european football championship 1968

The 1968 European Championship was the third UEFA European Championships, it was held in Italy between 5 June and 10 June 1968. The tournament was won by hosts, Italy, who defeated Yugoslavia 2-0 in a replay at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome after the first match had ended 1-1 after extra time.

It was in this year that the tournament changed its name from the European Nations' Cup to the European Championship.


Qualifying

The qualification for the 1964 European Nations Cup consisted of seven groups of four and one group of three. The group winners advanced to a quarter-final round with all ties played on a two-legged basis. The four quarter-final winners would qualify for the tournament proper with one of those four countries chosen to host it.

UEFA agreed that the combined results of the 1966-67 and 1967-68 British Home Championships would make up Qualifying Group 8 of the 1968 European Championship.

Malta were the oly UEFA member not to enter the qualifying competition.


Wales and the 1968 European Championship

UEFA agreed that the combined results of the 1966-67 and 1967-68 British Home Championships would make up Qualifying Group 8 of the 1968 European Championship.

Despite starting the campaign with a creditable draw at home to Scotland, Wales' hopes of qualification were over by the end of the first round of matches following a 5-1 thrashing by World Champions, England, and a disappointing 0-0 draw away to Northern Ireland.


Uefa qualifying group 8


no.datescorescorers (wales)venue 
27322/10/1966Wales 1-1 ScotlandR DaviesNinian Park, CardiffEC/BC
 22/10/1966Northern Ireland 0-2 England Windsor Park, BelfastEC/BC
 16/11/1966Scotland 2-1 Northern Ireland Hampden Park, GlasgowEC/BC
27416/11/1966England 5-1 WalesRW DaviesWembleyEC/BC
27512/04/1967Northern Ireland 0-0 Wales Windsor Park, BelfastEC/BC
 15/04/1967England 2-3 Scotland Wembley Stadium, LondonEC/BC
27621/10/1967Wales 0-3 England Ninian Park, CardiffEC/BC
 21/10/1967Northern Ireland 1-0 Scotland Windsor Park, BelfastEC/BC
 22/11/1967England 2-0 Northern Ireland Wembley Stadium, LondonEC/BC
27722/11/1967Scotland 3-2 WalesR Davies, DurbanHampden Park, GlasgowEC/BC
 24/02/1968Scotland 1-1 England Hampden Park, GlasgowEC/BC
27828/02/1968Wales 2-0 Northern IrelandRees, RW DaviesRacecourse Ground, WrexhamEC/BC

Group standings
  PWDLFAPts
1.England64111559
2.Scotland63211088
3.Wales61236124
4.Northern Ireland6114283

Players used during qualifying

Wales used 20 players during the campaign with Barrie Hole the only player to play every minute of every game.

Alan Jarvis won his first cap during the home game against Scotland, Rod Thomas won his first cap against Northern Ireland in Belfast whilst John Mahoney won his first cap in the home match against England.

PlayerSCOENGNIRENGSCONIR
Ron Davies909090 9090
Wyn Davies9090  9090
Alan Durban  90909090
Mike England9090 90 90
Colin Green 90 909090
Tery Hennessey9090 909090
Barrie Hole909090909090
Glyn James  90 90 
Alan Jarvis909090   
Cliff Jones9090 9090 
John Mahoney   90  
Tony Millington 9090  90
Keith Pring  90   
Gil Reece90     
Ron Rees 9090909090
Peter Rodrigues90  909090
Gary Sprake90  9090 
Rod Thomas  90   
Roy Vernon  9090  
Graham Williams909090  90