West Germany won the 1972 UEFA European Championship, defeating the Soviet Union 3–0 in the final held in Brussels.
Key Facts
- Tournament edition
- 4th UEFA European Championship
- Host country
- Belgium
- Final score
- West Germany 3–0 Soviet Union
- Final venue
- Heysel Stadium, Brussels
- Goal scorers in final
- Gerd Müller (2), Herbert Wimmer
- Tournament dates
- 14–18 June 1972
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
UEFA held its European Football Championship every four years, with Belgium selected as host from three candidates — England and Italy also bid but their national teams failed to reach the semi-finals. All competing nations had to pass through a qualifying round before the four-team final tournament.
The final tournament took place in Belgium between 14 and 18 June 1972, comprising semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and the final. West Germany faced the Soviet Union in the final at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, winning 3–0 with goals from Gerd Müller (twice) and Herbert Wimmer.
West Germany claimed the UEFA European Championship title, cementing their status as the dominant European football nation of the early 1970s. The commanding 3–0 victory in the final marked one of the most decisive results in the tournament's history up to that point.
Result
at Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium