Marcelino heads Spain to EURO 1964 final win against USSR

On home soil and against holders the Soviet Union, Spain triumphed 2-1 to win the 1964 UEFA European Championship and lift the first major trophy in their history.

In front of a boisterous Santiago Bernabéu crowd which included President Franco, the hosts took an early lead through Jesús María Pereda. The USSR were soon level courtesy of Galimzyan Khusainov but Spain came good once more, Luis Suárez again demonstrating his influence by laying on Marcelino Martínez for the winner.

Suárez had become an increasingly instrumental figure for the Roja and it was his attacking endeavour that helped create his team's opener. All four Spanish goals in the tournament were the result of crosses from the right and on this occasion it was Suárez who provided a delivery which, having been missed by Eduard Mudrik, was thumped in by Pereda from close range.

That goal marked the start of a happy return to the Santiago Bernabéu for a player who had left Real Madrid to become a star striker for arch-rivals Barcelona.

There was immediate deflation for the home crowd, however, when Khusainov put the USSR on level terms. While Feliciano Rivilla, fast and intelligent, had an intriguing duel with the willing Khusainov, and Albert Shesternyov enjoyed a real contest with Marcelino, the two teams contrived to cancel each other out thereafter.

The USSR rearguard held out capably enough, but the absence of an extra defensive midfielder, Alexey Korneyev, eventually told against them and left Valery Voronin lacking creative support. The winner came when Suárez sent another pass out to the right, Pereda crossed, and Marcelino's superb stooping header went low inside the near post. Even the great Lev Yashin, still superb at 34, could not stop it.

Reaction

Jesús María Pereda, Spain midfielder: "We really were a good unit. We had Suárez to conduct the orchestra. Then we had great players like Amancio [Amaro] and Marcelino, who was a natural goalscorer. It was a fantastic squad really."

Luis Suárez, Spain midfielder: "The Bernabéu was full. And at the time the capacity was much greater than it is now. We had suffered a lot during the semi-final against Hungary, so the fans were in the right frame of mind to get behind us right from the start. That gave us a great sense of security and helped us to stay calm. That special atmosphere on the pitch and in the stands is one of the things that I especially remember from that final, alongside the good performance of our team – because in those days the USSR were a very good team indeed. We deserved to win. Nobody really expected it."

Line-ups

Spain: Iribar; Rivilla, Olivella (c), Calleja; Zoco, Fusté, Pereda; Amaro, Martínez, Suárez, Lapetra
Substitutes: none
Coach: José Villalonga

USSR: Yashin; Shustikov, Shesternyov, Mudrik, Anichkin; Voronin; Chislenko, Ivanov (c), Ponedelnik, Korneyev, Khusainov
Substitutes: none
Coach: Konstantin Beskov

Referee: Arthur Ellis (England)