1-Former
FIFA President, the Englishman Stanley Rous had small transistors on his
glasses that allowed him to listen to the radio. Sometimes, during Official
Meetings he would listen to Sporting events.
Photo
From: World Soccer, September 1986
(Stanley Rous)
2-
Before their Champions Cup encounter vs. Dinamo Kiev (September 30, 1987,
Rangers Glasgow 2-Dinamo Kiev 0), Rangers Glasgow Manager Graeme Souness
ordered to pitch re-striped to narrow it by 5 meters each side.
He
believed this would disrupt Kiev’s tactics and play.
After
the Kiev delegation accused Rangers of foul play, UEFA delegates measured the
distance and verified that it was per regulation by 20 cm.
Photo
From: World Soccer, October 1986
(Graeme Souness at Rangers Glasgow, 1986/87)
3-
Scotland played vs. Cyprus in a World Cup Qualifier at Limassol on February 8,
1989 (3-2 Scotland win).
East
German Referee Siegfried Kirschen took down the names of Scotland’s Richard
Gough, Paul McStay and Maurice Johnston because they were not wearing shin
guards.
There
had been a FIFA ruling in effect since March 1988 that made wearing shin guards
compulsory. This was to reduce the risk
of AIDS or any transmitted disease from open wounds.
Photo
From: Panini World Cup 1990
(Paul McStay)
Photo
From: World Soccer, September 1991
(Richard Gough)
Photo
From: World Soccer, April 1989
(Maurice Johnston, February 8, 1989, World Cup
Qualifier, Cyprus 2-Scotland 3)
4-England
and Sheffield Wednesday International Peter Swan was selected for the 1962
World Cup squad. Just before departure, he was ill with tonsillitis, but
nevertheless made the trip.
Once
in Chile, he suffered from dysentery. His condition was so bad that many feared
he might die.
Amazingly,
the English party had no official Doctor. Fortunately, he did recover.
This
event highlighted the unprepared ness of the English in such matters and served
as a cautionary tale.
Photo
From: England, Player by Player, Author: Graham Betts
(Peter Swan)
5-In
1990, with the World Cup in USA being four years away, FIFA President Joao
Havelange floated the idea of changing the game’s rules. He suggested matches
to be changed from two 45 minute halves to four 25 minute Quarters. He explained
that the game needed to bring in more revenue and extra commercial breaks would
bring in more money.
The
idea was roundly criticized and was seen by many as an attempt by Havelange to
make the game more malleable for an American Audience that FIFA wanted to win
over in 1994.
Months
later, the idea of increasing the distance between goal posts was also
proposed. The increase in the distance would make the goal area larger and
perhaps increase the number of goals. This idea was similarly met with disapproval
by most.
Uniform
Colors: Red Shirts, White
Shorts, Green Socks
Photo
From: Onze, Hors serie 26, 1986
(Hungary squad, Top, left to right: Peter
Disztl, Zoltan Peter, Marton Esterhazy,
Antal Nagy, Imre Garaba, Joszef Kardos, Bottom, left to right: Antal Roth,
Lajos Detari, Jozsef Kiprich, Sandor Sallai, Tibor Nyilasi, May 14, 1985,
World Cup Qualifier, Hungary 0-Holland 1)
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 72, April 1986
(Hungary
squad, Top, left to right: Peter Disztl, Zoltan
Peter, Marton Esterhazy, Antal Nagy, Imre Garaba, Joszef Kardos, Bottom,
left to right: Antal Roth, Lajos Detari, Jozsef Kiprich, Sandor Sallai, Tibor
Nyilasi, May 14, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary 0-Holland 1)
Holland:
1-Johannes
Franciscus ‘Hans’ van Breukelen (Philips Sports Vereniging
Eindhoven)[17 /
0]
4-Michaël
Antonius Bernardus ‘Michel’ van de Korput(Feyenoord Rotterdam) [21 / 0]
2-Huibertus Johannes Nicolaas ‘Ben’ Wijnstekers (Feyenoord
Rotterdam)
[33 / 1]
3-Adrianus
