The Euros-Part Six (1980 Edition)-part d (Euros 1980 Finals-Group B)

 Europeo 1980 Finals-Group B

Under normal circumstances Italy should have been the natural favorites for these Euros. Not only were they hosting but also they had surprised and impressed most observers with their displays during the 1978 World Cup.

National Team Manager Enzo Bearzot had molded a good team with many young players.

Ageing goalkeeper and Captain Dino Zoff and veteran midfielder Franco Causio were still around along with the likes of Scirea, Gentile, Cabrini, Tardelli (the Juventus backbone).

It was to be virtually the same squad as during the 1978 World Cup with two exceptions.

The younger Fulvio Collovati and Gabrile Orilai had displaced the ageing duo of Mauro Belluggi in defense and Romeo Benetti in midfield.

However, all of Bearzot’s plans went in disarray less than a month before the start of the Tournament.

On May 18^th, 1980, the verdicts of “Totonero’ Scandal impacted the National Team. Star striker Paolo Rossi as well as Lazio pair of Bruno Giordano and Lionela Manfredonia were suspended. Rossi’s suspension was for three years (later reduced to two on appeal) and he would only be available just prior to the 1982 World Cup.

This decision and absences would not only damage Italy’s plans but also according to some observers explained the low attendances for this Cup.

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Numero 24 (291), June 11-June 17, 1980

(Europeo 1980 mascott)

Ron Greenwood’s England had been impressive in qualifying and were seen as one of the favorites. Greenwood had been the first England Manager to take England to the Finals of a major Tournament since Alf Ramsey’s men had to lost to West Germany during the 1970 World Cup.

The English would have one major absentee as Trevor Francis was out due to ruptured Achilles.

England still had Kevin Keegan at the top of his game, who was on his way back to the English League with Southampton.

 

Belgium had been one of the surprise qualifiers. Guy Thys had built a solid team, hard to beat, that relied heavily on its use of efficient offside trap.

The recall of veteran Wilfried van Moer had been successful, while the young guard consisted of the likes of Erwin Vandenbergh and Jan Ceulemans.

 

Spain were under the Management of Ladislao Kubala for the last time, He had been in charge since 1969 and was the longest serving Manager of the participating Nations. He was to make way for a new Manager, as Spain were to host the 1982 World Cup. These would be the last competitive matches Spain would play in for two years, as they would be restricted to friendly matches.

 

The matches in this Group kicked off on June 12^th, 1980 at Turin with England taking on Belgium with a predictable low turnout of just over 15,000.

Leading up to the match the Belgium squad had threatened a strike. The players wanted more than double the £1,250 win bonus offered by the Federation,

The Federation threatened the players with a three-year ban. Wilfried Van Moer convinced the squad to continue negotiations and in the end the players received a promise of extra £600 per point.

This was a match that would be remembered more for the events off the pitch than on it.

England took the lead in the 26^th minute with a beautiful goal by Wilkins after he lobbed the ball over the advancing Belgian defense and then lobbed the ball over Belgium goalkeeper Pfaff.

Belgium tied the match four minutes later, when van Moer’s corner led to a melee in the box and eventually Ceulemans knocked in the equalizer.

This was when trouble in the stands started. According to some observers, the Italian fans cheered the Belgian goal and this enraged the English fans.

Fighting broke out just behind the England goal.

The Italian police fired tear gas into the crowd. Even England goalkeeper Ray Clemence had tears in his eyes due to the gas.

England Manager Ron Greenwood appealed to the UEFA officials to stop the match.

The play was stopped and all the players went to the center of the field. After five minutes the play restarted.

England thought they had taken the lead with 15 minutes left through Tony Woodcock. The players were at halfway line before the West German Referee Heinz Aldinger called the goal off for offside.

The match ended as a (1-1) tie with the events in the stands overshadowing the proceedings. Afterwards, Ron Greenwood was furious, he stated, “We are ashamed of people like this…We have done everything to create the right impression here, then these bastards let you down.”

He also declared that hooligans should be placed in a boat and left in the middle of the Ocean.

England were fined £8,000 for the disturbances.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 55, July 1980

(Crowd trouble, June 12, 1980, UEFA European Championships, England 1-Belgium 1)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 55, July 1980

(June 12, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Belgium 1-England 1)

Later that day, Italy took on Spain in Milan with a reasonable attendance of 50,000. Before the match, Italy Manager Enzo Bearzot made some negative remarks about the Spanish Team. He stated that they must watch for the Spanish as they foul too much, etc.

Kubala created a controversy of his own, when his starting lineup did not contain a single Real Madrid player.  The reason given by Kubala was that, “because they are physically exhausted”.

This match ended scoreless but with better luck Spain would have won as a Satrustegui goal was waved offside and Juanito struck the post with a free kick.

Spain created more chances with Zamora and Satrustegui standing out.

The Italian crowd dismayed at the ‘Totonero’ Scandal shouted, “Buffoons, Buffoons” aimed at the Italian Football Officials.

As the match went on, the Milan crowd clamored for the introduction of Inter’s Alessandro Altobelli in place of Causio to make a difference.

Afterwards, Bearzot reassured that the best was yet to come and he trusted in his players.

