Dates16 February – 12 October Teams8 (from 1 confederation)
The 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which spanned two years (1986–88), had 30 entrants. The Republic of Ireland competed for the first time. France U-21s won the competition.
The 30 national teams were divided into eight groups (six groups of 4 + two groups of 3). The group winners played off against each other on a two-legged home-and-away basis until the winner was decided. There was no finals tournament or third-place playoff.
Squads
See 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads
Goalscorers
5 goals
Aris Karasavvidis
4 goals
Stéphane Paille
3 goals
Eric Cantona
Franck Sauzée
1 goal
Own goal
Pagonis Vakalopoulos (playing against Czechoslovakia)