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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Soccer Memories-Part 27

The European Invasion of the Americas of the Summer of 1977

In the Summer of 1977, Argentina’s World Cup was one year away. Argentina as hosts, were condemned to Friendly matches in preparations for their World Cup.
To test themselves against worthy European Competition that they would surely be facing, the Argentine Federation invited many European nations to play vs. the national team that summer.
Argentina under the control of a Junta led by General Videla was beset by political problems and terrorism. There were questions about their ability to host the event. The authorities wanted to showcase these friendlies to display to the world, their competence and willingness to host the Main Event without any problems.
The European nations themselves were more than willing to partake on this Trans-Atlantic journey to get acquainted with the climatic conditions and the venues and the atmosphere they would be facing (provided they were lucky to qualify).
The teams in question were defending World Cup Champions West Germany, England, Poland, France, Scotland, Yugoslavia and East Germany.
The action was not only restricted in Argentina, most of these European nations chose to tour the continent as a whole, for these months of May, June and July.
Just about all of them arranged Friendlies vs. the continent’s powerhouse Brazil, as well as other South American nations (not to mention local clubs) along the way.
Argentina Manager Luis César Menotti was very keen on this endeavor. He wanted the National team to play many matches in a period of a month, to mirror World Cup Finals conditions, where one would have to play a minimum of seven matches to reach the Final. He also believed many friendlies were essential as a way of team and group building.
Menotti wanted to impose an attacking style of play for the National team. He wanted the National Team to play like his Huracan squad of 1973 that had won the title. Their (his) tactics consisted of Zonal defense and a short passing game.
He was at odds with the tactics of Boca Juniors Manager Juan Carlos Lorenzo. Though Boca Juniors were a successful side at the time, their style was the antithesis of Menotti. Though successful, Lorenzo’s Boca were a physical, defensive side.
Lorenzo had predicted that Menotti’s Argentina would fail and not be able to defeat any European side. According to Lorenzo, the game had changed in the past decade, and teams had to be more athletic and faster to win. (One could say Lorenzo was Menotti’s Bilardo of the next decade). In any case, Menotti’s desire seemed a tall order at a time, when only a handful of Argentinean clubs played with tactics resembling his.
Menotti had recently been successful in making the Argentinean Federation to pass a law forbidding potential National team players to be transferred to European Clubs until at least the end of the World Cup. The law had been passed too late to stop Norberto Alonso and Mario Kempes from joining Olympique Marseille and Valencia respectively.  Menotti repeatedly stated that he would not call up any European based player; he did however acknowledge that Kempes would be the hardest player to replace. Nevertheless, as far as this 1977 summer was concerned, Kempes and all the other foreign-based players were out of World Cup contention.
The Argentina squad itself had a backbone of players, many of who would make the Finals squad by the following summer.
The squad included the eccentric goalkeeper Hugo Gatti, Captain Jorge Carrascosa, Alberto Tarantini, Jorge Olguin, Daniel Passarella, Osvaldo Ardiles, Ricardo Villa, Ricardo Bochini, Americo Gallego, Daniel Bertoni, Leopoldo Luque, René Houseman and Omar Larrosa.
Brazil for their part were preparing for their final phase of World Cup qualification to take place in July. The new Manager Claudio Coutinho had replaced Osvaldo Brandao in March. He publicly looked forward to the matches to test with ‘the best schools of European Football’. He considered Poland as the most dangerous opponent and then West Germany and England. He felt France were still not at their level yet. He wanted to try 4-3-3 that was employed by most Brazilian clubs. His squad contained stars such as  goalkeeper Emerson Leao, Luis Pereira, Marinho, Edinho, Toninho Cerezo, Zico, Paulo Cesar, Roberto Dinamite, as well as veteran Roberto Rivellino.
The series of matches started on May 29th, with Argentina hosting Poland at Buenos Aires. Argentina chose Boca Juniors’ ‘La Bombonera’ as its venue for all their matches.
Jacek Gmoch’s Poland squad were comfortably set to qualify for the World Cup and were one of the finest teams in Europe at the time.
The squad had many leftovers from the glorious 1974 squad, including Captain Kazimierz Deyna, penalty stopping goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski, Władysław Żmuda, Grzegorz Lato, Andrzej Szarmach and Henryk Kasperczak. The new rising star was Zbigniew Boniek who in time would become an international star.
Poland had arrived at Argentina just the day before the match. They were the better team in the first half and scored first through Lato in the 32nd minute.
Just before halftime, Argentina was awarded a penalty kick, which was scored by Daniel Bertoni, after a handball offense in the box.
Argentina was missing René Houseman, who had been suspended by his club Huracan for indiscipline. They gradually took control in the second half, as fatigue caught up with the Polish. First Leopoldo Luque and then midway through the second half Daniel Bertoni scored again for a convincing (3-1) win.

Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3008 (31-5-1977)
(Leopoldo Luque, May 29, 1977, Argentina 3-Poland 1)

The defending World Cup Champions West Germany was the next team to visit the hosts at ‘La Bombonera’ on June 5th. West German Manager Helmut Schoen had to contend with the loss of inspirational Captain Franz Beckenbauer to the NASL’s New York Cosmos. Berti Vogts, ‘Der Terrier’, was the new Captain, with veterans such as goalkeeper Sepp Maier, Rainer Bonhof and Bernd Holzenbein leading a squad that included many new youngsters such as Manfred Kaltz, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudiger Abramczik. They could no longer count upon Gerd Muller to score goals at will, however, many had high hopes for his namesake Dieter Muller and Klaus Fischer.
As far as the match itself, the Germans (wearing green) dominated the hosts with Fischer scoring twice and Holzenbein delivering the third, before Daniel Passarella scored a consolation goal. The Germans were in total domination and the crowd applauded them at the end and were praised by the Argentinean media for their display.

Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3009 (07-06-1977)
(June 5, 1977, Argentina 1-West Germany 3)

Three days later on June 8th, West Germany defeated a listless and uninspired Uruguay (2-0) at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, with goals by Heinz Flohe, early in the second half, and Dieter Muller at the death. Uruguay had already been eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers, as a result they were dejected and not much could have been expected of them.
On the same day, Brazil hosted England at Rio’s Maracana Stadium. All was not well in the English Camp. In the previous week they had been defeated twice at Wembley to Wales and Scotland in the Home Championship. The Scotland match was marred by the Scottish fans’ invasion of the pitch and the destruction of the goalposts. The talking point had been star Kevin Keegan’s recent transfer from Liverpool to SV Hamburg. World Cup qualification seemed bleak with Italy seemingly in the driver’s seat. In fact for this match vs. Brazil, England Manager Don Revie had to miss to go to Helsinki to watch the qualifier between Finland and Italy. Of course, there was more to this trip for Revie, which transpired later (that we shall get to), but Italy’s (3-0) win effectively dashed England’s hopes. With Revie absent, Les Cocker was in charge to pick a squad that in addition to Keegan, contained the likes of goalkeeper Ray Clemence, Phil Neal, Trevor Cherry, Emlyn Hughes, Trevor Francis and Ray Wilkins to name a few. The day before the match Trevor Brooking was sent home due to injury.
England played well defensively and kept Brazil at bay. Rivellino, though impressive in this match, was unable to break the resilient English defense. Brazil mostly controlled the second half, but Ray Clemence made many fine saves to keep the match scoreless. Brazilian winger Gil was well guarded by Trevor Cherry and had no impact. Gil’s frustration was apparent when he openly complained that Coutinho was hampering him by playing him in the right wing. Brazil was whistled off the park by their own fans at the end of the match. This was the first time that England had not lost at Brazil.
Two days later on June 10th, Poland continued its tour by playing at Lima vs. Peru. They were fresher for that match and dominated the hosts from the start. Szarmach and Deyna scored within the first twenty minutes to give Poland a commanding lead. Luces pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute, however, just a minute later the impressive Kasperczak scored Poland’s third.
Two days later, June 12th turned out to be the busiest day on the continent as three matches were played. At LaPaz, Poland continued its fine form by defeating the hosts (2-1) with goals by Lato and Kapka in the 90th minute.
Brazil and West Germany tested one another at Maracana. The impressive West Germans were unfazed and held their own against the hosts. They scored first early in the second half through Fischer, however, with minutes remaining Rivellino, celebrating his 100th cap, evened the score.

Photo From : Fussball Magazin, Issue 6, September October 1977
(Rudiger Abramczik and Rodrigues Neto, June 12, 1977, Brazil 1-West Germany 1)

Most of the drama of the day occurred at ‘La Bombonera’ where Argentina hosted England. The atmosphere was tense, even before the match started. The Argentinean fans booed the English National Anthem. They chanted ‘Animals’, in reference to Alf Ramsey’s insult from the 1966 World Cup. They also chanted ‘Pirates’, in reference to the Falkland Islands dispute (that would eventually erupt into a war in 1982).
Argentina was still missing the suspended Houseman, but also Hugo Gatti, Jorge Carrascosa and Ricardo Villa.
England scored within two minutes when Stuart Pearson scored from Mick Channon’s near post cross. In the 15th minute, Brian Greenhoff fouled Daniel Bertoni near the edge of the box and Bertoni himself scored from the free kick. Otherwise, the match was a cautious defensive affair. Kevin Keegan rarely threatened and had no impact.
With ten minutes remaining, Trevor Cherry fouled Bertoni. When Bertoni got up he punched Terry and knocked some teeth out.
The pair, who had been booked before, were immediately sent off. The Argentinean Federation suspended Bertoni for four matches and also exonerated Cherry.

Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3010 (14-6-1977)
(Daniel Bertoni scoring from a free kick, June 12, 1977, Argentina 1-England 1)

On June 14th, West Germany continued its tour with a layover at Mexico. The somewhat tired Germans fell behind twice in the first half. They gradually got back in the game in the second half and Klaus Fischer scored twice to tie up the match.
England wrapped its tour the next day, June 15th, with a scoreless tie vs. the dispirited Uruguay squad at Montevideo. The scoreless draw was a continuation of England’s defensive tactics that many critics decried. Revie’s 4-4-2 tactics were roundly criticized and blamed for the unimpressive performances.
Both teams were booed off the field at the end. This match turned out to be the only match that Revie named an unchanged side.
On the same day, Scotland made their debut on the tour at Santiago vs. Chile. Chile had also been eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers and had arranged a team with little preparation. It was no surprise that they were defeated (4-2) with Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari (twice) and Asa Hartford scoring. Scotland was coming off a victory in the Home Championship and had appointed Alistair Mc Leod as Manager just the previous month.
Three Days later, on June 18th, Scotland lined up vs. Argentina. Incidentally the Argentinean fans did not boo the same National Anthem that they had booed vs. England.
Just like the match vs. England, it was a tight match with many fouls and the result was one-all tie. Both sides scored their goals through penalty kicks. With less than 13 minutes remaining Scotland were awarded their penalty kick from which Donald Masson scored. Three minutes later Argentina were awarded a penalty kick of their own and Daniel Passarella scored. And just like the match vs. England two players were sent off. In the 56th minute, Argentina’s Vicente Pernia punched Scotland’s Willie Johnston in retaliation after a foul. Both players were sent off.
Menotti, in uncharacteristic fashion, defended the violent tactics of his players.