Andreas ‘Adri’ van Tiggelen (Football Club Groningen) [5/ 0]
5-Franklin
Edmundo ‘Frank’ Rijkaard (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam) [13/ 2]
6-Dirk
Hendrikus ‘Dick’ Schoenaker (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam) [13/ 6]
7-Antonius
Johannes Jacobus ’Ton’ Lokhoff (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven)[2 / 0] (15-Robert Leonardus ‘Rob’
de Wit (Amsterdamse
Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam) [2/ 1] 46th)
8-Wilhelmus
Antonius ‘Willy’ van de Kerkhof (Philips Sports Vereniging
Eindhoven) [61
/ 5](14-Ronald Koeman (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam) [8 / 1] 60th )
10-Marcel
‘Marco’ van Basten (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam) [8 / 3]
Booked:
Ben Wijnstekers 55, Rob de Wit 86, Wim Kieft 90
Other
Subs:
Peter
Boeve (Amsterdamse
Football Club Ajax)
Johannes
Frederik ‘Joop’ Hiele (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
Hubertus
‘Huub’ Jozef Margaretha Stevens(Philips
Sports Vereniging Eindhoven)
Team
Captain: Ben Wijnstekers
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Uniform
Colors: White Shirts, Orange
Shorts, White Socks
Photo
From: Het Nederlands Elftal, De Histoire van Oranje, 1905-1989
(Holland squad, May 14, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, Hungary 0-Holland 1)
Notes:
-Match
number 589 for Hungary and number 424 for Holland.
-This
was the 9th meeting between the nations.
-The
previous match between the nations, as well as the previous match on Dutch soil
and Hungary’s previous victory on Dutch soil, was the first leg of this World
Cup Qualifier at Rotterdam’s De Kuip Stadion on October 17, 1984 that Hungary
won 2 to 1.
Hungary
players: Kardos, Sallai, Roth, Garaba, Varga, Nagy, Nylasi, Detari, Esterhazy and Kiprich and Holland players: van Breukelen, Wijnstekers,
Rijkaard,
Willy van
de Kerkhof, Kieft, van Basten, Hiele, Ronald Koeman and van Tiggelen were
present that day (on the field and/or the substitutes bench).
Nylasi
and Wijnestekers were the still the respective nations’ captains.
Hungary’s
Varga and Kardos were booked in this match.
Wim
Kieft scored for Holland and Lajos Detari and Marlon Esterhazy scored for
Hungary.
Gyorgy
Mezey still managed Hungary, but Holland’s Manager was Cornelius ‘Kees’
Rijvers.
Photo
From: France Football, June 18, 1985, Issue 2045
(Team CaptainsTibor
Nyilasi and Ben Winestekers, May 14, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary
0-Holland 1)
-The
previous match between the nations at the same venue, as well as Hungary’s last
home win to date, was a UEFA European Championship Qualifier on May 10, 1967
that Hungary won 2 to 1.
-The next match between the nations at the same
venue and Holland’s next victory, was a UEFA European Championship Qualifier on
October 15, 1986 that Holland once again won 1 to 0.
Hungary
players: Sallai, Kardos, Garaba, Roth and Esterhazy and Holland players: van
Breukelen, Rijkaard,
van
Tiggelen, Ronald Koeman, Tahamata, van Basten and Hiele were present
that day (on the field and/or the substitutes bench).
Marco
van Basten scored Holland’s winning goal.
Imre
Garaba captained Hungary for that match.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, September 1986
(May 14, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary
0-Holland 1)
-The next match between the nations on Dutch soil
and Holland’s next home victory, was a UEFA European Championship Qualifier at
Rotterdam’s De Kuip Stadion on April 29, 1987 that Holland won 2 to 0.
Hungary
players: Sallai, Kardos, Garaba, Peter, Detari and Kiprich and Holland players: van Breukelen, Rijkaard,
van
Tiggelen, Ronald Koeman, van Basten and Hiele were present that day
(on the field and/or the substitutes bench).
