Czechoslovakia beat hosts France in EURO 1960 third-place play-off

Czechoslovakia beat France 2-0 to wrap up third place at the inaugural UEFA European Football Championship.

Defeated 3-0 by the Soviet Union in the last four, the Czechs mounted an impressive response against the hosts, who themselves had surrendered a 4-2 lead to be eliminated by Yugoslavia in the semi-finals. Superior for large periods, Czechoslovakia ultimately prevailed thanks to goals from Vlastimil Bubník and Ladislav Pavlovič.

It proved a defining fixture in Marseille, with seven players from either side – including France's elegant centre-half Robert Jonquet – never capped again. Robert Siatka and goalkeeper Jean Taillandier were handed French debuts in the third-place play-off, but both were helpless to deny the Czechoslovakian opener, Bubník driving in Ladislav Novák's long cross from the edge of the penalty area.

Pavlovic added a second when he robbed Michel Stievenard and ran in from the halfway line. There was no way back for a France team which was further blunted when an injury to Jean-Jacques Marcel forced him out on to the right wing.

Lineups

Czechoslovakia: Schrojf; Šafránek, Popluhár, Novák (c); Buberník, Masopust; Pavlovič, Vojta, Molnár, Bubník, Dolinský
Substitutes: none
Coach: Rudolf Vytlačil

France: Tallandier; Rodzik, Jonquet (c), Chorda, Siatka; Marcel; Heutte, Douis,Wisnieski, Stievenard, Vincent
Substitutes: none
Coach: Albert Batteux

Referee: Cesare Jonni (Italy)