Photo From : World Soccer, August 1977
(June 18, 1977, Argentina 1-Scotland 1)

The following day, June 19th, Poland ended its tour by playing Brazil at São Paulo. Zico and Roberto Dinamite were left out of the lineup, replaced by Paulo Isidoro and Reinaldo. Brazil was excellent for most of the match and deservedly scored through Paulo Isidoro and Reinaldo in the first half. Rivellino scored Brazil’s third from a penalty kick in the second half. Poland got back into the game towards the end and scored a consolation goal from Boniek.


Photo From : Onze, Issue 27, March 1978
(Andrzej Szarmach and Toninho Cerezo, June 19, 1977, Brazil 3-Poland 1)

A few days later, on June 23rd, Scotland finished its own tour by visiting Brazil at Maracana. They held out bravely against Brazil before succumbing to a Zico free kick with twenty minutes remaining. Rivellino scored Brazil’s second five minutes later.
On June 26th, France and Yugoslavia made their first appearances. Yugoslavia faced Brazil at Belo Horizonte and almost won with Ivica Surjak particularly impressive. Yugoslavia was better in the first half, with Brazil gradually asserting themselves in the second half but unable to break the Yugoslav defense.  Claudio Coutinho described this as Brazil’s hardest match of the tour. Brazil was predictably whistled off the field at the end.
Michel Hidalgo’s rejuvenated France squad was led by skipper Henri Michel and Libero Marius Tresor. Nancy’s Michel Platini and other youngsters such as Patrick Battiston, Maxime Bossis and Didier Six represented the new generation.
Many French managers, most notably Saint Etienne’s Robert Herbin, had been opposed to this grueling tour at the end of the season. Herbin was particularly concerned about his players Christian Lopez and Dominique Bathenay, who were exhausted.
However, Hidalgo insisted it was necessary and an opportunity not to be missed for the experience and the preparations of the national team.
Against the hosts Argentina, France was in better shape and pressed Argentina.  The French were the better side in the first half, in the second half, Ricardo Villa and Houseman pressed the French harder but to no avail. Though the match ended scoreless, France had looked better. The French camp was surprised as they expected a stiffer test. Platini described the Argentina squad as too static and lacking the quality of surprise to worry most European teams. 
Argentinean Press tried in vain to make Hidalgo give reasons why Argentina were playing poorly, however, Hidalgo limited his responses on his own squad.


Photo From : Mondial, Old Series, Issue 6, July 1977
(Olivier Rouyer between Jorge Carrascosa and Daniel Killer, June 26, 1977, Argentina 0-France 0)

The most exciting match of the tour was four days later at Maracana when Brazil took on France.
Before the match Hidalgo had stated that France had come in all modesty to learn from this tour, while Coutinho emphasized that Brazil had to earn back its colors and pride.
Brazil started the match in strong fashion, especially Cerezo. Not surprisingly, given their domination, Edinho scored Brazil’s first goal in the 30th minute. However, after the goal Brazil appeared to take their foot off the pedal. Hidalgo had remarked this and urged his team to attack as he sensed Brazil were tiring. However, Brazil scored again early in the second half through Roberto Dinamite and Hidalgo’s plan seemed to have backfired. Undeterred he urged his squad to continue attacking. In the next minute, Didier Six scored a spectacular effort from long range to give France some hope (some time later, Didier Six admitted he had used his hand to control the ball).
The goal spurred France on and they continued attacking. With five minutes left, Olivier Rouyer took a corner, which was headed in by Marius Tresor. The Brazilian public was taken by France’s audacity and applauded Tresor. At the end of the match, the public even chanted ‘França, França’.
The overjoyed Hidalgo was very emotional with these chants and described this match as France’s best since the 1958 World Cup.


Photo From : Mondial, Old Series, Issue 6, July 1977
(Paulo Isidoro and Omar Sahnoun, June 30, 1977, Brazil 2-France 2)

A few days later on July 3rd, a tired France concluded its tour with a loss (1-3) against Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro.
On the same day, Argentina hosted Yugoslavia in another tight affair and only won with a penalty kick by Passarella in the first half.

Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3013 (05-7-1977)
(Ruben Galvan, July 3, 1977, Argentina 1-Yugoslavia 0)

On July 12th, the series of Friendlies ended when Argentina hosted East Germany  (in its only match of the tour). Argentina ended the summer on a positive note with a much-improved performance in defense and won (2-0) with goals by Houseman and Carrascosa.


Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3015 (19-7-1977)
(Oscar Ortiz, July 3, 1977, Argentina 2-East Germany 0)

So what were the lessons learned? The Argentinean public was disappointed with its team. The press in particular was opposed to Menotti’s tactics and the violent fouls in the England and Scotland matches. During all their matches played at ‘La Bombonera’, the public chanted for the appointment of Juan Carlos Lorenzo of the successful Boca team. As far as the World Cup Finals, the Argentinean Federation chose to select River Plate’s Stadium (El Monumental) as its venue for home matches.
Even though, Menotti had vowed he would not select foreign-based players, the squad’s limitations forced him to make a concession on that principle. He stated he would have to call up at least a few of the foreign-based players with Mario Kempes on the top of the list.
Given Menotti’s preaching of beautiful, attacking Football, it was ironic how violent they were in some of these matches. This carried over into the World Cup the following year, with the shameful display that led to the sending offs of Andras Torocsik and Tibor Nylasi, as well as the physical battle with Brazil, not to mention the gamesmanship used in the Final concerning Dutchman Rene van der Kerkhof’s plaster cast on his arm (Leaving out the 6-0 Peru win and all the conspiracy theories surrounding it).
It’s also strange, given Menotti’s image of a free and open thinker, that his training camps were like Army barracks. This may have led to the exclusion of Hugo Gatti. His refusal to join a training camp in February 1978 to recuperate from an injury sealed his fate and Ubaldo Fillol replaced him. These training camps were also too much for Captain Jorge Carrascosa who left the squad on his own accord. The reason that he gave was that ‘His Parents had earned the right to see their son’, not to mention his wife was due to give birth during the Finals. There were also reports that both players were at odds with the Federation over bonus payments.
As far as Brazil, the general analysis was that they lacked a genuine center forward. Though Rivellino was impressive that summer, by the following year he would be a spent force. By the time of the World Cup, Claudio Coutinho, much like Mario Zagallo with the 1974 team, was attempting to ‘Europeanize’ the team’s tactics. Coutinho would sadly be killed in 1981 in a scuba diving accident.
Of all the team on tour, West Germany was the most impressive. Klaus Fischer received much praise, as did Holzenbein and Abramczik. The duo of Manfred Kaltz and Rolf Russman seemed to have been able replacements for Beckenbauer and Georg Schwarzenbeck. However, by the time of the World Cup, the loss of Beckenbauer would be sorely felt and in contrast to this tour the Germans ended up having a poor World Cup.
Poland in general lived up to their reputation with Henryk Kasperczak as the pick of the bunch.
Scotland gave a positive impression on this tour, with goalkeeper Alan Rough voted by the Scottish press as their best player.
By the time of the World Cup, a false sense of security and confidence had set in. They entered the World Cup as an outside bet, however were shellacked by Peru and were unable to defeat Iran. The unlucky Willie Johnston, who was punched and sent off in this tour, had an even worse World Cup, when he failed a dope test and was suspended.
France gave a good impression, though they were still years sway from being a great side.
England ended up having an eventful summer especially off the field. At the beginning of the tour, Don Revie was supposedly away supervising World Cup qualifying group opponents Finland and Italy. However it was discovered by ‘Daily Mail’ that he was in fact negotiating with officials from the United Arab Emirates. Revie was banned for breach of contract and in his place Ron Greenwood was appointed.
For a (Non-World Cup) summer, an entire continent was witness to a feast of football, where lessons were learned (perhaps).
In a way this comprehensive tour was a precursor to mini tournaments that World Cup hosts usually hold a year ahead of the Tournament as a dress rehearsal (These days the Confederations Cup fills that role). 


The Sequence of Matches:
May 29, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 3-Poland 1
June 5, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-West Germany 3
June 8, 1977- Montevideo, (Estadio Centenario)-Uruguay 0-West Germany 2
June 8, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 0-England 0
June 10, 1977- Lima, (Estadio Nacional)-Peru 1-Poland 3
June 12, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-England 1
June 12, 1977- La Paz, (Estadio Libertador S.Bolivar)-Bolivia 1-Poland 2
June 12, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 1-West Germany 1
June 14, 1977- Mexico City, (Estadio Azteca)-Mexico 2-West Germany 2
June 15, 1977- Montevideo, (Estadio Centenario)-Uruguay 0-England 0
June 15, 1977- Santiago, (Estadio Nacional)-Chile 2-Scotland 4
June 18, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-Scotland 1
June 19, 1977- São Paulo, (Estadio Morumbi)-Brazil 3-Poland 1
June 23, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 2-Scotland 0
June 26, 1977- Belo Horizonte, (Estádio Mineirão)-Brazil 0-Yugoslavia 0
June 26, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 0-France 0
June 30, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 2-France 2
July 3, 1977- Belo Horizonte, (Estádio Mineirão)- Atlético Mineiro- (Brazil) 3-France 1
July 3, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-Yugoslavia 0
July 12, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 2-East Germany 0

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

New Addition: International Season 1980/81, Part One

New section about the International matches in a given season. The idea is to convey the talking points of the International season. It is not a thorough analysis but a general one. The teams in question are European and South American Nations for the most part, since there are more specialized books and data for the teams of those continents than the rest.
For the matches that I had already uploaded the goals/highlights on youtube, I have included the link on the tables.


