Soviet savour U18 success
Sunday 1 January 2006
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The Soviet Union defeated a fine Portuguese side to claim the 1988 UEFA European Under-18 Championship, but the Iberians were to succeed on another presitigious stage.
Big-name absentees
With only eight teams to qualify, again the preliminaries produced some notable casualties. While East Germany became the first holders since 1983 to reach the finals, the other semi-finalists from the previous tournament - Italy, West Germany and Scotland - missed out, as did world U20 champions Yugoslavia and all the other previous winners - not only West Germany and Scotland, but France and Hungary. Czechoslovakia, twice runners-up, were selected as hosts for the knockout finals, having had the second best qualifying record.
Spain run continues
However, Spain bettered that with six preliminary wins and clean sheets, kept that up in the quarter-finals as they defeated Czechoslovakia 1-0, the second time running that the hosts had fallen on the opening day. East Germany's defence continued with a 2-0 win against Denmark, the Soviet Union beat Norway 4-2 and Portugal's 'golden generation' of Paulo Sousa, Fernando Couto and co made their mark, overcoming the Netherlands, including Frank De Boer and Bryan Roy, 3-0.
Holders out
There was consolation for the hosts two days later as they clinched a 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship place with a 1-0 triumph against the Dutch as Norway defeated Denmark 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Portugal, who were to make their mark in the global event, continued their run in the semi-finals, Jorge Rodrigues and Filipe Ramos scoring the unanswered second-half goals against Spain. Meanwhile, East Germany held on for 65 minutes against the USSR before the holders succumbed to an Oleg Salenko double and Yuri Nikiforov strike.
Soviet success
The GDR overcame Spain 2-0 in the third-place match in Frydek Mistek, followed by the final. The score was 1-1 after 90 minutes, but the USSR prevailed against Portugal as Nikoforov and Salenko managed extra-time goals.
World crown
Portugal went one better at the World Championship in Saudi Arabia the following March. Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Norway and Spain missed out on the knockout phase, and the USSR reached the quarter-finals before losing to Nigeria on penalties - after a 4-4 draw. But after Portugal defeated Colombia and Brazil 1-0, they faced a Nigerian team they had beaten in the group stage, and thanks to goals from Abel Silva and Couto were crowned world champions.
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