The Euros-Part Six (1980 Edition)-part c (Euros 1980 Finals-Group A)

 Europeo 1980 Finals

For the first time in its History, the Euros were to be played in a Host Nation similar to a World Cup. For the longest time the Euros were played with home and away Quarterfinals followed by the Final Four in a Host Nation.

The Tournament had grown and now required a proper Tournament Finals setting.

The seven Group winners joined Host Italy for this mini-World Cup of sorts in June 1980.

The First Group contained the last two finalists of the previous edition, defending Champions Czechoslovakia and West Germany. They were joined by Holland (minus Cruyff) and first-time qualifiers Greece.

The second Group included hosts Italy, along with England, Belgium and Spain.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 54, June 1980

(Europeo 1980 logo)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 54, June 1980

(Europeo 1980 mascott)

Europeo 1980 Finals-Group A

West Germany were naturally regarded as the favorites from this Group. Jupp Derwall had taken over in the Fall of 1978 and made changes and strengthened the side following the disappointment of the 1978 World Cup.

Visiting Argentina National Team Manager Cesar Luis Menotti had declared them favorites as well, calling them as “the strongest of all.”

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1785, June 24, 1980

(Argentina Manager Cesar Luis Menotti in the audience at one of the matches)

The goalkeeping position had been a problem. Sepp Maier was no longer in contention following a car accident that eventually hastened the end of his career. There were many candidates such as Norbert Nigbur or Dieter Burdenski, but Derwall would settle on the Koln goalkeeper Harald Schumacher.

Veteran midfielder Rainer Bonhof was also set to participate, but an injury on the eve of the finals ruled him out (the number 13 jersey was to be his).

Schalke striker Klaus Fischer also missed the Euros through injury (Hrubsech replaced him).

Karl-Heinz Rummennigge of Bayern Munich was the star of the team and much was expected of him.

Other newcomers to the side included the likes of Bend Schuster, Hans-Peter Briegel and Horst Hrubesch, all ready to make their mark.

Czechoslovakia, under Jozef Venglos, were a different side than the one in 1976. They still included the likes of the 1976 penalty hero Antonin Panenka and Zdenek Nehoda.

The Dutch were a team in decline. This was the 1970s Generation on its last leg and little did they know that this would be their last Finals for another eight years.

Ruud Krol was still a commanding figure, with Rep, the van der Kerkhof twins and Arie Haan as the remaining links to the glorious past.

Dutch Manager Jan Zwartkuis had said, “In 1974 Holland squad was excellent, in 1978 good in 1980 we’ll be competitive”

Greece were an unknown quantity and were regarded as the weakest team in the Group with no chance to advance.

 

The Tournament kicked off on June 11^th at Rome, as the replay of the previous Edition’s Final with West Germany taking on Czechoslovakia.

The turnout was very poor (11,000 in attendance) and this would be the tale for these Euros.

Jupp Derwall chose to be cautious and included four midfielders: Bernd Forster, Stilieke, Briegel and Hansi Muller.

It would be a tight and disappointing match with neither side giving much away.

The deadlock was broken in the 57^th minute when Rummenigge headed in Hansi Muler’s cross.

Both Managers blamed the heat and opening match tensions for the disappointing display. Jozef Venglos also blamed his goalkeeper Jaroslav Netolicka for his positioning in the goal.

Rummenigge stated, “We played badly but important was to win”.

West German defender Manfred Kaltz would also learn on the following day that his home in Hamburg had been burglarized.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 55, July 1980

(Europeo 1980 Inauguration, June 11, 1980, UEFA European Championships, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1976, February 21, 1984

(June 11, 1980, UEFA European Championships, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

On the same day at Naples, Holland took on Greece. In a strange move, the Greeks won the coin toss and asked to switch sides even though it was neither sunny nor windy.

It would be yet another poor and disappointing match with an equally low turnout (15,000 in attendance).

This match would be decided by a penalty decision. Holland’s second-half substitute Nanninga was fouled in the box and Kees Kist scored from the spot.

Nanninga had to explain up to 27 times to journalists his penalty foul.

 

Photo From: Het Nederlands Elftal, De Histoire van Oranje, 1905-1989

(June 11, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Holland 1-Greece 0)

Three days later (June 14^th) at Naples, West Germany and Holland faced each other for the third Finals in the last six years (after 1974 and 1978 World Cups).

The Attendance (30,000) was relatively better than the first two matches, but still below expectations for such a tie.

After the lackluster display from their first match, Derwall made a few modifications.

Bernhard Cullmann was dropped as Libero with Uli Stielike dropping back from midfield to be installed as the new Libero (for the remainder of the Finals).

Bernd Förster was also dropped from the midfield, replaced by Bernd Schuster.

