Cristiano Ronaldo scored one and set up the other as Portugal

EURO on this day: 6 July
Tuesday 6 July 2021

On this day: The only man to score at four different EUROs, Cristiano Ronaldo's record-equalling ninth finals goal helped Portugal into the UEFA EURO 2016 final.

EURO On This Day: Classic goals from 6 July
Portugal 2-0 Wales
(Ronaldo 50, Nani 53)
2016 semi-finals, Lyon

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one and set up the other as Portugal struck twice in four minutes early in the second half to book their place in the UEFA EURO 2016 final.

For the first 50 minutes, Wales were perhaps the better team in Lyon, with Gareth Bale running the Portuguese back line ragged during one five-minute spell midway through the first half.

6 July 1960 semi-final highlights: France 4-5 Yugoslavia
Ronaldo had seen enough, thumping in a header – his record-equalling ninth finals goal – then cracking in a low drive that Nani diverted in.

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Czechoslovakia 0-3 USSR
(Ivanov 34 56, Ponedelnik 66)
1960 semi-finals, Marseille

The Soviet Union's robust style proved too much for Czechoslovakia, a 3-0 victory booking their place against Yugoslavia in the inaugural UEFA European Championship final.

Though Czechoslovakia had rough diamonds of their own in Ladislav Novák and Ján Popluhár, and the skilful Josef Masopust could run all day, they were unable to match their opponents' penetration up front.

Two goals from Valentin Ivanov and one from Viktor Ponedelnik ultimately proved the difference – both would go on to win the 1960 showpiece and become the only two players to score in each of the first two editions of the finals.

UEFA EURO 2008 quarter-final: Spain 0-0 Italy (aet, Spain win 4-2 on pens) 
Spain vs Italy: The full EURO 2008 shoot-out
Spain had never beaten Italy in a competitive game prior to this breakthrough night in Vienna. "I saw nerves in the players," said coach Luis Aragonés. "My message over and over was that we were the better side and we'd go through."

And go through they did, as Iker Casillas denied Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale from the spot, leaving Cesc Fàbregas to win it. The 74-year curse was broken.

UEFA EURO 2012 final: Spain 4-0 Italy
Highlights of the UEFA EURO 2012 final
Spain had failed to truly sparkle in Poland and Ukraine, though it soon became clear in Kyiv that they had been saving the best for last. David Silva headed in the opener following a mesmeric passing exchange, then Jordi Alba scurried through to make it 2-0. Italy never recovered.

After the break, Fernando Torres found the net for a second EURO final running then teed up fellow substitute Juan Mata to cap a scintillating performance.

UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16: Italy 2-0 Spain
UEFA EURO 2016 highlights: Italy 2-0 Spain
Having lost to Spain in the two previous EUROs, Italy were not short of motivation as the teams met again at the Stade de France, and this time it was the Azzurri who won the day, ending Spain's eight-year reign as European champions.

Chiellini forced in the first goal from close range in the 33rd minute and, despite a superb performance from David de Gea in the Spain goal, Pellè made the game safe a minute into added time.

Italy's previous EURO semi-finals
Tuesday 6 July 2021

None of the remaining teams at UEFA EURO 2020 have featured in the last four more than Italy – we look back at their four ties.

  Italy celebrate during the penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands in 2000
Italy celebrate during the penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands in 2000
Getty Images
Italy have reached the semi-finals of a EURO four times in their history – the same number as last-four opponents Spain – and results have generally been favourable. We pore over those previous encounters.

1968: Italy 0-0 USSR (Italy won on coin toss)
Piero Prati went closest for the Azzurri in normal time and Angelo Domenghini struck a post in extra time, while Dino Zoff saved from Albert Shesternev and twice from Aleksandr Lenev in Naples. There were no penalty shoot-outs then so a place in the final came down to a coin toss. "The referee pulled out an old coin and I called tails," said captain Giacinto Facchetti. "I went racing upstairs as the stadium was still full and about 70,000 fans were waiting to hear the result. My celebrations told them that they could celebrate." They were rejoicing after winning the final too, in a replay against Yugoslavia in Rome.

Watch full EURO 2000 Italy-Netherlands penalty shoot-out
1988: USSR 2-0 Italy
The Soviet Union stood between the Azzurri and the final again in Stuttgart but this would be their sole semi-final setback. Oleh Kuznetsov and Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko combined to set up Gennadiy Lytovchenko for the 58th-minute opener and Oleh Protasov converted Olexandr Zavarov's cut-back for the second four minutes later. A 23-year-old Gianluca Vialli went closest to bringing Azeglio Vicini's men back into contention but this tournament proved a step too far for a youthful Italy side.

2000: Italy 0-0 Netherlands (pens: 3-1)
The Azzurri had won all four matches at the finals heading to Amsterdam but the Dutch proved a much sterner test. Frank de Boer and Patrick Kluivert missed spot kicks in normal time as the Oranje failed to break down an Italy team reduced to ten men after the 34th-minute dismissal of Gianluca Zambrotta. De Boer was also denied as the game went to penalties, where Francesco Toldo saved for the second time in the shoot-out from Paul Bosvelt to seal a spot in the final. France, however, would burst the Italian bubble.

EURO 2012 semi-final: Germany 1-2 Italy
2012: Germany 1-2 Italy
The only one of the three Azzurri semi-final successes that was settled inside 90 minutes took place in Warsaw and was dominated by Mario Balotelli. The Italy striker guided in a header from Antonio Cassano's cross as Italy broke their semi-final scoring duck at the fourth time of asking, then rifled a second past Manuel Neuer inside 36 minutes. Germany, who were on a run of 15 consecutive victories in competitive games, replied through Mesut Özil's late penalty. Unfortunately for Cesare Prandelli's men, they ran into a Spain steamroller in the final, suffering a 4-0 reverse in Kyiv.