Soccer Nostalgia: The Euros-Part Six (1980 Edition)-part a (Qualifiers-Groups 1 to 4)

By the time the qualifiers for the Sixth (1980) Euros kicked off in the Fall of 1978, was gaining more in importance at its place as second in importance only to the World Cup.

The importance had gown to such an extent that UEFA decided to re-format the Finals into a Mini-World Cup.

The number of Finals Particpants was increased to eight teams who would be in two round-robin Groups of four teams in the Host Nation (Italy for these series).

For the Qualifiers portion, the participating 31 Nations (minus the hosts Italy) were to be divided into seven Groups (each containing four or five teams).

The winner of each Group would then advance to the Finals in Italy in the Summer of 1980.

The Qualifiers:

Group 1

This Group would consist of England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Bulgaria.

England, managed since 1977 by Ron Greenwood, ran away with the Group and dropped a solitary point at Ireland in Dublin.

England were led by star Kevin Keegan, who won the Ballon d’Or twice (in 1978 and 1979) during the qualification process.

Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were far behind England and rarely looked likely to qualify.

Denmark and Bulgaria were disappinting and lost 5 matches each.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 35, November 1978

(September 20, 1978, EC Qualifier, Denmark 3-England 4)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Republic of Ireland v England, 1978

(September 20, 1978, EC Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 0-Northern Ireland 0)

Photo From: Mondial, old series, issue 25, December 1978

(October 25, 1978, EC Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 1-England 1)

Photo From: World Soccer , March 1979

(February 7, 1979, EC Qualifier, England 4-Northern Ireland 0)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Republic of Ireland v West Germany, 1979

(May 2, 1979, EC Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Denmark, 1979

(June 6, 1979, EC Qualifier, Bulgaria 0-England 3)

Photo From: World Soccer , November 1979

(September 12, 1979, EC Qualifier, England 1-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 51, March 1980

(October 17, 1979, EC Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 3-Bulgaria 0)

Photo From: World Soccer , December 1979

(November 22, 1979, EC Qualifier, England 2-Bulgaria 0)

Photo From: World Soccer , March 1980

(February 6, 1980, EC Qualifier, England 2-Republic of Ireland 0)

Group 2

This Group (featuring Austria, Belgium Portugal, Norway and Scotland) appeared to be a balanced Group that initially looked to favor two recent Wortld Cup 1978 qualifying teams (Austria and Scotland).

However, it was Belgium that surprised all and just pipped Austria by one point in the end with Portugal not far behind.

In the end, Asutria’s home loss on November 1978 vs. Portugal was their undoing as the undefeated Belgians just sneaked through.

Belgium’s master stroke was also the International recall of Wilfried van Moer after five years. He would remain a mainstay of the National Team up to the 1982 World Cup.

Photo From: Österreichs Fußball Länderspiele Chronik 1902 – 1993, Author: Anton Egger

(September 20, 1978, EC Qualifier, Austria 3-Scotland 2)

Photo From: Scotland, the complete international Football Record, Author Richard Keir

(October 25, 1978, EC Qualifier, Scotland 3-Norway 2)

Photo From: World Soccer, February 1979

(November 15, 1978, EC Qualifier, Austria 1-Portugal 2)

Photo From: World Soccer , June 1979

(May 2, 1979, EC Qualifier, Austria 0-Belgium 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 47, November 1979

(October 17, 1979, EC Qualifier, Belgium 2-Portugal 0)

Photo From: Mondial, old series, issue 38, January 1980

(November 21, 1979, EC Qualifier, Belgium 2-Scotland 0)

Group 3

This Group consisted of Yugoslavia, Spain, Romania and Cyprus.

Just like the 1978 World Cup qualifiers, Spain edged ahead of Yugoslavia in a tight race between the rivals.

Yugoslavia faced an uphill task after losing its first two matches and despite winning its final four matches, Spain won the Group by a single point.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 58, October 1980

(December 9, 1979, EC Qualifier, Cyprus 1-Spain 3)

Group 4

This Group consisting of Holland, Poland, East Germany, Switzerland and Iceland was perhaps the most balanced of all.

Holland and Poland had been two of the continent’s best sides of the 70s with East Germany still a threat.

This Group would go on until the very last match and be won in a dramatic fashion by the Dutch. Holland, losing 0-2 at East Germany, overtuened the deficit and won 3-2 to go ahead of Poland by a single point (and two ahead of East Germany).