Imre
Garaba captained Hungary for that match.
Dutch
goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen was most famously dropped as a starter for this
match.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 72, April 1986
(Joszef Kardos between Simon Tahamata and Willy
van der Kerkhof, May 14, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary 0-Holland 1)
-Including
this 1985 Match, Holland has won the past nine straight meetings between the
Nations, the last taking place in 2013.
-The
other two teams in this World cup Qualifying Group were Austria and Cyprus.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 72, April 1986
(Tibor Nylasi, May 14, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, Hungary 0-Holland 1)
-Kees
Rijvers had resigned as Holland manager in November 1984, after Holland had
lost its first two World Cup Qualifiers vs. Hungary (at home) and Austria
(sway).
Rinus
Michels had been appointed as Holland Manager.
However,
Leo Beenhakker was interim Coach while Rinus Michels was recovering from
surgery.
Beenhakker
also managed Holland during the 1990 World Cup and has also managed the Polish
National team.
Rinus
Michels’ first match back in charge would be exactly one year from this match
(May 14, 1986, West Germany 3-Holland 1)
Photo
From: Onze, Hors serie 26, 1986
(Joszef Kiprich, May 14, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, Hungary 0-Holland 1)
-The
Dutch were missing Ernie Brandts, Erwin Koeman, Ruud Gullit, René van der Gijp,
Michel Valke, Ronald Spelbos and Peter Houtman.
-The
Hungarians had already qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the previous
month after defeating Austria at Vienna (April 17, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Austria
0-Hungary 3).
Hungary
had used the exact starting lineup as this match with Holland. This lineup was
essentially their strongest squad.
They
had won all five of their qualifiers. For them this was an inconsequential
match. The Dutch and Austria were battling it out for the second place that
would have earned a playoff spot.
This
is the last time to date that Hungary has qualified for the World Cup.
Photo
From: Onze, Hors serie 26, 1986
(Michel van de Korput and Lajos Detari, Simon
Tahamata in the background, May 14, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary
0-Holland 1)
-Less
than two weeks before, Holland had hosted Austria in Rotterdam (May 1, 1985,
World Cup Qualifier, Holland 1-Austria 1).
Wim
Kieft had scored Holland’s goal. Rob de Wit had made his International debut in
that match.
-Hungary
were missing the following players (though a number of these may have been
substitutes for this match): Bela Bodonyi, Laszlo Szokolai, Joszef Andrusch,
Ferenc Csongradi, Joszef Csuhay, Peter Hannich and Gyula Hajszan.
-Hungary
were better in the first half and created many chances, Nylasi was guilty of
missing many opportunities.
-The
Dutch soaked up the pressure and started attacking in the second half.
-Rob
de Wit came on as a substitute for Holland in the second half, replacing Ton
Lokhoff. After Fifteen minutes into the second half, Ronald Koeman also came on
for Holland replacing Willy van der Kerkhof.
-In
the 69th minute, both Dutch substitutes were instrumental in the
winning goal. Ronald Koeman from the right side middle of the field sent in a
long cross to de Wit on the left. De wit took the ball near the edge of the box
and then suddenly dribbled through towards the goal and chipped Disztl.
-
Ferenc Meszaros replaced Esterhazy just after Holland’s goal.
-Hungary
attempted to reply and had chances, but Dutch goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen was
outstanding.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2044, June 11, 1985
(Tibor Nylasi, May 14, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, Hungary 0-Holland 1)
-Hans van
Breukelen was praised for his many important saves.
In an
Interview near the end of his career, Hans van Breukelen considered his best
ever save was from this match. He tipped over an attempt from close range from
Nylasi (Though he could not exactly remember for sure, it was him).
-With the
win Holland won the Playoff spot and Austria were eliminated.
For the
playoffs, the Dutch faced Belgium on October 16th (0-1 Belgium win)
and November 20th (2-1 Holland win). The Belgians qualified on away-goals rule.
-Holland failed to qualify for the World Cup for
the second straight time.
