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20 Greatest European Championship Moments of All-Time

By Jon O'brien

Famous figures from football history gathered on the pitch before the European Cup final between Leeds United and Bayern Munich, (back row from left) Marquitez, Matt Busby, Miguel Munoz and Keizer, (front row from left) Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, Jose Augusto, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Famous figures from football history gathered on the pitch before the European Cup final between Leeds United and Bayern Munich, (back row from left) Marquitez, Matt Busby, Miguel Munoz and Keizer, (front row from left) Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, Jose Augusto, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) /
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The Italian team poses for pictures after beating Yugoslavia 2-0 in the UEFA European Football Championship Final replay at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, 10th June 1968. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Italian team poses for pictures after beating Yugoslavia 2-0 in the UEFA European Football Championship Final replay at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, 10th June 1968. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) /

The coin toss

Penalty shootouts, golden goals, silver goals – there have been many ways to settle a draw in tournament football over the years, but they don’t come much crueller or much more random than the approach adopted in Euro 1968.

Yes, in a sport dependent on skill, flair and finesse, UEFA bosses decided that the most appropriate way to settle the semi-final between Soviet Union and Italy was the toss of a coin.

Following an evenly-matched goalless 120 minutes, Soviet captain Albert Shesternyov was given the thankless responsibility of calling heads or tails on the flip of a Dutch guilder. Sadly, for him and the rest of his weary side, he guessed wrong and a fortunate Italy went through.

The Italians’ final against Yugoslavia also finished level, but UEFA had finally seen sense by then and the much fairer method of a replay, in which they won 2-0, determined the outcome instead.

Next: Panenka’s ice-cool penalty