USSR reach EURO 1988 semis and leave England point-less

The Soviet Union beat England 3-1 to progress to the semi-finals and leave Bobby Robson's team without a point to their name.

Any chance England – already eliminated – had of heading home with at least some degree of consolation was ended in only the third minute, when Sergei Aleynikov put the USSR in front. Though Tony Adams drew England level, a goal in either half from Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko and Viktor Pasulko was enough for Valeriy Lobanovskiy's team to reach the last four once again.

Their cause was helped no end when Glenn Hoddle was easily dispossessed early on, Aleynikov surging through the middle and turning sharply before finishing past Chris Woods. Hoddle helped to make amends on 16 minutes, whipping in a free-kick which Tony Adams met with a bullet header.

Oleksandr Zavarov on the rampage for the USSRIcon Sport via Getty Images

Each team was subsequently denied by the woodwork, Trevor Steven for England and Oleh Protasov for the USSR, before Mykhailychenko made a perfectly timed run into the penalty area and headed in Ihor Belanov's cross. Pasulko finished from close range to make it three, completing a miserable tournament for England while leaving the USSR in buoyant mood ahead of the semi-finals.

Lineups

USSR coach Valeriy LobanovskiyGetty Images

England: Woods; Sansom, Adams, Watson, Stevens; Barnes, Hoddle, Robson (c), McMahon (Webb 54),Steven; Lineker (Hateley 69)
Substitutes: Shilton, Beardsley, Viv Anderson
Coach: Bobby Robson

USSR: Dasaev (c); Kuznetsov, Khidiyatullin, Bessanov; Rats, Mykhaylychenko, Zavarov (Gotsmanov 85), Lytovchenko, Aleynikov; Protasov, Belanov (Pasulko 44)
Substitutes: Demyanenko, Chanov, Baltacha
Coach: Valeriy Lobanovskiy

Referee: José Rosa dos Santos (Portugal)