- Dutch Captain Ben Wijnestekers played his last match for
Holland at the end of that year.
Dutchman
Willy van de Kerkhof announced his international retirement after Holland
failed to qualify for Mexico.
He
was the last player from the 70s glory years to be still in the national team
set up.
-Holland’s
Willy van der Kerkhof and Dick Schoenaker and Hungary’s Tibor Nylasi were
present in the 1978 World Cup.
-This
match was Dick Schoenaker’s last for Holland.
-Hungary’s
Peter Disztl became the starting goalkeeper from beginning of 1985, before that
Joszef Andrusch of
Honved was the starter.
With
his club Videoton that season, he reached the Final of the UEFA Cup, but they
lost to Real Madrid.
Peter
Disztl also had a brother Laszlo, who was an International.
-Hungary’s
Tibor Nylasi and Marlon Esterhazy and Holland’s Wim Kieft were the only
foreign-based players on either side.
Photo
From: France Football, May 21, 1985, Issue 2041
(May 14, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Hungary
0-Holland 1)
-Hungary’s
Jozsef Kiprich had a successful time in Dutch Soccer with Feyenoord.
-The
entire Hungary lineup that day made the 1986 World Cup Finals squad with the
exception of Ferenc Meszaros and most notably Captain Tibor Nyilasi.
He
missed the tournament through injury. His last match for Hungary was in the
1985 calendar year.
-Ajax Amsterdam players : Frank Rijkaard, Dick
Schoenaker, Rob de Wit, Ronald Koeman, Marco van Basten and Pete Boeve won the
Dutch League title that season.
-Holland players : Hans van
Breukelen, Adri
van Tiggelen, Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Marco van Basten, Wim Kieft and
Joop Hiele were members of the Dutch squad that won the 1988 UEFA European
Championships.
-Hungary’s
Sallai, Garaba, Nagy, Varga and Detari were Champions that season in the
Hungarian League with Honved.
-Hungary’s
Lajos Detari had a spell in the Italian Serie A with Bologna (1990/91).
Holland’s
van de Korput (Torino), Wim Kieft (Pisa, Torino), Frank Rijkaard (AC Milan) and
Marco van Basten (AC Milan) also had spells in the Serie A.
-Both
Wim Kieft (1982) and Marco van Basten (1986) won Europe’s Golden Shoe with
Ajax.
-Michel
van de Korput joined West German Bundesliga’s FC Koln the following season.
Hungary’s
Detari also had a spell in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt (1987/88).
-Hungary’s
Detari and Esterhazy played in the Greek League. Deatri joined Olympiakos in
1988.
-Ronald
Koeman (Barcelona) and Rijkaard (Real Zaragoza) played in the Spanish La Liga.
-Holland’s
van Breukelen and Koeman won the Champions Cup with PSV Eindhoven in 1988.
Koeman also triumphed with Barcelona in 1992.
Frank
Rijkaard and Marco van Basten won the trophy with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
Frank Rijkaard also triumphed with Ajax in 1995.
-Holland’s
van Tiggelen (Anderlecht) and Tahamata (Standard Liege) have had spells in the
Belgian league, as has Hungary’s Garaba (Charleroi).
-Simon
Tahamta had recently returned from suspension. He was involved in the
Standard
Liege-Waterschei scandal of 1984.
-Tahamata
and Kieft were former Ajax players.
Koeman,
Kieft (2 spells) and van Tiggelen were future PSV Eindhoven players.
-Wim
Kieft (Bordeaux) and Imre Garaba (Rennes) have had a spell in the French
League.
-Ronald Koeman and Leo Beenhakker have both managed Feyenoord
Rotterdam.
Ronald Koeman and Huub Stevens have both managed PSV
Eindhoven,
-Frank Rijkaard has managed his nation (1998/2000), as well
as Saudi Arabia (2011/2013).
When
one evokes Denmark in Footballing terms, most people’s thoughts immediately
turn to the early to mid 1980s when a West German Manager molded one of the
most memorable teams in the history of the game.