August
The 1980/81 season started after West Germany had triumphed in the UEFA European Championships held in Italy the previous June.
The focus of the nations now were the World Cup Qualifiers for the World Cup to be held in Spain in less than two years time in 1982.
The matches in August were all Friendlies with USSR mostly impressive with an away win at Hungary and Tele Santana’s Brazil defeating Uruguay at home.
Hungary’s Andras Torocsik was dropped from the Friendly vs. Sweden, because he was overweight.
Stefan Kovacs managed his last match for Romania in the win vs. Yugoslavia.

Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
August 3, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Mendizzoroza
Euskadi XI 1-Hungary 5
Amorrortu  40 pen / Imre Garaba 37, Tibor Nylasi 70, 82, Laszlo Kiss 77, Jozsef Pasztor 68

August 20, 1980
Friendly
Budapest, Nepstadion
Hungary 2-Sweden 0
Own Goal 73, Gyozo Burcsa 80
August 20, 1980
Friendly
Montevideo, Estadio Centenario
Uruguay 0-Chile 0


August 20, 1980
Friendly
Auckland, NZ- McKirley
New Zealand 4-Mexico 0
Steve Summer 4pen, Steve Woodin 25, Brian Turner 35, Grant Turner 65

August 21, 1980
Friendly
Oslo- Ullevaal Stadion
Norway 6-Finland 1
Paal Jacobsen 13, 39, 72, 84,  Arne Dokken 49 pen, Einar Jan Aas 60 / Juhani Himanka 43

August 24, 1980
Friendly
Sydney, Cricket Grounds
Australia 2-Mexico 2
Ken Boden 57pen, John Yzendoorn 73 / Ricardo Castro 39, José Luis González II 83

August 26, 1980
Friendly
Sydney, Cricket Grounds
Australia 1-Mexico 1
Gary Cole 58 / Ricardo Castro 67

August 26, 1980
Friendly / Pazo Del Chaco cup
La Paz
Bolivia 1-Paraguay 1
Carlos Aragones /

August 27, 1980
Friendly
Budapest , Nepstadion
Hungary 1-USSR 4
Jozsef Pasztor 3 / Oleg Blokhin 34, Tengiz Sulakvelidze 43, Leonid Burjak 81, Sergei Rodionov 85
August 27, 1980
Friendly
Lausanne – Stade Olympique de la Pontaise 
Switzerland 1-Denmark 1
Hans-Jorg Pfister 58 / Lars Bastrup 26

August 27, 1980
Friendly / Balkanic Cup
Bucuresti -Stadionul 23 August
Romania 4-Yugoslavia 1
Anghel Iordanescu 21, 55 pen, 84 pen, Rodion Camataru 26 / Safet Susic 73pen

August 27, 1980
Friendly
Fortaleza – Estádio Plácido Castelo (Castelão)
Brazil 1-Uruguay 0
Getúlio 75pen

August 28, 1980
Friendly / Pazo Del Chaco cup
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Estadio Ramón "Tahuichi" Aguilera
Bolivia 1-Paraguay 3
Miguel Aguilar / Florentin, Issasi, Michelagnoli

August 30, 1980
Friendly
Suva, Nacional
Fiji 0-Mexico 2
Cristóbal Ortega 65, José Luis González II 89




September
During this month the serious business of Qualification started with the Europen nations. England started with a solid win at Wembley vs. Norway.
Scotland laid a claim for one of the qualifying spots with a key away win at Stockholm vs. Sweden with Gordon Strachan scoring his first goal for Scotland.
European Champions West Germany continued their winning ways with an away Friendly win at Switzerland with two goals by Hansi Mller.
Republic of Ireland notched a key win vs. Holland in a tough group that included Belgium and France as well.
Italy started the season with a solid win vs. Portugal towards the end of the month. World Cup hosts Spain started their preparations with new Manager Jose Santamaria with a Friendly away at Hungary, where in a rare move,  Juanito was the only Real Madrid player on Spain’s team.
Yugoslavia followed up its easy Qualification win at Luxembourg with a key win vs. Denmark to close up the month. Their first goal was scored from the penalty spot by their goalkeeper Dragan Pantelic.
Poland and Czechoslovakia played in a Friendly that served as Polish Legend Włodzimierz Lubański’s farewell. He scored Poland’s goal from the spot.
New Romania manager Valentin Stanescu was victorious in his first match in charge in an away Friendly vs. Bulgaria.


Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
September 2, 1980
Friendly
Papeete, Tahíti
Tahiti 0-Mexico 1
Ricardo Castro 27

September 3, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Tiranë (Tirana)- Stadiumi Kombetar ‘Qemal Stafa’
Albania 2-Finland 0
Sefedin Braho 2, Milan Baci 18

September 3, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Reykjavik -Laugardalsvöllur
Iceland 1-USSR 2
Arni Sveinsson 75 / Yuri Gavrilov 35- Sergei Andreyev 80

September 3, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Paris- Parc des Princes
France 1-Juventus (Italy) 0
Jacques Zimako 56
September 10, 1980
Friendly
Varna, Cerno More
Bulgaria 1-Romania 2
Georgi Slavkov 50 / Aurel Beldeanu 34, Anghel Iordanescu 70

September 10, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 4-Norway 0
Terry McDermott 37, 78pen, Tony Woodcock 69, Paul Mariner 85
September 10, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Stockholm - Råsunda -Solna Stadion
Sweden 0-Scotland 1
Gordon Strachan 72
September 10, 1980
Friendly
Basel -Saint Jakob Park 
Switzerland 2-West Germany 3
Hans-Jorg Pfister 84- René Botteron 88pen / Hansi Müller 18, 69, Felix Magath 66
September 10, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Luxembourg -Stade Municipal de Luxembourg
Luxembourg 0-Yugoslavia 5
Safet Susic 50, Zlatko Vujovic 64, 81, Vladimir Petrovic 70, Ivan Buljan 90

September 10, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Dublin - Lansdowne Road
Republic of Ireland 2-Holland 1
Gery Daly 78, Mark Lawrenson 85 / Simon Tahamata 57
September 18, 1980
Friendly
Mendoza-Malvinas Argentinas (Mendoza)
Argentina 2-Chile 2
José Daniel Valencia 20-, Ramon Diaz 41 / Osvaldo Vargas 44, Sandrino Castec 63
September 18, 1980
Friendly / Pazo Del Chaco cup
Asuncion –Estadio De los Defensores del Chaco
Paraguay 2-Bolivia 1
Mino, Lopez / Miguel Aguilar

September 24, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Dublin - Lansdowne Road
Finland 0-Austria 2
Kurt Jara 13, Kurt Welzl 77

September 24, 1980
Friendly
Deveti septemvri  Burgas
Bulgaria 2-Sweden 3
Chavdar Tzvetkov 32, Spas Djevizov 49 / Sten-Ove Ramberg 72, Billy Ohlsson 74, Tord Holmgren 85

September 24, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
İzmır -Kemal Atatürk Stadyumu
Turkey 1-Iceland 3
Fatih Terim 72pen / Janus Gudlaugsson 12, Albert Gudmundsson 60, Teitur Thórdarson 81

September 24, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
  Oslo- Ullevaal Stadion
Norway 1-Romania 1
Aage Hareide 22 / Anghel Iordanescu 10

September 24, 1980
Friendly
Genova -Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Marassi
Italy 3-Portugal 1
Alessandro Altobelli 63, 80, Francesco Graziani 88 / Rui Jordao 64
September 24, 1980
Friendly
Chorzów- Stadion Śląski (Silesian Stadium)
Poland 1-Czechoslovakia 1
Włodzimierz Lubański 40 pen / Zdenek Nehoda 31

September 24, 1980
Friendly
Budapest -Nepstadion
Hungary 2-Spain 2
Laszlo Kiss10, Bela Bodonyi 47 / Juan ‘Juanito‘Gomez 3, Jesus Satrustegui 65
September 25, 1980
Friendly
Asuncion –Estadio De los Defensores del Chaco
Paraguay 1-Brazil 2
Adolfo Gustavo 'Gustavo' Benitez 7 / Zé Sérgio 34, Reinaldo 85

September 27, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Ljubljana, Bezigrad Stadion
Yugoslavia 2-Denmark 1
Dragan Pantelic 18 pen,  Zoran Vujovic 37 / Frank Arnesen 6pen







Photo From : Mondial, New series, issue 7, October 1980
(September 3, 1980, France 1-Juventus 0)

Photo From : Fussball Magazin, March april 1982
(Horst Hrubesch, September 10, 1980, Switzerland 2-West Germany 3)

Photo From : World Soccer , November 1980
(Tony Woodcock and Tom Jacobsen, September 10, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, England 4-Norway 0)

Photo From : Onze, Issue 69, September 1981
(Frank Stapelton, September 10, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 2-Holland 1)

Photo From : El Grafico, Issue 3181, 1980
(September 18, 1980, Argentina 2-Chile 2)

Photo From : Bialo Czerwoni 1921-2001, Author Andrzej Gowarzewski
(Włodzimierz Lubański before his farewell match with Czechoslovakia captain Zdenek Nehoda, September 24, 1980, Poland 1-Czechoslovakia 1)



October
During this month USA made a rare tour of Europe by playing Friendlies vs. Luxembourg and Portugal.
Defending World Cup champions Argentina defeated Eastern European opponents Bulgaria, Poland and Czechoslovakia in Friendlies days apart at home.
France started out with a heavy away win at Cyprus,  which turned out to be Henri Michel’s last ever match for France.
France’s Group rivals Republic of Ireland and Belgium matchup ended as a one-one tie at Dublin, with advantage to Belgium in earning an away point.
The France and Republic of Ireland matchup at the end of the month provided many talking points.
The Irish Federation were forced to intervene through FIFA to obtain the release of their Internationals with English clubs, who had been reluctant to release them as they had English League Cup matches scheduled that day.
In addition there were questions about the eligibilty of Brighton’s Michael Robinson, whose Grandmother was from Ireland. Robinson’s mother had to obtain an Irish passport to make Robinson eligible.
During the match itself, Robinson scored a goal that was controversially called off by the referee.
Italy still without the suspended Paolo Rossi (until May 1982), started its campaign with an away win at Luxembourg. In an ill-tempred match Franco Causio and Luxembourg’s Schreiner were sent off for fighting. Later in the match, Italy’s Giancarlo Antognoni was sent off for retaliation. He claimed he was on edge due to missing a penalty.
The press described the match as one of Italy’s worst displays ever and Bearzot was heavily criticized for his use of Alessandro Altobelli as a lone striker against such a weak opposition.
Denmark lost ground by losing at home to Greece.
Wales started its campaign with at home win vs. Turkey.  They were in contention in their group with USSR and Czechsolovakia.
USSR just like the previous month defeated Iceland to already lay claim on its group.
Scotland stuttered at home by settling for a scoreless draw vs. Portugal.
Fellow Home Nation and Group rival Northern ireland scored an important 3-0 win vs. Sweden.
Romania defeated England at Bucharest to start their opponents Qualification worries from early on. England would endure a difficult campaign against group rivals Hungary, Romania, Switzerland and Norway.
Rivals Holland and West Germany played a Friendly at Eindhoven that ended as a tie. Eike Immel became at 19, the youngest ever goalkeeper selected by West Germany after replacing Harald Schuamcher in the second half.
Brazil ended the month with another brilliant dispaly in dismantling Paraguay (6-0) at home in a Friendly.




Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
October 1, 1980
Friendly
İzmır -Kemal Atatürk Stadyumu
Turkey 1-Libya 2
Muharrem Gürbüz 24 / Abdülnaser 36, Laukha 45pen

October 3, 1980
Friendly
İzmır -Kemal Atatürk Stadyumu
Turkey 3-Saudi Arabia 0
 Tuncay Mesçi 2,  Salih (own goal) 38 , Zafer Bilgitay 80

October 4, 1980
Friendly
Luxembourg -Stade Municipal de Luxembourg
Luxembourg 0-USA 2
Larry Hulcer 25, Rick Davis’82pen

October 5, 1980
Friendly
İzmır -Kemal Atatürk Stadyumu
Turkey 3-Malaysia 0
Metin Yıldız 35, Tuncay Mesçi 68, 85

October 7, 1980
Friendly
Lisbon-Estadio do Rostelo (Belenenses)
Portugal 1-USA 1
Carlos Manuel 65 / Rick Davis 67

October 8, 1980
Friendly
Lisbon-Estadio do Rostelo (Belenenses)
Austria 3-Hungary 1
Kurt Welzl 20, Christian Keglevits 30, 85 / Bela Bodonyi 80
October 8, 1980
Friendly
Prague, Stadion Evžena Rošického (Strahov)(Slavia Praha) 
Czechoslovakia 0-East Germany 1
Joachim Streich 17

October 9, 1980
Friendly
Buenos Aires -Antonio Vespuci Alberti (El Monumental) (River Plate)
Argentina 2-Bulgaria 0
Santiago Santamaria 32, Ramon Diaz 80

October 11, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Lemesós (Limassol)-Tsíreio Stádio (Tsirion Stadium)
Cyprus 0-France 7
Bernard Lacombe 4, Michel Platini 14, 23, Jean-Francois Larios 40pen, 76pen, Didier Six 82, Jacques Zimako 87
October 11, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Luxembourg -Stade Municipal de Luxembourg
Luxembourg 0-Italy 2
Fulvio Collovati 33, Roberto Bettega 71
October 11, 1980
Friendly
Eindhoven- Philips Stadion
Holland 1-West Germany 1
Ernie Brandts 40 / Horst Hrubesch 35
October 12, 1980
Friendly
Buenos Aires -Antonio Vespuci Alberti (El Monumental) (River Plate)
Argentina 2-Poland 1
Daniel Passarella15pen, Diego Maradona 59 / Włodzimierz Ciołek 51 pen
October 14, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Manchester, Old Trafford
England 'B' 1-USA 0
Derek Statham 53

October 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Cardiff, Ninian Park
Wales 4-Turkey 0
Brian Flynn 18, Leighton James 38 pen, 85’, Ian Walsh 78

October 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Glasgow- Hampden Park 
Scotland 0-Portugal 0


October 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Bucuresti -Stadionul 23 August
Romania 2-England 1
Marcel Raducanu 35, Anghel Iordanescu 75pen / Tony Woodcock 64
October 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Moskva (Moscow)-Tsentral'nyj Stadion imeni Vladimira Il'yicha Lenina (The Central V.I.Lenin's Stadium)
USSR 5-Iceland 0
Sergei Andreyev 9, 78, Khoren Oganessian 39, 58, Vladimir Bessonov 84

October 15, 1980
Friendly
Buenos Aires -Antonio Vespuci Alberti (El Monumental) (River Plate)
Argentina 1-Czechoslovakia 0
Ramon Diaz 17

October 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Dublin Lansdowne Road
Republic of Ireland 1-Belgium 1
Anthony Grealish 42 / Albert Cluytens 13

October 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Copenhagen -Idrætsparken
Denmark 0-Greece 1
Constantinos Kouis 50
October 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Belfast- Windsor Park
Northern Ireland 3-Sweden 0
Noel Brotherston 24, Sammy McIlroy 28, James Nicholl 37
October 15, 1980
Friendly
Leipzig, Zentralstadion
East Germany 0-Spain 0


October 18, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Toronto, Exhibition
Canada 1-Mexico 1
Stojanovic 44 / Juan Antonio Luna 89
October 19, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Sofia- Vassil Levski Stadion
Bulgaria 2-Albania 1
Andrei Jeliazkov 14, Georgi Slavkov 51 / Ilir Pernaska 69

October 25, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Fort Lauderdale,Florida- Lockhart Stadium
USA 0-Canada 0


October 28, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Paris- Parc des Princes
France 2-Republic of Ireland 0
Michel Platini 11, Jacques Zimako 77
October 29, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Berne- Wankdorf Stadion
Switzerland 1-Norway 2
Umberto Barberis 49 / Aage Hareide 5, Svein Mathisen 79

October 30, 1980
Friendly
Goiânia - Estádio Serra Dourada
Brazil 6-Paraguay 0
Zé Sérgio 32, Tita 38, Zico 60,86, Sócrates 66, Luizinho 74





Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3184, 1980
(October 9, 1980, Argentina 2-Bulgaria 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 59, November 1980
(Jean Tigana, with Michel Platini in the background, October 11, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Cyprus 0-France 7)

Photo From : Onze, Issue 59, November 1980
(October 11, 1980, Holland 1-West Germany 1)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3184, 1980
(Wladyslaw Zmuda, Jose Daniel Valencia, Marek Dziuba and Diego Maradona, October 12, 1980, Argentina 2-Poland 1)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3185, 1980
(Americo Gallego and Marian Masny, October 15, 1980, Argentina 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 59, November 1980
(Chris Hughton, Albert Cluytens and Gerry Peyton, October 15, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 1-Belgium 1)


Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 24, March 1982
(Tony Woodcock, October 15, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Romania 2-England 1)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 59, November 1980
(Jacques Zimako scoring France’s second goal, October 28, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, France 2-Republic of Ireland 0)




November
Italy scored an important win vs. Denmark at home with two goals by Graziani.
The win was achieved despite the absences of Causio and Antognoni (through suspension) and Gabriel Oriali (though injury).They scored yet another (2-0) win two weeks after that vs. Yugoslavia.
England won at Wembley vs. Switzerland.
Portugal defeated Northern Ireland at home to dash some of their momentum from the previous month’s important win vs. Sweden.
Sweden itself lost further ground after a scoreless tie vs. Israel.
Austria defeated Albania to lay claim as one of the qualifiers, with group rivals West Germany seemingly certain to qualify, though still not in action.
Wales defeated Czechoslovakia to still maintain hopes of qualifying.
Jeremey Charles made his debut for national team in that match. He was son of Mel and nephew of John Charles.
Belgium defeated its neighbors Holland at home with an Erwin vandenbergh penalty to increase pressure on the Finalists of the previous two World Cups.
Group rivals Republic of Ireland easily defeated Cyprus (6-0). This was their highest scoring margin in their history up to that point.
Spain continued its preparations by losing at home to Poland.
The highly anticipated Friendly between West Germany and France ended with the Germans as clear winners (4-1). France Captain Michel Platini came under heavy criticism with West German manager Jupp Derwall comparing him to a General who is surveying the action on a battlefield with a pair of binoculars.




Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
November 1, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Vancouver, Empire Stadium
Canada 2-USA 1
Iarusci 21, Segota 42 pen / Greg Villa 90

November 1, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Roma- Lo Stadio Olimpico
Italy 2-Denmark 0
Francesco Graziani 7, 51
November 9, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Ciudad de México (Mexico City) –Estadio Azteca
Mexico 5-USA 1
Hugo Sánchez 24, Adrián Camacho 31, 55, Mendizábal 37, José Luis González 40 / Rick Davis 76 pen
November 9, 1980
Friendly
Cochachamba, Felix capriles
Bolivia 1-Uruguay 3
Carlos Aragones / Eduardo De la Peña, Julio César Morales, Waldemar Victorino

November 11, 1980
Friendly
Athens- Leoforos Alexandras
Greece 3-Australia 3
Yannis Damanakis 25, Dimitris Domazos 67, Yorgos Delikaris 89pen / Gary Cole 24, Murray Barnes 84, Theo Selemidis 88
November 12, 1980
Friendly
Barcelona, Estadio Sarriá (Espanol)
Spain 1-Poland 2
 ‘Dani Ruiz’ 88pen / Andrzej Iwan 1, 89

November 12, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Tel Aviv- Ramat Gan, Natopnal Stadium
Israel 0-Sweden 0


November 12, 1980
Friendly

Uruguay 1-Peru 1
Ariel Krasouski /

November 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Turin (Torino) –Stadio Comunale
Italy 2-Yugoslavia 0
Antonio Cabrini 40pen, Bruno Conti 75
November 15, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Vienna-Praterstadion
Austria 5-Albania 0
Bruno Pezzey 19, Walter Schachner 26, 35, Kurt Welzl 58, Hans Krankl 86

November 16, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Ciudad de México (Mexico City) –Estadio Azteca
Mexico 1-Canada 1
Hugo Sánchez 74pen / Gray 87

November 17, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Birmingham, St Andrew's Stadium
England 'B' 1-Australia 0
Alan Sunderland 51

November 19, 1980
Friendly
Halle, Kurt-Wabbel-Stadion
East Germany 2-Hungary 0
Martin Trocha 28, Joachim Streich 32

