wooden spoon play-off.

CIS - the Commonwealth of Independent States - was an alliance of 11 of the 15 former Soviet Republics, who were allowed by UEFA to compete after USSR had qualified before the break-up of the country.

But they failed to replicate the form of USSR, who had knocked Italy out of qualifying, and the Scotland defeat proved to be their last ever match.

 

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