Into
the 1970s, Sweden was the only Scandinavian Nation that would qualify for the
Finals of a Major Tournament on a semi-regular basis. Denmark (much like
neighboring Norway) still did not have a fully professional League.
Periodically,
a player would make enough of an impression that a Bundesliga club and/or a
Dutch/Belgian club would take a gamble on.
However,
the emergence of one player would further the cause of most Danish players
hoping to make it in the Western Professional leagues.
Allan
Simonsen would take the Bundesliga by storm and help Borussia Moenchengladabch
win titles in domestic and European level. The continent would take notice and
he would be rewarded with the Ballon d’Or in 1977. He was the rare exception of
a Dane, who was viewed to be able to hold his own (and even surpass) with the
best of the continent. He was the equivalent of a George Best or George Weah, a
superstar who had the misfortune to be representing a Nation that could not
qualify for the Finals of a Major Tournament.
While
Simonsen was shining on the field, a more significant event took place off the
field for Denmark. In the summer of 1979, former West German defender Josef
‘Sepp’ Piontek was appointed as the new Manager of the Danish National Team.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 102, June 1984
(Sepp Piontek)
He
instilled discipline into the squad and demanded a more professional approach
from his players. He displayed his authority by dropping the seemingly
untouchable goalkeeper Birger Jensen of Club Brugge for missing an
International match.
In
time, he would also learn to ease up and adjust his methods to take into
consideration the Danish players’ mentality.
He
had been appointed well into the 1980 Euro qualifiers and could make no impact
in a group that was eventually won by England.
The 1982 World Cup qualifiers were the first qualifiers that Denmark embarked
on with Piontek.
His
team already included a backbone of players that would serve him for the years
to come.
In
addition to Simonsen (now at Barcelona), Søren Busk, Jens Jørn Bertelsen, Klaus
Berggreen, Morten
Olsen, Søren Lerby, Frank Arnesen, and Preben Elkjaer-Larsen were already
integral parts of the group and for the most part had experience playing in the
Western Leagues.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 102, June 1984
(Allan Simonsen)
They
were drawn in a qualifying with Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece and Luxembourg.
They
started poorly and all hopes of qualification were lost as early as the Fall of
1980, when they lost their first three matches to Yugoslavia, Italy and Greece
(at home).
All
that remained was to salvage some pride and built up a team for the future in
1981.
The
first notice that they showed that they were a team in the making was when they
faced Italy at Copenhagen on June 3, 1981.
They outplayed and defeated the future World Cup Champions (3-1).
Impressive victories in the month of June at Copenhagen would be the hallmark
of this squad.
It
was during the 1984 Euro qualifiers that this generation would come of age and
really make its mark.
In
a group that contained two recent World Cup participants England and Hungary
(but also Greece and Luxembourg again), they were not favored.
The
English, now managed by Bobby Robson, headed to Copenhagen for the first
qualifier on September 22, 1982. They English led twice through Trevor Francis,
but Denmark fought back each time and snatched an equalizer in the last minute.
While, for the English, an away point seemed like a good result, the Danes had
impressed and gained confidence.
For
some time, into the Spring, English seemed set to qualify but Denmark kept pace
by picking up wins vs. Greece and Luxembourg.
On
June 1st, 1983, they defeated Hungary (3-1) at Copenhagen to set
themselves up as England’s main rival for the group.
The
rise of Danish football was further evidenced with two important transfers
during that summer of 1983. Søren Lerby joined West German powerhouse Bayern
Munich (from Ajax) to act as the midfield General as a replacement for the
retiring Paul Breitner. In addition, the talented teenager Michael Laudrup
joined Juventus (after turning down Liverpool), though he would be loaned to
Lazio for two seasons.
Michael
Laudrup underlined his rising star status by scoring twice in a friendly vs.
France on September 7th, 1983 (3-1 win).
The
stage was set for the key match in the Group between Denmark and England at
Wembley on September 21st.