November 19, 1980
Friendly
Kraków, Stadion Suche Stawy (Hutnik Kraków)
Poland 5-Algeria 1
Janusz Kupcewicz 9 , Włodzimierz Ciołek 15, Andrzej Iwan 38, 73,  Marek Dziuba 69 / Ghrib 85

November 19, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 2-Switzerland 1
Markus Tanner (own goal) 23, Paul Mariner 32 / Hans-Jorg Pfister 76
November 19, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Lisbon- Estadio da Luz (Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica)
Portugal 1-Northern Ireland 0
Rui Jordao 60

November 19, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Cardiff, Ninian Park
Wales 1-Czechoslovakia 0
David Charles Giles 9
November 19, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Bruxelles-Stade du Heysel  (Brussels- Heizelstadion)
Belgium 1-Holland 0
Erwin Vandenbergh  48pen
November 19, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Copenhagen -Idrætsparken
Denmark 4-Luxembourg 0
Frank Arnesen 13, 41 pen, Preben Elkjaer 57, Allan Simonsen 65

November 19, 1980
Friendly
Hanover- Niedersachsenstadion
West Germany 4-France 1
Manfred Kaltz 6pen, Hans-Peter Briegel 37, Horst Hrubesch 62, Klaus Allofs 89 / Jean-Francois Larios 39pen
November 19, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Dublin -Lansdowne Road
Republic of Ireland 6-Cyprus 0
Gerry Daly 10 pen 23, Anthony Grealish 24, Michael Robinson 28, Frank Stapleton 46, Chris Hughton 65

November 19, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Florence (Firenze)-Stadio Comunale
Fiorentina (Italy) 2-Australia 0
Giancarlo Antognoni 10, Orlandini 46

November 23, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Fort Lauderdale,Florida- Lockhart Stadium
USA 2-Mexico 1
Steve Moyers 31, 65 / Hugo Sánchez 40

November 24, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Leicester,  Filbert Street
Leicester City (England) 1-Australia 2
 Smith 73pen / Ken Boden 12, 38

November 27, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb (Yugoslavia) 4-Australia 0
Kovacevic 8, Cerin 25, Munjakovic 37, Bogdan 73

November 30, 1980
Friendly
La Paz
Bolivia 3-Finland 0
Miguel Aguilar 14, Paniagua 19, Windsor Del Llano 62




Photo From : Onze, Issue 60, December 1980
(Per Røntved and Francesco Graziani, November 1, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Italy 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From : Mondial, New series, issue 10, January 1981
(November 12 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Israel 0-Sweden 0)


Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983
(Roberto Bettega, November 15, 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Italy 2-Yugoslavia 0)

Photo From: L'Equie de Suisse, Authors Guy Balibouse, Roger Felix, Pierre Tripod, 1993
(November 19 1980, World Cup Qualifier, England 2-Switzerland 1)


Photo From: Rode Duivels & Oranje Leeuwen., 100 jaar Derby der Lage Landen, Authors Ralf Willems, Matty Verkamman
(November 19, 1980, World Cup Qualifier , Belgium 1-Holland 0)

Photo From : Onze, Issue 61, January 1981
(November 16, 1980, World Cup Qualifier , Mexico 1-Canada 1)

Photo From : Onze, Issue 60, December 1980
(Bernd Schuster and Michel Platini, November 19, 1980, West Germany 4-France 1)


December
The European Champions West Germany made their debut in the qualifiers by convincingly defeating Bulgaria at Sofia.
Bernd Schuster pulled out from the squad claiming Gastric Flu. However, it was later discovered that he trained with his club Barcelona.
Italy scored won its fourth successive (2-0) win by defeating Greece away, with a rare goal from Gaetano Scirea.
The Malta-Poland qualifier was interrupted after 77 minutes amid many on and off the field incidents. (Note: This incident has been mentioned in this blog before, Poland suspended Mlynarczyk, Zmuda and Boniek for the remainder of the season and Polish Manager Ryszard Kulesza was dismissed).
For more details read:

South Americans Brazil,  Argentina and Uruguay played Friendlies in preparation for the Mundialito in Uruguay in late December and early January.
Switzerland toured South America and played against all these three nations. After the tour Swiss manager Léo Walker was replaced.
The Mundialito was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Uruguay’s 1930 World Cup victory. All previous World Cup winners were invited. England refused to participate, therefore Holland (as WC Finalists) took their place.
The month and the year ended with hosts Uruguay defeating Holland to start the Mundialito.


Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
December 2, 1980
Friendly
Beer Sheva, Municipal Stadium
Israel 0-Australia 1
Gary Cole 28pen

December 3, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Sofia- Vassil Levski Stadion
Bulgaria 1-West Germany 3
Tzvetan Yonchev 66 /  Manfred Kaltz 14, 36 pen, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 54
December 3, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Prague, Stadion Evžena Rošického (Strahov)(Slavia Praha) 
Czechoslovakia 2-Turkey 0
Zdenek Nehoda 13, 15

December 4, 1980
Friendly
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Bolivia 2-Finland 2
Paniagua 11pen, Miguel Aguilar 88 / Pasi Jaakonsaari - Ari Valvee

December 4, 1980
Friendly
Mar Del Plata-Estadio José María Minella
Argentina 1-USSR 1
Diego Maradona 19 / Khoren Oganesian 21

December 5, 1980
Unofficial Friendly
Hong Kong
Hong Kong XI 1-Australia 0
 Lau Wing Yip 85

December 6, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Athens- Apostolos Nikolaidis (Leoforos Alexandras) (Panathinaikos)
Greece 0-Italy 2
Giancarlo Antognoni 10, Gaetano Scirea 81
December 6, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Tiranë (Tirana)- Stadiumi Kombetar ‘Qemal Stafa’
Albania 0-Austria 1
Kurt Welzl 38

December 7, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Gzira, Empire Stadium
Malta 0-Poland 2  (match interrupted after 77 mins, result affirmed)
Włodzimierz Smolarek 57, Leszek Lipka 77

December 7, 1980
Friendly
Jakarta, Senayan Stadium
Indonesia 1-Australia 1
Effendi 5 / Tony Henderson 13

December 8, 1980
Friendly
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario
Uruguay 6-Finland 0
Ariel José Krasouski 33, Julio César Morales 59, 60, Ernesto Vargas 76, Jorge Luis Siviero 80, Miguel Falero 86

December 11, 1980
Friendly
Maldonado, Campo Municipal
Uruguay 5-Bolivia 0
Julio César Morales (2), Waldemar Victorino, Ruben Paz, Venancio Ramos

December 16, 1980
Friendly
Cordoba-Olímpico de Córdoba (Chateau Carreras)
Argentina 5-Switzerland 0
Ramon Diaz 5, Leopoldo Luque 9, Jose Daniel Valencia 43, Diego Maradona 45, Daniel Passarella 67pen
December 17, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Lisbon, Estadio da Luz (Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica)
Portugal 3-Israel 0
Humberto Coelho 33, 58, Rui Jordao 35

December 18, 1980
Friendly
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario
Uruguay 4-Switzerland 0
Walter Daniel Olivera 21, Ruben Walter Paz 66, 83, 89

December 20, 1980
Friendly
Cuiabá - Estádio Governador José Fragelli (Verdão)
Brazil 2-Switzerland 0
Sócrates10pen, Zé Sérgio 69

December 21, 1980
World Cup Qualifier
Levkosia (Nicosia)-Makarion Athlítiko Kentro (Bishop Makarios Stadium)
Cyprus 0-Belgium 2
Erwin Vandenbergh 30, Jan Ceulemans 68

December 30, 1980
Mundialito-Group A
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario
Uruguay 2-Holland 0
Venancio Ramos 31, Waldemar Victorino 45



Photo From: Chronik des deutschen fussballs, 2005
(Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, December 3 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Bulgaria 1-West Germany 3)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3192, 1980
(December 4, 1980, Argentina 1-USSR 1)


Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 25, April 1982
 (Włodzimierz Smolarek, December 7 1980, World Cup Qualifier, Malta 0-Poland 2)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3194, 1980
(Daniel Passarella, December 16, 1980, Argentina 5-Switzerland 0)

Photo from: de Internationals, de Historie van Oranje, Authors Matty Verkamman, Henri van der Steen, John Volkers
(Hugo Hovenhkamp, , December 30, 1980, Mundialito, Uruguay 2-Holland 0)


January
The new year started with the continuation of the Mundialito. West Germany suffered its first defeat in 23 matches under Jupp Derwall. The first since the 1978 World Cup, by losing to Argentina and six days later to Brazil.
The (1-4) loss vs. Brazil was West Germany’s worst defeat since (3-6 loss) to France in the 1958 World Cup.
Brazil having tied Argentina, qualified for the Final with a better goal
difference.
Uruguay defeated an experimental Italy and qualifed for its Final.  Italy’s Marco Tardelli was sent off in that match.
Italy had opted to try out new players. Captain Dino Zoff was not selected for the Tournamant. Players such as Carlo Ancelotti, Salvatore Bagni, Roberto Pruzzo and Pietro Vierchowod were tried out.
Holland Manager Jan Zwartkruis resigned after the tournament.
Uruguay won the Mundialito by defeating Brazil that many parralled with the 1950 World Cup Final.



Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
January 1, 1981
Mundialito-Group B
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario, Uruguay
Argentina 2-West Germany 1
Manfred Kaltz (own goal) 84, Ramon Díaz 88 / Horst Hrubesch 41
January 3, 1981
Mundialito-Group A
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario
Uruguay 2-Italy 0
Julio César Morales 67pen, Waldemar Victorino 81
January 4, 1981
Mundialito-Group B
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario, Uruguay
Brazil 1-Argentina 1
Edevaldo 47 / Diego Maradona 30
January 6, 1981
Mundialito-Group A
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario, Uruguay
Italy 1-Holland 1
Carlo Ancelotti 7 / Jan Peters 15
January 7, 1981
Mundialito-Group B
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario, Uruguay
Brazil 4-West Germany 1
Júnior 56, Toninho Cerezo 61, Serginho 76, Zé Sérgio 82 / Klaus Allofs 54
January 10, 1981
Mundialito-Final
Montevideo- Estadio Centenario
Uruguay 2-Brazil 1
Jorge Barrios 50, Waldemar Victorino 80 / Sócrates 62pen
January 14, 1981
Friendly

Venezuela 1-Dutch West Indies 0
Hernandez

January 20, 1981
Friendly
Ciudad de México (Mexico City) –Estadio Azteca
Mexico 1-Bulgaria 1
Hugo Sanchez 75 / Kostadin Kostadinov or Chavdar Tzvetkov 88pen

January 25, 1981
Friendly
Tokyo, National Stadium
Japan 0-Poland 2
Kazimierz Buda 9, Jarosław Nowicki 29
January 25, 1981
Friendly
La paz
Bolivia 2-Czechoslovakia 1
Carlos Aragones 7-Erwin Romero or Gaston Taborga 19 / Petr Janecka 39

January 27, 1981
Friendly
Tokushima, city stadium
Japan 2-Poland 4
Hasegawa 14, Kashiraya 35 / Krzysztof Kajrys 17, Henryk Janikowski 32, 81, Krzysztof Baran 87

January 27 or 28, 1981
Friendly
Quito -Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa
Ecuador 1-Bulgaria 3
Ernesto Mesias 34 / Georgi Slavkov Slavkov 30, 32, Kostadin Kostadinov 78 Note: Bulgaria's second goal may have been scored by Chavdar Tsvetkov

January 28, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Thessaloniki-Charilaou (Aris)
Greece 2-Luxembourg 0
Constantinos Kouis 8, Georgios Kostikos 38
January 29, 1981
Friendly
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Bolivia 2-Czechoslovakia 5
Carlos Aragones15, Silvio Rojas 57 / Danek 7, Petr Janecka 57, Ladislav Jurkemik 59, Ladislav Vizek 77pen, Zdenek Nehoda 88

January 30, 1981
Friendly
Nagoya, Mizuho Stadium
Japan 1-Poland 4
Maeda 11pen / Adam Walczak 3, Kazimierz Buda 5, Krzysztof Baran 44, Piotr Rzepka 68

January 31, 1981
Unofficial Friendly
Canberra
Australia 3-Dinamo Zagreb (Yugoslavia) 3
Alan Davidson 6, Peter Sharne 29, John Spanos 75 / Bracun 51, 64, Bosnjak 57





Photo From : Mondial, new series, Issue 18, September 1981
(Diego Maradona and Hans-Peter Briegel, January 1, 1981, Mundialito, Argentina 2-West Germany 1)

Photo From : Mondial, New series, issue 11, February 1981
(Claudio Gentile and Waldemar Victorino, January 3, 1981, Mundialito, Uruguay 2-Italy 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 67, July 1981
(Oscar and Osvaldo Ardiles, January 4, 1981, Mundialito, Brazil 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From:  Onze, Issue 75, March 1982
(Ernie Brandts and Roberto Pruzzo, January 6, 1981, Mundialito, Italy 1-Holland1)


Photo From: Onze, Issue 65, May 1981
(Junior, January 7, 1981, Mundialito, Brazil 4-West Germany 1)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 62, February 1981
(Victorino’s winner, January 10, 1981, Mundialito, Uruguay 2-Brazil 1)


February
Brazil started its World Cup Qualification campaign by playing and winning its away matches vs. Venezuela and Bolivia.
Spain defeated France in a high profile Friendly with a penalty by Juanito.
Belgium and Holland (with Rob Baan in temporary charge) both defeated Cyprus in World Cup Qualifiers.
Scotland won an away World Cup qualifier at Israel with a goal by Dalglish.
The talking point of Republic of Ireland’s Friendly vs. Wales was the fact that Ireland fielded two players who may have been ineligible.
Eammon O’Keefe had represented England at semi-professional non-league level. He was banned from earning further caps.
While, The goalkeeper James McDonagh had once played as a substitute on an England youth team.
The month ended with Italy losing heavily a Friendly for victims of Irpinia earthquake against a European Selection.



Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
February 1, 1981
Friendly
Tokyo, National Stadium
Japan 0-Poland 3
Mirosław Pękała 39, Sugamato (own goal) 83, Mirosław Okoński 88

February 1, 1981
Friendly
Bogotá, Estadio Nemesio Camacho 'El Campín'
Colombia 1-Brazil 1
Eduardo Emilio Vilarete 69 / Serginho 65

February 1, 1981
Friendly
La Paz- Municipal
Bolivia 1-Bulgaria 3
Carlos Aragones 8 / Georgi Slavkov 2, Kostadin Kostadinov 30,  Chavdar Tsvetkov 76

February 4, 1981
Unofficial Friendly
Lima
Peru 1-Czechoslovakia 3
Ladislav Vizek 21, 62, Frantisek Jakubec 49

February 4, 1981
Unofficial Friendly
Tel Aviv
Israel 1-Austria 0
Nissim Cohen 86

February 8, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Caracas -Estadio Olímpico de la Universidad Central de Venezuela
Venezuela 0-Brazil 1
Zico 82pen
February 10, 1981
Friendly
Ciudad de México (Mexico City) –Estadio Azteca
Mexico 4-South Korea 0
Concepción Rodríguez 14, Ricardo Castro 23, Sergio Lira 80, Sergio Orduña 88

February 12, 1981
Friendly
Lima
Peru 1-Bulgaria 2
Correa / Petar Zehtinski 40, Chavdar Tsvetkov 83

February 13, 1981
Friendly
Lathi (Indoors), Finland
Sweden 4-Norway 2
Torbjörn Nilsson 35, Mikael Rönnberg 64, Lennart Larsson 71, Thomas Nilsson 79 / Aage Hareide 10, Vidar Davidsen 32

February 14, 1981
Friendly
Quito -Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa
Ecuador 0-Brazil 6
Reinaldo I 24, 35, Sócrates 28, 81, John Landeta (own goal 48), Zico 65

February 15, 1981
Friendly
Lathi (Indoors)
Finland 2-Sweden 1
Hannu Rajaniemi 5, Jukka Ikalainen 7 / Torbjörn Nilsson 21

February 15, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
La Paz – Estadio Hernán Siles Zuazo
Bolivia 3-Venezuela 0
Miguel Aguilar 37, Carlos Aragones 67, Jesus Reynaldo 83

February 18, 1981
Friendly
Madrid-Estadio Vicente Calderon (Club Atlético de Madrid) 
Spain 1-France 0
Juan Gomez 'Juanito' 86pen
February 18, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Bruxelles-Stade du Heysel  (Brussels- Heizelstadion)
Belgium 3-Cyprus 2
Gerard Plessers 13, Erwin Vandenbergh 18, Jan Ceulemans 67 / Stefanos Lysandrou 42, Fivos Vrachimis 60

February 22, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Groningen - Oosterpark
Holland 3-Cyprus 0
Hugo Hovenkamp 14, Cornelis Schapendonk 47, Dirk Nanninga 57
February 22, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
La Paz - Hernán Siles Zuazo
Bolivia 1-Brazil 2
Carlos Aragonés 36 / Sócrates 6, Reinaldo 61
February 24, 1981
Friendly
Dublin, Tolka Park
Republic of Ireland 1-Wales 3
Anthony Grealish 25 / Paul Price 33, Terry Boyle 37, Terry Yorath 89

February 25, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Tel Aviv- Ramat Gan, National Stadium
Israel 0-Scotland 1
Kenny Dalglish 54

February 25, 1981
Friendly for victims of Irpinia earthquake
Roma-Lo Stadio Olimpico
Italy 0-European All-Stars XI 3
Allan Simonsen 32, Vahid Halilhodzic 56, Tony Woodcock 79



Photo From : L’Annee Du Football, 1981
(Jean-Francois Larios, February 18, 1981, Spain 1-France 0)



Photo From : Mondial, New series, issue 13, April 1981
(February 18, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , Belgium 3-Cyprus 2)

Photo From: Voetbal Revue, Nummer 14, February 27-March 12, 1981
 (Frans Thijssen, February 22, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , Holland 3-Cyprus 0)


Photo From : Mondial, New series, issue 13, April 1981
(John Wark, February 25, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , Israel 0-Scotland 1)


Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 3a dispensa d'aggiornamento
(Dino Zoff making a save, February 25, 1981, Friendly for victims of Irpinia earthquake, Italy 0-European All-Stars XI 3)



March
Brazil finished its World Cup Qualifiers and predictably qualified by winning its home matches vs. Venezuela and Bolivia.
In a high profile Friendly, England lost at Wembley vs. Spain. This was their first defeat at Wembley since losing to Holland in 1977. It was England manager Ron Greenwood’s first loss at Wembley.
At the beginning of that month, Spain had to contend with the kidnapping of International striker Quini, though thankfully he was released unharmed.
Scotland and Northern Ireland tied each other in a WC qualifier at Glasgow.
Holland, under new Manager Kees Rijvers, defeated France in a World Cup qualifier at Rotterdam. The winning goal was scored after Arnold Muhren’s free kick struck the horizontal bar, dropped on France goalkeeper Dominique Dropsy’s shoulder and into the net.
Michel Platini’s absence through injury, paved the way for Alain Giresse to be selected and stay in the team for the coming years.
In the same group Belgium took a closer step to the World Cup by defeating Republic of Ireland by the slimmest of margins.
The match was marred by refereeing decisions that went against Ireland, and at the conclusion of the match Irish Manager Eion Hand shouted at the referee.
Poland lost its first match under new manager Antoni Piechniczek in a Friendly vs. Romania.
Paul Wolfisberg managed his first match as Switzerland Manager by defeating Czechoslovakia in an away Friendly.

Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
March 10, 1981
Friendly
Santiago -Estadio Nacional de Santiago
Chile 1-Colombia 0
Oscar Herrera 28

March 11, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Luxembourg -Stade Municipal de Luxembourg
Luxembourg 0-Greece 2
Constantinos Kouis 38, Thomas Mavros 55pen
March 11, 1981
Unofficial Friendly
Braila
Romania 2-East Germany 1
Ilie Balaci 34, Aurel Beldeanu 88 pen /  Rudiger Schnuphase 55pen

March 14, 1981
Friendly
Ribeirão Preto – Estadio Santa Cruz
Brazil 2-Chile 1
Zico 30, Reinaldo 46 / Carlos Caszely 50
March 15, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Caracas -Estadio Olímpico de la Universidad Central de Venezuela
Venezuela 1-Bolivia 0
Acosta 24

March 19, 1981
Friendly
Bogotá, Estadio Nemesio Camacho 'El Campín'
Colombia 1-Chile 2
Willington Ortíz 36pen  / Carlos Caszely 15,19

March 22, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Rio de Janeiro- Maracana
Brazil 3-Bolivia 1
Zico 24pen,53, 85 / Carlos Aragonés 68
March 24, 1981
Friendly
Bratislava -Tehelne Pole Stadion (Slovan Bratislava) 
Czechoslovakia 0-Switzerland 1
René Botteron 66

March 25, 1981
Friendly
Bucuresti, Stadionul Republica
Romania 2-Poland 0
Rodion Camataru 8- Anghel Iordanescu 31

March 25, 1981
Friendly
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 1-Spain 2
Glenn Hoddle 27 / Jesus Satrustegui 4, Jesus Zamora 32
March 25, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Ankara -19 Mayıs Stadyumu (19th May Stadium)
Turkey 0-Wales 1
Carl Harris 66

March 25, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Glasgow- Hampden Park
Scotland 1-Northern Ireland 1
John Wark 75 / Billy Hamilton 70
March 25, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Rotterdam-De Kuip-Feyenoord Stadion
Holland 1-France 0
Arnold Muhren 47
March 25, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Bruxelles-Stade du Heysel  (Brussels- Heizelstadion)
Belgium 1-Republic of Ireland 0
Jan Ceulemans 87
March 25, 1981
Friendly
Subotica, Stadion Spartaka
Yugoslavia 2-Bulgaria 1
Vahid Halilhodzic 2, Blaz Sliskovic 26 / Georgi Slavkov 25

March 29, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Goiânia- Estádio Serra Dourada
Brazil 5-Venezuela 0
Tita 36, 59,  Socrates 56- Zico 75pen, Junior 84




Photo From : World Soccer , May 1981
(March 25, 1981, England 1-Spain 2)

Photo From : Mondial, New series, issue 14, May 1981
(Rene vandereycken and Liam Brady, March 25, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , Belgium 1-Republic of Ireland 0)

Photo From : Mondial, New series, issue 13, April 1981
(Dominique Rocheteau, Ruud Krol and Didier Six, March 25, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , Holland 1-France 0)


April
West Germany continued its campaign by defeating Albania away (in the beginning of the month) and Austria (at the end of the month) by two (2-0) wins.
The Austria match served as Paul Breitner’s recall to the national team, back for West Germany for the first time since 1975.
West Germany’s captain Bernard Dietz was dropped for this match. The match vs. Albania was his last ever match for his country.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge became the new West German captain.
Spain lost to Hungary in a Friendly at home by a heavy score (0-3).
Scotland defeated Israel in a Qualifier at home, while in the same group Northern Ireland defeated Portugal.
In the Northern Ireland-Portugal matchup, with about twenty minutes from time, a bottle was thrown from the stands towards Portugal’s goal area. The referee briefly stopped play and warned the Irish officials.
Yugoslavia edged closer to qualification by defeating Greece (5-1), where goalkeeper Dragan Pantelic once again scored from the penalty spot..
England was unable to defeat Romania at home and had to settle for a scoreless tie, while in the same Group Hungary tied with Switzerland away (2-2).
France (still without Platini and also Larios) managed to win its key qualifier with Belgium at Paris (3-2).
In the other matchup in the group, Cornelis Van Kooten made his debut at age 32 for Holland and scored the winning goal vs. Cyprus.
Italy played a Friendly vs. East Germany (scoreless tie) in a match that no Internazionale Milano players were selected, as they were preparing their Champions Cup semifinal clash vs. Real Madrid.


Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
April 1, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Tiranë (Tirana)- Stadiumi Kombetar ‘Qemal Stafa’
Albania 0-West Germany 2
Bernd Schuster 9, 71
April 4, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
La Valetta, Gzira-Stadium
Malta 1-East Germany 2
Emmanuel ‘Leli’ Fabri  11 / Rudiger Schnuphase 20pen,  Reinhard Häfner 44

April 8, 1981
Friendly
Tel Aviv-Yafo- Bloomfield Yafo Stadium
Israel 2-Romania 1
Beni Tabak 2, Shlomo Mizrahi 78 / Mircea Sandu 4

April 15, 1981
Friendly
Copenhagen -Idrætsparken  
Denmark 2-Romania 1
Allan Simonsen 51pen, Lars Bastrup 80 / Rodion Camataru 46

April 15, 1981
Friendly
Valencia -Estadio Luis Casanova
Spain 0-Hungary 3
Laszlo Kiss 31, Bela Bodonyi 83, Tibor Nylasi 89
April 15, 1981
Friendly
Levkosia (Nicosia)-Makarion Athlítiko Kentro (Bishop Makarios Stadium)
Cyprus 0-Greece 1
Kostas Iosifidis 32

April 15, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Ístanbul -Ali Sami Yen Stadyumu (Galatasaray)
Turkey 0-Czechoslovakia 3
Petr Janecka 58, Jan Kozak 70, Ladislav Vizek 80

April 15, 1981
Friendly
Porto- Estadio das Antas   
Portugal 1-Bulgaria 1
Antonio Luis Alves Ribeiro Oliveira 65 / Chavdar Tzvetkov 61

April 19, 1981
Friendly
Udine, Stadio del Friuli
Italy 0-East Germany 0

April 19, 1981
Friendly
Santiago -Estadio Nacional de Santiago
Chile 3-Peru 0
Gustavo Moscoso 30, 75, Carlos Caszely 65pen

April 25, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Auckland, Mount Smart Stadium
New Zealand 3-Australia 3
G Turner 25, Wooddin 34, Sumner 80 / Eddie Krncevic 15, 42, Ken Boden 31
April 28, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Glasgow- Hampden Park
Scotland 3-Israel 1
John Robertson 20 pen, 30pen, David Provan 52 / Moshe Sinai 56

April 28, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Luzern- Stadion Allmend
Switzerland 2-Hungary 2
Claudio Sulser  31, 47 / Laszlo Balint 45, Sándor Müller 64pen
April 29, 1981
Friendly
Pleven-Sl. Aleksiev 
Bulgaria 1-Norway 0
Plamen Tzvetkov 7

April 29, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Split, Stadion Poljud
Yugoslavia 5-Greece 1
Edhem Sljivo 7, Vahid Halilhodzic 21, Dragan Pantelic 43pen, Zlatko Vujovic 50, 56 / Georgios Kostikos 76pen
April 29, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 0-Romania 0

April 29, 1981
Friendly
Dublin -Lansdowne Road
Republic of Ireland 3-Czechoslovakia 1
Kevin Moran 18, 69, Frank Stapleton 75 / Marian Masny 55

April 29, 1981
Friendly / Copa Juan Pinto Durán
Santiago -Estadio Nacional de Santiago
Chile 1-Uruguay 2
Manuel Rojas 57 / Julio César Núñez 67pen,  Nelson Agresta 73

April 29, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Levkosia (Nicosia)-Makarion Athlítiko Kentro (Bishop Makarios Stadium)
Cyprus 0-Holland 1
Cornelis van Kooten 29

April 29, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Hamburg-Volkspark Stadion
West Germany 2-Austria 0
Bernd Krauss (Own Goal) 30, Klaus Fischer 36
April 29, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
  Belfast -Windsor Park
Northern Ireland 1-Portugal 0
Gerry Armstrong 74
April 29, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Paris- Parc des Princes
France 3-Belgium 2
Gerard Soler 14, 31, Didier Six 26 / Erwin Vandenbergh 5, Jan Ceulemans 52




Photo From: Chronik des deutschen fussballs, 2005
(Horst Hrubesch, April 1, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , Albania 0-West Germany 2)

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1981
(April 19, 1981, Chile 3-Peru 0)

Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 19, October 1981
(Vahid Halilhodzic, April 29, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , Yugoslavia 5-Greece 1)

Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 15, June 1981
(Aurel Beldeanu and Tony Woodcock, April 29, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , England 0-Romania 0)

Photo From: Chronik des deutschen fussballs, 2005
(Friedel Koncilia, April 29, 1981, World Cup Qualifier , West Germany 2-Asutria 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 65, May 1981
(Didier Six and Eric Gerets, April 29, 1981, World Cup Qualfiier, France 3-Belgium2 )



May

Poland managed to win its important qualifier at home vs. rivals East Germany to edge ahead in the group.
Brazil toured Europe and played three high profile Friendlies and won all three vs. England, France and West Germany.
France’s loss vs. Brazil was its first on home soil, since Michel Hidalgo had taken over as manager in 1976. The match was watched by Pele who prior to the match received an award as the ‘Athlete of the Century’.
The loss vs. Brazil was West Germany’s first home defeat since April 4, 1978, when they also lost to Brazil. In this matchup, Paul Breitner failed to score from a twice taken penalty kick in the 80th minute.
Bernd Schuster was asked to play only 45 minutes by his club Barcelona.
Following the match, Schuster got into trouble with Jupp Derwall, for not attending a party thrown by Hansi Muller for the whole squad.
Schuster had not informed Derwall that he would miss the party.
He claimed he had informed Schumacher that he had to take an early flight back to Barcelona therefore could not attend.
Derwall was so incensed that he dropped Schuster from West Germany’s next match.
Hungary defeated Romania and Norway in its qualifiers to get closer to qualification.
For its part, England lost to Switzerland away to slip further and make their qualification hopes bleak.
As usual May was the month for the Home Championship of the British Isles.
England and Wales refused to play in Belfast vs. Northern Ireland, therefore that year’s tournament was inconclusive.
England did not win a single match during that month. Their scoreless tie vs. Wales at Wembley was the first time EVER that they had gone three games without scoring and also the fourth game since they had last won at Wembley.
West Germany won its away qualifier at Finland, while its closest rival and neighbors Austria defeated Bulgaria.
Czechoslovaki’s large win vs. Iceland , coupled with USSR’s away tie at Wales, edged both Eastern European nations closer to qualification.
Chile started its qualification campaign in a group containing Ecuador and Paraguay.


Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
May 1, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Luxembourg -Stade Municipal de Luxembourg
Luxembourg 1-Denmark 2
Alain Nurenburg 36 / Preben Elkjaer 46, Frank Arnesen 62
May 1, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Chorzów- Stadion Śląski (Silesian Stadium)
Poland 1-East Germany 0
Andrzej Buncol 55
May 12, 1981
Friendly
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 0-Brazil 1
Zico 11
May 13, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Budapest -Nepstadion
Hungary 1-Romania 0
Laszlo Fazekas 18
May 13, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Sofia- Vassil Levski Stadion
Bulgaria 4-Finland 0
Georgi Slavkov 10, 53, Kostadin Kostadinov 55, Chavdar Tzvetkov 90

May 14, 1981
Nordic Cup
Malmö -Malmö Stadion
Sweden 1-Denmark 2
Bo Börjesson 74 / Lars Bastrup 63, Preben Elkjær 71

May 15, 1981
Pirri Testimonial
Madrid –Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Real Madrid (Spain) 1-Spain 1
Laurie Cunningham 60 / ‘Joaquin’ Alonso Gonzalez 55
May 15, 1981
Friendly
Paris - Parc des Princes
France 1-Brazil 3
Didier Six 81 / Zico 21, Reinaldo 27, Sócrates 52
May 16, 1981
Home Championship
Swansea-  Vetch Field
Wales 2-Scotland 0
Ian Walsh 17, 20
May 16, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Sydney-Sydney Cricket Ground
Australia 0-New Zealand 2
Wooddin 29, G Turner 81
May 17, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Guayaquil- Estadio Modelo
Ecuador 1-Paraguay 0
Fausto Klinger 49

May 19, 1981
Friendly
Senftenberg, Stadion der Bergarbeiter (Stadium of the Miners)
East Germany 5-Cuba 0
Jurgen Heun 11, 82, Rudiger Schnuphase 45, Joachim Streich 60, Hernandez (own goal) 72

May 19, 1981
Friendly
Stuttgart  - Neckarstadion
West Germany 1-Brazil 2
Klaus Fischer 30 / Toninho Cerezo 61, Júnior 74
May 19, 1981
Home Championship
  Glasgow- Hampden Park
Scotland 2-Northern ireland 0
Ray Stewart 5, Steve Archibald 50

May 20, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Oslo- Ullevaal Stadion
Norway 1-Hungary 2
Hallvar Thoresen 57 / Laszlo Kiss 77, 79
May 20, 1981
Home Championship
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 0-Wales 0


May 20, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Melbourne, Olympic Park
Australia 2-Indonesia 0
John Kosmina 29, Alan Davidson 33

May 21, 1981
Unofficial Friendly
Bremen-Weser Stadion
West Germany 'B' 3-Republic of Ireland 0
Karl Del'Haye, Funkel, Schroder

May 23, 1981
Home Championship
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 0-Scotland 1
John Robertson 84pen
May 24, 1981
Friendly
Bydgoszcz- Zopisya -Stadion imeni Zdzisława Krzyszkówiaka 
Poland 3-Republic of Ireland 0
Andrzej Iwan 2, David O'Leary (own goal) 38, Roman Ogaza 66

May 24, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Lahti- Keskusurheilu
Finland 0-West Germany 4
Hans-Peter Briegel 25, Klaus Fischer 36, 80, Manfred Kaltz 40
May 24, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Guayaquil- Estadio Modelo
Ecuador 0-Chile 0
Hans-Peter Briegel 25, Klaus Fischer 36, 80, Manfred Kaltz 40

May 27, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Bratislava -Tehelne Pole Stadion (Slovan Bratislava)
Czechoslovakia 6-Iceland 1
Ladislav Vizek 35, Antonin Panenka 42pen, Zdenek Nehoda 72, Edvaldsson (own goal) 78, Jan Kozak 80, Petr Janecka 86 / Magnus Helgi Bergs 60

May 28, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Vienna-Praterstadion
Austria 2-Bulgaria 0
Hans Krankl 30pen, Kurt Jara 88

May 30, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Wrexham- Racecourse Ground Stadium
Wales 0-USSR 0
Hans Krankl 30pen, Kurt Jara 88

May 30, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
 Basel -Saint Jakob Park
Switzerland 2-England 1
Alfred Scheiwiler 27, Claudio Sulser 29 / Terry McDermott 54
May 31, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
 Asuncion- Estadio Los Defensores Del Chaco
Paraguay 3-Ecuador 1
Miguel Michelagnoli 47, Morel 63, Julio César Romero 81 / Nieves Wilson "Edu" 89





Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 25, April 1982
(Włodzimierz Smolarek, May1, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Poland 1-East Germany 0)

Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 16, July 1981
(Reinaldo, May 12, 1981, England 0-Brazil 1)


Photo From : Mondial, New Series, Hors Serie 13, 1982
(Tibor Nylasi, May 13, 1981, World cup Qualifier, Hungary 1-Romania 0)

Photo From : Onze, Issue 66, June 1981
(May 15, 1981, France 1-Brazil 3)

Photo From: Onze, Hors Serie 12, 1982
 (May 16, 1981, Home Championship , Wales 2-Scotland 0)


Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 19, October 1981
(Joe Jordan, May 23, 1981, Home Championship , England 0-Scotland 1)

Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 16, July 1981
(Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, May 24, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Finland 0-West Germany 4)


Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 16, July 1981
(Tengiz Sulakvelidze and Mickey Thomas, May 30, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Wales 0-USSR 0)


Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 16, July 1981
(Kevin Keegan and Gianpietro Zappa, May 30, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Switzerland 2-England 1)


June
Sweden picked up two important qualification wins vs. Northern Ireland and Portugal.
Romania defeated Norway, while England won a very important qualifier at Budapest vs. Hungary with its one of its best displays in years.
Trevor Brooking scored a rare double and Keegan scored from the spot.
Despite the victory, England had endured a very difficult season.
On the flight home, England Manager Ron Greenwood notified his squad that he would resign, however, Senior squad members convinced him to carry on.
Italy lost its first qualifier vs. Denmark (1-3) after four straight wins.
Chile qualified for the World Cup by winning its group.
Spain continued its run of Friendlies by touring South America after a Friendly at Portugal.
It won its last friendlies of the month by defeating Mexico and Venezuela.



Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
June 3, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Stockholm - Råsunda -Solna Stadion
Sweden 1-Northern Ireland 0
Hasse Borg 49pen

June 3, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Bucuresti -Stadionul 23 August
Romania 1-Norway 0
Aurel Ticleanu 67
June 3, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Copenhagen -Idrætsparken  
Denmark 3-Italy 1
Per Røntved 58, Frank Arnesen 60, Lars Bastrup 86 / Francesco Graziani 68
June 6, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Budapest -Nepstadion
Hungary 1-England 3
Imre Garaba 44 / Trevor Brooking 18, 59, Kevin Keegan 72pen
June 7, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Asuncion –Estadio De los Defensores del Chaco
Paraguay 0-Chile 1
Patricio Yanez 71
June 10, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Adelaide, Hindmarsh Stadium
Australia 3-Taiwan 2
Tony Henderson 18, John Kosmina 56, Gary Byrne 68pen / Deng-Sheng Duh 82, 90

June 14, 1981
Presidents Cup
DAE-JON-JEUN-JOO STADIUM
Liechtenstein 1-Malta 1
L. Sklarski 29 / Norman Buttigieg 80

June 14, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Santiago -Estadio Nacional de Santiago
Chile 2-Ecuador 0
Carlos Rivas 9, Carlos Caszely 85
June 17, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Oslo- Ullevaal Stadion
Norway 1-Switzerland 1
Vidar Davidsen 88 / Umberto Barberis 62

June 17, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
  Linz -Linzerstadion
Austria 5-Finland 1
Herbert Prohaska 16,18, Hans Krankl 49, Kurt Welzl 56, Gernot Jurtin 65 / Ari Valvee 71

June 18, 1981
Presidents Cup
DAE-JON-JEUN-JOO STADIUM
Indonesia 0-Malta 1
George Xuereb 27

June 20, 1981
Friendly
Porto- Estadio das Antas   
Portugal 2-Spain 0
Tamagnini Gomes Baptista Nené 80, Antonio Manuel Costa ‘Nogueira 86

June 21, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Santiago -Estadio Nacional de Santiago
Chile 3-Paraguay 0
Carlos Caszely 11, Patricio Yanez 12, Miguel Angel Neira 28
June 22, 1981
Presidents Cup
Seoul-Seoul Stadium
Thailand 0-Malta 2
Michael Degiorgio 9, George Xuereb 80

June 23, 1981
Friendly
Ciudad de México (Mexico City) –Estadio Azteca
Mexico 1-Spain 3
Hugo Sanchez 64 / Juan Gomez 'Juanito' 28, 60, Jesus Zamora 83

June 24, 1981
World Cup Qualifier
Stockholm - Råsunda -Solna Stadion
Sweden 3-Portugal 0
Bo Börjesson 39, Glenn Hysén 58, Jan Svensson 73

June 28, 1981
Friendly
Caracas -Estadio Olímpico de la Universidad Central de Venezuela
Venezuela 0-Spain 2
Juan Gomez 'Juanito' 5, Jesus Satrustegui 73pen





Photo From : Mondial, new series, issue 16, July 1981
(Billy Hamilton, June 3, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Sweden 1-Northern Ireland 0)

Photo From : Fussball Magazin, March april 1982
(Soren Lerby and Claudio Gentile, June 3, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Denmark 3-Italy 1)

Photo From :Onze, Hors Serie 12, 1982
(June 6, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary 1-England 3)




Photo From : Onze, Hors Serie 12, 1982
(June 14, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Chile 2-Ecuador 0)

Photo From: Österreichs Fußball Länderspiele Chronik 1902 – 1993, Author: Anton Egger
(June 17, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Austria 5-Finland 1)


Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 25, April 1982
(Jesus satrustegui, June 28, 1981, Venezuela 0-Spain 2)


July
Spain finished off the season with its tour of South America. After two ties with Colombia and Chile, Spain ended the season with a loss to Brazil.
Spain’s tour of Summer 1981 comprised of 7 matches in 22 days.
In the match vs. Brazil, goalkeeper Luis Arconada played in his 26 straight match. A feat not achieved since Ricardo Zamora in 1935.



Date

Venue
Result
Goalscorers
Link
July 2, 1981
Friendly
Bogotá, Estadio Nemesio Camacho 'El Campín'
Colombia 1-Spain 1
Hernan Dario Herrera 77 / Jose Ramon Alesanco 86

July 2, 1981
Nordic Cup
Helsinki -Olympiastadion 
Finland 3-Norway 1
Keijo Kousa 31, Hannu Rajaniemi 59, Hannu Turunen 60 / Vidar Davidsen 46

July 5, 1981
Friendly
Santiago -Estadio Nacional de Santiago
Chile 1-Spain 1
Carlos Caszely 9 / Jesus Satrustegui 16
July 8, 1981
Friendly
Salvador - Estádio da Fonte Nova
Brazil 1-Spain 0
Baltazar 48