Tuesday 19 June 2012

1980: HORST POWER!


UEFA EURO 1980 FINAL

ITALY
WEST GERMANY 2-1 BELGIUM

Belgium were the surprise package of the 1980 European Championships, but their in-form side had to bow to the might of Germany who took the title for a second time.

Before hostilities commenced, UEFA gave the tournament a face-lift, doubling the number of countries in the finals, shaping it into an eight-team two-group competition which served as the forerunner of today's full-blown event.

European football's ruling body decided each group winner would advance to the final, with the two runners-up playing off for third place.




In a tough Group A, it was the then-West Germans who took control with a 1-0 win over Czechoslovakia - thus gaining revenge for their 1976 final defeat - before seeing off eternal rivals Holland 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. A 0-0 draw with Greece secured the Germans place in the final for the third successive tournament.

This set up a Czechoslovakia v Holland clash for runners-up spot in the group, with the defending champions squeezing through after the game ended in a 1-1 draw.


England - one of the fancied teams pre-tournament - were paired with Belgium, host nation Italy and Spain in what promised to be a tight group.

After finishing with the best record in qualifying, England were unable to recapture the form which had seen them through to the finals and stuttered to a 1-1 draw with Belgium in their opening game - Jan Cuelemans cancelling out a Ray Wilkins opener.

The Belgians - boosted by their performance against the English - then beat Spain 2-1 before securing their place in the final with a 0-0 draw against Italy.



The final could hardly have started in a worse manner for the Belgians, Horst Hrubesch popping up with a goal after only ten minutes to put the Germans into the driving seat.

But just as time appeared to be running out, the Belgians got themselves back into the game, Rene Vandereycken holding his nerve to bury a 72nd minute penalty.

With both sides holding out, extra-time looked to be on the cards, but Hrubesch dramatically snatched a winner just two minutes from time to break Belgian hearts








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