The
Danes took the option on the Group by inflicting a rare defeat on England at
Wembley with an Allan Simonsen penalty kick.
Photo
From: Sport Illuestrierte, Fussball 1984 Sonderheft
(Allan Simonsen’s penalty kick, September 21, 1983, EC Qualifier, England
0-Denmark 1)
Many
observers view this match as the Reference point when this Generation was born.
They
suffered a minor hiccup, the following month after losing to Hungary at
Budapest. After the win at Wembley, their destiny was always in their hands and
they qualified for the Finals after defeating Greece in Athens in November.
The
Qualification had given rise to a sense of euphoria, as well as, praise from
other Nations due to the positive and exciting brand of Football.
However,
the Danes did not possess a deep reservoir of talent. This handicap was
exemplified in their (0-6) defeat vs. Holland in a friendly in March 1984. The
Danish were missing many first team regulars and it was clear that they could
not afford to lose many key players, as they could not call upon adequate
replacements from the local Danish league.
This
friendly was a major wake-up call; nevertheless Piontek was confident in his
team’s chances with everyone being fit and available.
In
the lead up to the Euros, the Danes suffered further defeats vs. Spain and
Czechoslovakia, but Piontek still maintained confidence in his squad.
In
the Euros, they were to play vs. hosts France in the Tournament curtain raiser
in Paris. In a hard fought match that they narrowly lost (0-1), Denmark showed
it could compete and hold its own with the Competition’s favorites.
Unfortunately,
Allan Simonsen was severely injured in the match in a collision. This injury
blighted the rest of his career and he was no longer as effective as before
(not to mention ageing).
Photo
From: Onze, Hors serie 26, 1986
(Soren Lerby, November 13, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 1-Denmark 4)
Denmark
picked up the pieces and destroyed Yugoslavia (5-0) in their next match and
dazzled the Global audience with their now customary attacking style of
Football.
The
third match in the Group was vs. Belgium, whom they had to defeat to advance.
Denmark fell behind (0-2), but stormed back to win (3-2) with Preben Elkjaer
scoring the winner near the end.
The
Semifinal vs. Spain ended in disappointment as Denmark lost in penalty kick
shoot-out with Elkjaer missing his decisive kick.
Spain
would turn out to be Denmark’s bogey team for the years to come.
Despite
the loss, Denmark had been one of the revelations of the Tournament. Players
like Lerby, Arnesen, Morten Oslen, Elkjaer, Berggreen and Laudrup were now
household names. Elkajer’s displays earned him a transfer to Italy’s Serie A and he joined Verona.
They
had also left a positive impression with their fans nicknamed ‘Roligans’, who
always cheered their team on and were well behaved and never caused any
trouble.
Denmark
went into the 1986 World Cup qualifiers with confidence as one of Europe’s
finest teams, in a Group with USSR, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland and
Norway.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 53, August 1984
(Michal
Laudrup)
They never seemed in danger and won the Group by scoring
17 goals in the process. The highlight of the Group was their win over the
Soviet Union (4-2) at Copenhagen on June 5, 1985, that has been described as
one of the finest matches in the History of the Game. In a game where both sides attacked from start to the end,
Laudrup and Elkjaer each scored twice.
They
entered their first ever World Cup as one of the Tournament favorites. They
once again dazzled the World audience in the first round, in the Group of Death
with West Germany, Uruguay and Scotland. After defeating the Scots (1-0), they
simply destroyed Uruguay (6-1) with an anthology goal from Laudrup.
They
defeated their German rivals in the third match (2-0), where Allan Simonsen
played his only World Cup match after coming on as a substitute.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 108, December 1984
(Preben
Elkjaer)
In
the knockout round, they faced Spain of Emilio Butragueno. The Danes went ahead
from a Jesper Olsen penalty kick, however, the same player was guilty of an
erroneous pass that allowed Butragueno to equalize. After that the Danish
squad, uncharacteristically, capitulated and Spain defeated Denmark with a
heavy score of (1-5, four goals by Butragueno).
Despite
this defeat, they had left enough of a good impression in the first round, to
be praised overall.