 

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Numero 25 (293), June 18-June 14, 1980

(June 12, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Italy 0-Spain 0)

Three days later (June 15^th), an unchanged Belgium side faced Spain at Milan in front of just 11,000 fans.

Spain only made one change from their first match with Juanito starting ahead of Dani Ruiz.

Belgium took the lead in the 17^th with Gerets striking an angled shot after being put through by Meeuws.

Spain tied the match in the 36^th minute with Quini heading in Juanito’s free kick.
Julien Cools scored Belgium’s winner in the 65^th minute, knocking in a deflected cross.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981

(June 15, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Spain 1-Belgium 2)

Later that day in Turin, Italy took on England. Enzo Bearzot only made one change from the first match. Romeo Benetti started in place of Antonio Cabrini.

Ron Greenwood made three changes. He continued his policy of alternating his goalkeepers (Clemence and Shilton) from match to match. Peter Shilton started this match vs. Italy. In addition Ray Kennedy and Garry Birtles started ahead of Brooking and David Johnson.

Following the incidents from the Belgium-England match, there was a massive police presence. The Mayor of Turin, Diego Novelli had threatened to cancel the match and banned sale of alcohol inside the stadium.

It was a match that Italy had to win and to accomplish that they marked Kevin Keegan out of the match.

Italy grew in confidence and Antognoni exerted his influence to control the match.  England’s closest chance was a Kennedy attempt that struck the bar.

Italy scored the winner in the 78^th minute, when Graziani’s cross from the left side was struck in by Marco Tardelli.

Despite the loss, Ron Greenwood was satisfied after the negativity of the Belgium match, he stated, “I am only pleased we have been part of a game which has shown the best of Football.”

Kevin Keegan caused some controversy following an alleged remark after the match. Italian sports paper ‘Tuttosport’ claimed that Keegan had accused the Romanian Referee Nicolae Rainea of bribery. He was quoted as saying; “Nobody can take it out of my mind that he had accepted money.”

Keegan maintained that this was a misunderstanding and in the end, the Journalist in question admitted that Keegan had been misquoted and apologized.

Italy was now level with Belgium and the final encounter between the Nation’s would determine who would advance. Both teams had identical points and goal difference but Belgium had scored more goals.

Therefore, all they really required was a tie while Italy had to win the last match.

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Numero 25 (293), June 18-June 14, 1980

(Marco Tardeli after scoring, June 15, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Italy 1-England 0)

Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983

(June 15, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Italy 1-England 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Numero 25 (293), June 18-June 14, 1980

(June 15, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Italy 1-England 0)

Three days later (June 18^th), England faced Spain in Naples. It was a match between two teams that had virtually been eliminated.

Both Managers made significant changes in their lineups. Kubala managing his last ever match for Spain made five changes.

Tendillo, Migueli, Satrustegui, Asensi and Quini were dropped and replaced with Cundi, Olmo, Uria, Santillana and Cardenosa.

Greenwood made six changes of his own. Shilton, Neal, Sansom, Coppell, Birtles and Ray Kennedy were dropped in favor of Clemence, Viv Anderson, Mills, McDermott, Hoddle and Brooking.

This match would be remembered for the controversial referee decisions in Spain’s two penalty attempts.

Trevor Brooking gave England the lead in the 19^th minute. Spain tied the match in the 48^th minute from a penalty kick from Dani Ruiz (after Clemece had fouled Zamora in the box).

Spain were awarded a second penalty kick in the 52nd minute after Watson fouled Saura in the box. Dani scored on the first attempt, however the referee ordered it to be retaken. Dani had feigned before taking a shot. Strangely he had done the same thing in his first penalty kick that was accepted.

Dani missed his second attempt.

In the 61^st minute, England scored their winner after Woodcock knocked in a rebound after Arconada had parried McDermott’s volley.

Naturally after the match, Kubala protested for the penalty decisions, saying that Dani had taken the penalty kick in the same manner in the first accepted one and therefore Dani should not have been sanctioned for the second penalty.

But in the end this really mattered little as both teams had been eliminated regardless of the result.

Spain looked ahead to the 1982 World Cup that they were to host under new Management.

The consensus in England appeared to be that their absence from major Tournaments since 1970 had hurt them Internationally, despite their dominance at club level.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 63, March 1981

(June 18, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Spain 1-England 2)

The deciding match of the Group took place later that day at Roma in front of 60,000 fans.

Bearzot named an unchanged side for Italy. Guy Thys chose to be more cautious and sacrificed Vandenbergh and named Raymond Mommens in his place.

Belgium’s tactic was to be the offside trap and counter attack.

They chose to play for a tie that they needed but in fact perhaps had better chances.

Italy were further weakened when its playmaker Antognoni was forced off injured in the 35^th minute after a foul by Gerets. He was replaced by Giuseppe Baresi.

Italy had a penalty claim after Walter Meeuws handled in the box. Meeuws later admitted to a Journalist that he had handled.

The Belgians surprised the hosts and advanced to the Final.

 

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

(A cartoon ahead of Italy-Belgium match showing Enzo Bearzot’s troubles)

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

 (June 18, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Italy 0-Belgium 0)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 15, June 1981

(June 18, 1980, UEFA European Championships, Italy 0-Belgium 0)