Belgium beat Hungary to win bronze at the 1972 EURO

It proved a memorable day for Paul Van Himst in particular as hosts Belgium beat Hungary 2-1 to finish third.

Outclassed by West Germany in the semi-finals, Belgium dusted themselves down in impressive fashion. For Van Himst, who matched the Belgian record for most caps (68), it was an unforgettable occasion which was topped off by a goal which also drew him level with his country's best-ever haul of 30.

Belgium were already one to the good by that point, Raoul Lambert beating Miklós Páncsics twice, leaving him on his backside, before shooting high and left-footed to the goalkeeper's right. Lambert then went up the left and delivered a cross which, after a mistake by István Géczi left the Hungarian goalkeeper stranded, presented Van Himst with an open goal.

Lambert later went round the goalkeeper only to send a shot trickling wide. With Jan Verheyen marking Flórián Albert out of the game, Hungary were lucky to pull a goal back when Lajos Kű, having been felled by Léon Semmeling, converted the subsequent penalty. Van Himst and Lambert both spurned second-half opportunities to add to their tallies but there was no way back for Hungary.

Lineups

Hungary: Géczi; Fábián, Páncsics (c), Péter Juhász, Bálint; Kű, Kozma, Albert, István Juhász; Dunai, Zámbó (Szűcs 45)
Substitutes: Rapp, Kovács, Kocsis, Szőke
Coach: Rudolf Illovsky

Belgium: Piot; Heylens, Dolmans, Thissen, Polleunis; Vandendaele, Semmeling Verheyen; Dockx, Lambert, Van Himst (c)
Substitutes: Sanders, Van Binst, Martens, Teugels, Janssens
Coach: Raymond Goethals

Referee: Johan Einar Boström (Sweden)