Both Euro 88 semi-finals were intriguing culture clashes. The first match, in Hamburg, was loaded with historical significance. West Germany v Netherlands evoked the 1974 World Cup final and even the second world war. A good (if slightly overrated) match had a savage late twist that went straight into European Championship folklore.

USSR v Italy did not have the same mutual enmity, but they were also a study in contrasts. The Soviet Union were experienced and streetwise, Italy young and upbeat. They met on a dank, moody night in Stuttgart.

Martyn, Mike and Rob are joined by Jonathan O’Brien – author of the superb Euro Summits, a history of the European Championship – to discuss both games and give some love to a slightly forgotten great: Andreas Brehme.

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By the final round of group games, Euro 88 was effectively a six-team tournament. Denmark and England were already eliminated and barely had any pride left to play for.

Group A was concluded with simultaneous games on Friday night, just a week – and a lifetime – after the tournament had begun. The hosts West Germany played Spain in Munich, with the likelihood that the semi-finals wouldn’t be big enough for the both of them. West Germany needed a draw, Spain a win.

Italy, who many felt had been the best team in the tournament to date, needed only a draw against Denmark to guarantee qualification.

Group B was settled the following afternoon, with the BBC deciding to show Republic of Ireland’s decisive match against the Netherlands instead of England v USSR. Assuming a collectively depressed England side didn’t win that game (spoiler alert…), Ireland knew they would reach the semis with a draw. The Netherlands had no such luxury; if they didn’t win, they were almost certainly going home.

Martyn, Gary and Rob chat about all four games… and Bryan Robson taking our his frustrations on Peter Shilton’s chin. Oh, and Rob’s dog Margot makes an unscripted appearance.

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Euro 88 was only four days old when the second of group games began, but our old friend jeopardy was already running amok. After a nervous start, the hosts West Germany took on an ailing Denmark in Gelsenkirchen. A few hours later, also in Group A, Italy met Spain in what was felt like a de facto quarter-final.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, we rushed home from school (or, in Gary’s case, grabbed a seat in front of a 15-inch TV with a load of fashionistas) for the big one: England v the Netherlands, a match that both teams could barely afford to draw, never mind lose.

In the evening, Ireland produced arguably the finest performance of the Jack Charlton years against the USSR in a game that included a famous goal and a forgotten first touch to die for.

Martyn, Gary and Rob rave about a teenage Paolo Maldini, discuss English football’s obsession with individual heroism, question an iconic hat-trick and celebrate a partnership from the future: Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten.

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Our look back at Euro 88 continues with the first round of group games. On Friday 10 June 1988, the tournament kicked off with a tense match between West Germany, the hosts and favourites, and a vibrant young Italian side.

The other Group A game took place the following afternoon, a thrilling if slightly shambolic contest between Denmark and Spain. There were five goals and a fair bit of controversy, but the highlight for English audiences was a brief, comic loss of temper from the usually immaculate Barry Davies.

In Group B, two of the pre-tournament favourites – England and the Netherlands – got underway. England faced an FA Cup tie against the Republic of Ireland, whose 20-man squad included 16 England-based players.

In the evening we finally got to see the Netherlands, including their Ballon d’Or-winning captain Ruud Gullit. They took on European Championship royalty: the USSR.

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A new series of Nessun Dorma starts with the first part of our deep dive into Euro 88, the last major tournament in Europe before the big bang of Italia 90. Martyn Ramsay, Gary Naylor and Rob Smyth set the scene for a much anticipated tournament. “Whatever happens,” wrote David Lacey in his preview for the Guardian, “the 1988 European Championship should set new standards on the field.”

Martyn, Gary and Rob discuss where football was at in 1988, recall the highlights of qualification – including Ireland’s favourite Scotsman and the Cypriot keeper who was almost blown up – and preview each team’s prospects ahead of the tournament. Were England valid second favourites? How much did we know about the Netherlands? And who was Matthias Herget?

The draw

Group 1 West Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark

Group 2 England, Netherlands, USSR, Republic of Ireland

Pre-tournament odds

7/4 West Germany

5/1 England, Netherlands

13/2 Italy

7/1 USSR

11/1 Spain, Denmark

25/1 Republic of Ireland

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Nessun Dorma returns from hibernation for a one-off special ahead of the World Cup, and a deep dive into one of the greatest matches in its storied history: the Espana 82 semi-final between West Germany and Germany.

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Lee, Mike and Gary pick a couple of goals each from the legendary BBC VHS

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We finish off our countdown of the Top 20 goals of Mexico86. You won't believe which one wins....

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Gary Naylor is amazed and moved by an exhibition that tracks how football has been defined by the objects within it, and how a discourse developed globally to facilitate football's communication with itself and with its audience. 

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Our farewell tour countdown of Mexico 86 goals continues

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