June
22, 1988
Semi-final
Neckarstadion
Neckarstadion
Stuttgart
West Germany
68.000 spectators
Referee:
Ponnet (Belgie)
Italy: Zenga, Bergomi, Maldini (64`De Agostini ),
Baresi, Ferri, Ancelotti, Donadoni, De Napoli, Mancini (46`Altobelli ),
Giannini, Vialli. Coach: Azeglio Vicini.
USSR:
Dasaev, Bessonov (35`Demianenko ), Rats, Aleinikov, Kuznetsov, Khidiatullin,
Litovchenko, Zavarov, Protasov, Mikhailichenko, Gotsmanov. Coach: Valery
Lobanovsky.
The USSR
had begun nervously and the game was less than two minutes old when Kuznetsov,
imperious at the heart of their defence throughout in West Germany, picked up a
yellow card that would rule him out of any final. Yet the identity of the
Netherlands' opponents three days later remained hard to guess as the sides
went in for half-time at 0-0.
That was a
positive portent for the unbeaten Azzurri, whose three group games had also
been goalless at the interval – yet it was the USSR that stepped it up. The
breakthrough came on 58 minutes, when Kuznetsov advanced deep into Italy's half
before laying off for Mykhailychenko. The midfielder scrambled the ball into
Litovchenko's feet and although his initial shot was blocked he prodded in the
rebound.
Soon it was
2-0, as the diminutive Olexandr Zavarov darted away on the left before squaring
the ball to Protasov with the outside of his right boot; the striker needed no
invitation. Italy showed resolve, with 23-year-old Gianluca Vialli squandering
their best opening, but it was the USSR who booked a final meeting with a
Netherlands side they beat 1-0 in their group stage opener.
