Czechoslovakia won their only European Championship title via a 5–3 penalty shootout, and Antonín Panenka's winning kick gave its name to a now-iconic penalty technique.
Key Facts
- Date
- 20 June 1976
- Venue
- Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade
- Attendance
- 30,790 supporters
- Score after extra time
- 2–2 draw
- Penalty shootout result
- Czechoslovakia 5–3 West Germany
- Referee
- Sergio Gonella (Italy)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Czechoslovakia and West Germany each advanced through qualifying groups and two-legged quarter-finals, then overcame the Netherlands and Yugoslavia respectively in extra-time semi-finals, setting up a final between the two sides at Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade on 20 June 1976.
The final ended 2–2 after extra time, forcing a penalty shootout in which Czechoslovakia defeated West Germany 5–3. The decisive penalty was scored by Antonín Panenka, who gently chipped the ball down the middle of the goal, wrongfooting the diving goalkeeper in one of football's most celebrated moments.
Czechoslovakia claimed their only European Championship title. Panenka's audacious technique — a softly lobbed penalty struck down the centre — became widely imitated and is now universally referred to as a 'Panenka,' permanently associating his name with that style of kick.
Result
at Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Yugoslavia