This allowed for a three-striker attack with Horst Hrubesch added to the strike force joining Rummenigge and Allofs.

The Dutch only made one change, Johnny Rep starting ahead of Martien Vreijsen.

The three tactical changes clearly helped the Germans, especially the inclusion of Schuster who would become one of the revelations of these Euros.

West Germany’s hero for this match would be Dusseldorf striker Klaus Allofs who would get a hat trick (his first ever) with Schuster having a hand in all three goals.

Allofs would give Germans the lead in the 20^th minute after he turned in Schuster’s shot that had hit the post.

In the second half in quick succession (60^th and 66^th minutes) Allofs would strike twice more from passes from Schuster from the right side.

The West Germans were in total control with the Dutch a shadow of their previous selves.

Derwall made a substitution with 15 minutes remaining that was significant for the History of the German National team. He replaced his Captain Dietz with 19-year-old Lothar Matthaus making his International debut.

In a decade’s time in the same Nation, he would lift the World Cup trophy as Captain.

However, minutes after coming on, he gave away a penalty after fouling Wijnestekers in the box. Rep scored from the spot.

Just a few minutes later, Willy van de Kerkhof pulled one more goal back from a low range distance shot.

The (2-3) score was deceiving and flattered the Dutch, who were never in the game. The West Germans were effectively in the Final after this match.

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Numero 26 (293), June 25-July 1, 1980

(June 14, 1980, UEFA European Championships, West Germany 3-Holland 2)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 23, February 1982

(June 14, 1980, UEFA European Championships, West Germany 3-Holland 2)

Later that day at Rome, Czechoslovakia took on Greece in front of only 8,000 fans.

Stanislav Seman started in goal for Czechoslovakia as Venglos demoted Netolicka for his perceived error vs. West Germany. In addition, Jan Berger and Marian Masny started ahead of Frantisek Stambachr and Miroslav Gajdusek.

The much stronger Czech side was in control and won (3-1). Panenka opened the scoring in the 6^th minute from a free kick.

The Greeks tied the match in the 14^th through Nikos Anastopoulos’ header. Nikos Anastopoulos would have a stint in the Serie A with Avellino (1987/88).

Ladislav Vizek restored the Czechoslovakian lead in the 26^th minute and Zdenek Nehoda rounded out the scoring in the 62^nd minute.

While winning the Group and reaching the Final seemed unlikely at this point, these three goals helped the Czechs in case of goal difference for the second place in the Group.

After this match Greek reporters attacked Greece Manager Alketas Panagoulias for not starting Maik Galakos in this match. Panagoulias actually had a physical scuffle with former player and now Journalist Stavro Tschochos.

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Numero 26 (293), June 25-July 1, 1980

(June 14, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Czechoslovakia 3-Greece 1)

On June 17^th at Milan, the Dutch and Czechoslovakia battled to determine the second spot (The Czechs only needed a tie) in front if yet another dismal crowd (12,000).

Jaroslav Netolicka reclaimed his position in the net for Czechoslovakia after Seman was ruled out with a swollen knee.

Rotislav Vojacek also started ahead of Jan Berger,

The Dutch made three changes from their match vs. West Germany. Huub Stevens, Arie Haan and Kees Kist were dropped in favor of Poortvilet, Thijssen and Nanninga.

Early in the match, Rene van der Kerkhof was injured after a foul by Ondrus and would have to be substituted.

While he was receiving treatment on the sidelines, Czechoslovakia scored through Nehoda in the 16^th minute.

The Dutch would level the score in the 59^th minute, through Kist (who had replaced Rene van der Kerkhof).

Nanninga would also be injured after a foul by Vojacek in the 21^st minute and be replaced by Haan for the second half.

Near the end of the match, Johnny Rep and Koloman Gögh had a scuffle. The pair apologized to one another at the end and swapped jerseys.

The score eliminated the Dutch and drew a curtain on the Generation of Krol, Haan, Rep and van der Kerkhof.

 

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 133, February 2000

(June 17, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Czechoslovakia 1-Holland 1)

Later that day at Turin, Germany faced Greece in a somewhat inconsequential match.

Two hours before the match there was a bomb crank call made to West Germany’s Hotel “Holiday Inn St Peter”.

Derwall chose to rest Klaus Allofs, Schuster and Dietz so that they would not risk a second yellow card.

Bernd Förster, Bernhard Cullmann and Caspar Memering started in their place.

In another dour match, the Germans did not exert themselves with the Final match in mind. They played for and settled for a tie.

They won the Group to advance to the Final with Czechoslovakia advancing for the Third Place Match.

Photo From: Start1980_july14_№28

(Karl-Heinz Rumemnigge, June 17, 1980, UEFA European Championships, West Germany 0-Greece)