S.L. Benfica in European football Benfica fell in the second round against Scottish team and eventual finalists Celtic in a coin toss decision. After a mildly successful period in the 1960s, where they stood among the top contenders, Southern European teams started to lose influence in the European stage during the 1970s, as Dutch and German teams appeared stronger. In the 1971–72 European Cup, Benfica lost in the semi-finals to a Johan Cruyff-led Ajax on their way to a second consecutive win. Benfica reached the quarter-finals of the 1974–75 European Cup Winners' Cup, before being eliminated by another Dutch team, PSV Eindhoven. Over the course
France Football European Team of the Year France Football European Team of the Year The "France Football" European Team of the Year (offic. fr. "Challenge Européen de Football"), also known as European Challenge Interclubs, was an association football award conferred by French sports magazine "France Football" with the sponsorship of German multinational corporation Adidas, and was held in Europe for the first time in 1968 based in clubs' performance in seasonal association and UEFA competitions. The award was officially discontinued following the Adidas decision of not renewing its commercial contract with the French publication after it awarded the 1990 winner teams in a gala held in Paris,