In
some ways, perhaps this was the moment that Piontek’s great side started to
decline (but more about that later).
With
a more or less intact squad, the Danes entered the 1988 Euro qualifiers in a
seemingly easy Group with Wales, Czechoslovakia and Finland.
Denmark
naturally won this Group and qualified to the Finals in West Germany. Yet,
there was a feeling that something was missing. Large and exciting wins were
replaced with (1-0) wins and ties. The emergence of talent such as Peter
Schmeichel, Flemming Povlsen, John Jensen, Jan Heintze and Lars Olsen was
welcoming; however, regulars such as Morten Olsen, Lerby, Arnesen and Elkjaer
were showing signs of age.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 129, September 1986
(Frank Arnesen and Jesper Olsen, June 4, 1986,
World Cup, Denmark 1-Scotland 0)
Denmark
entered the 1988 Euros and lost all its three matches vs. Spain (again!), West
Germany and Italy. Their displays were unimpressive and even Piontek at the
time hinted that an era had ended.
Following
the Euros, some of the old guard stepped aside (Jesper Olsen, Morten Olsen,
Lerby, Busk, Ivan Nielsen and Elkjaer).
Piontek
persevered with the national team to guide them through the 1990 World Cup
qualifiers in a Group with Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.
Michael
Laudrup’s younger brother Brian was now part of the National Team setup. Others
such as Lars Olsen, Schmeichel, Jensen and Vilfort now had leading positions
guided by veterans such as Michael Laudrup and John Sivebaek.
Denmark,
still in a rebuilding phase, stuttered early on in the qualifiers and managed
(1-1) ties in its first two matches in the Fall of 1988 vs. Greece and Bulgaria
(at home).
Things
started looking brighter in the Spring of 1989, an away win at Bulgaria (2-0)
was followed by a (7-1) win vs. Greece at Copenhagen.
In
June 1989, for a Triangular Tournament in celebrations of the Anniversary of
the Danish Federation, heavy defeats were inflicted on Sweden (6-0) and an
under strength Brazil (4-0).
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 21, October 1990
(Morten
Olsen, June 17, 1988, European Championships, Italy 2-Denmark 0)
For an instant it seemed like ‘Danish Dynamite’ was back
on track. When they defeated Romania (3-0) in October, they even looked odds on
favorites to qualify for the World Cup.
However,
their limitations were exposed in the return match in November vs. Romania at
Bucharest (1-3). Romania clinched the Group and qualified for the World Cup.
Denmark had failed to qualify for the Finals of a Tournament after three
straight qualifications.
The
Press declared this as the loss that ended an era begun at Wembley in September
1983. But perhaps the goal glut of 1989 was just a mirage. They had defeated a
weakened Greece and a B-C level Brazil team on tour. With a closer look, it was
clear that ever since the loss vs. Spain in Mexico in 1986, they had been
stagnating and declining.
After
initially appearing that he might stay on, Piontek bowed out after the Press criticized
his contract and salary. He became the Manager of the Turkish National Team in
the new year (1990).
In
over a decade in charge, Sepp Piontek had molded one of the best sides in
Europe. There are teams that owe their immortality through the number of titles
won. Then there are teams that despite not winning trophies stay in our
memories for the sheer joy that they gave the Audience.
Denmark
of the 1980s is in this category along with the likes of the 1954 Hungarians,
the Dutch of the 1970s and Brazil of 1982.
Richard Möller-Nielsen, Piontek’s successor, actually did
clinch a title (the 1992 Euros). But chances are that it is the 1980s squad
that the public actually remembers to this day.
Photo
From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer
(Denmark squad, Top, left to right: Ole Qvist, Soren Lerby, Michael Laudrup, Soren Busk, Frank Arnesen, Bottom, left to right: Preben Elkjaer, Jens Jorn Bertelesen,
Ivan
Nielsen, Klaus Berggreen, Morten Olsen , Jesper
Olsen ,June 5, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Denmark 4-USSR 2)
