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
Sweden national under-23 football team Sweden national under-23 football team The Sweden national under-23 football team (also known as Sweden Olympic football team from 1992) is the football team representing Sweden in Olympics and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association. Between 1952 and 1976, the Swedish U23 team was the main Swedish national youth team and represented Sweden in the UEFA European Under-23 Championship. Sweden made their first and only European Under-23 Championship appearance in 1972 and was knocked out in the quarter-finals. In 1976 the European Under-23 Championship was changed to be an Under-21 competition, so the Swedish U23 team became defunct and