1980

May 13, 2015

Group A. Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia nobody counted. They were the reigning European champions, though – and because of that there was interest and inevitable evaluations of the current team compared to the one of 1976. Czechoslovakia followed curious path of highs and lows: after the 1970 World Cup there was sharp decline, then they soared and won the European championship in 1976, then missed the 1978 World Cup, and again moved up to the 1980 European finals. In a way, Czechoslovakia was in the same difficult situation West Germany was after winning the 1974 World Cup – the winners aged, and were replaced by players almost of their generation, who were already established at the time of triumph, but were inferior to the stars. Second-stringers, who never reached the class of the champions, but were the top players when the champions started their exit. West Germany was not great with the second-stringers and similarly Czechoslovakia was not. Both countries did not make radical coaching changes either – Derwall was uprgraded from assistant to head coach when Schon stepped down in 1978. In the same year Jozef Venglos replaced Vaclav Jezek, whose assistant he was since 1973.

Like Derwall, Venglos did not introduce radical changes, but fiddled with the same players Jezek used, continued the same tactics and training methods, and carefully called new players now and then. And like Derwall, Venglos moved to new options only when there was no choice because of retirement or heavy injury. The only difference between West Germany and Czechoslovakia was that the Germans faced the problem earlier – in 1980 was more or less West Germany of 1975-78. They had the most of the 1976 champions at hand, but it was not the same team and hardly made any news. Opinions were almost uniform: Czechoslovakia had no chance. Venglos himself said so. Czechoslovakian media too: ‘the same players, only 4 years older’ was the judgment. People like Ruud Krol, who considered Czechoslovakia strong and dangerous were tiny minority and were not taken seriously. Reality was speaking loudly: there were no new exciting talent in Czechoslovakia. The best players were still the 1976 European champions and those,who were not able to make the national team back then. Venglos tried the same approach used in 1976 – a long, secluded training camp and many friendly matches against various not so great opponents. Like before, results were not great, which, like before, assured most observers that Czechoslovakia is not strong indeed. That was costly mistake in 1976. And just like before, the rather big group of players was trimmed to the final list.

1GK

Jaroslav Netolička

(1954-03-03)3 March 1954 (aged 26)

Dukla Prague

2DF

Jozef Barmoš

(1954-08-28)28 August 1954 (aged 25)

Inter Bratislava

2DF

Ladislav Jurkemik

(1953-07-20)20 July 1953 (aged 26)

Inter Bratislava

2DF

Anton Ondruš (c)

(1950-03-27)27 March 1950 (aged 30)

Slovan Bratislava

2DF

Koloman Gögh

(1948-01-07)7 January 1948 (aged 32)

Slovan Bratislava

2DF

František Štambachr

(1953-02-13)13 February 1953 (aged 27)

Dukla Prague

3MF

Ján Kozák

(1954-04-17)17 April 1954 (aged 26)

Lokomotiva Košice

3MF

Antonín Panenka

(1948-12-02)2 December 1948 (aged 31)

Bohemians Praha

4FW

Miroslav Gajdůšek

(1951-09-20)20 September 1951 (aged 28)

Dukla Prague

4FW

Marián Masný

(1950-08-13)13 August 1950 (aged 29)

Slovan Bratislava

4FW

Zdeněk Nehoda

(1952-05-09)9 May 1952 (aged 28)

Dukla Prague

2DF

Rostislav Vojáček

(1949-02-23)23 February 1949 (aged 31)

Baník Ostrava

3MF

Werner Lička

(1954-02-15)15 February 1954 (aged 26)

Baník Ostrava

2DF

Jan Fiala

(1956-05-19)19 May 1956 (aged 24)

Dukla Prague

4FW

Ladislav Vízek

(1955-01-22)22 January 1955 (aged 25)

Dukla Prague

2DF

Oldřich Rott

(1951-05-26)26 May 1951 (aged 29)

Dukla Prague

3MF

Jaroslav Pollák

(1947-07-11)11 July 1947 (aged 32)

Sparta Prague

3MF

Jan Berger

(1955-11-27)27 November 1955 (aged 24)

Dukla Prague

2DF

Karol Dobiaš

(1947-12-18)18 December 1947 (aged 32)

Bohemians Prague

3MF

Petr Němec

(1957-06-07)7 June 1957 (aged 23)

Baník Ostrava

1GK

Stanislav Seman

(1952-08-08)8 August 1952 (aged 27)

Lokomotiva Košice

1GK

Dušan Kéketi

(1951-03-24)24 March 1951 (aged 29)

Spartak Trnava

Top row, from left: Ruzicka – masseur, Nehoda, Netolicka, Ondrus, Seman, Janecka, Kundrat – team doctor.

Middle row: Masny, Jurkemik, ?, Venglos – coach, Gogh, Radimec, Brumovsky – assistant coach.

First row: Vizek, Vojacek, Fiala, Gajdusek, Panenka, Barmos.

This is partial version of the squad called to the training camp and there is a bit of lesson in it: Janecka and Radimec did not make the final team. Both will be key players of the national team in the first half of the 1980s. 10 players from the 1976 team were selected. Most of the rest were well known already in 1976, some with many caps, but they were the second stringers: those, who did not make the champion squad, who were not fully trusted back then. Four years later they were no better for sure – some were already old (Vojacek – 31, Gajdusek – 28, Rott – newcomer to the team at 29). Frantisek Stambachr, 27, was of the same ilk – he was part of the 1976 squad, but deep reserve not expected to play at all. By now he had only 15 caps. The team had huge problem, readily admitted by Venglos – goalkeeping. This was the last and may be the most telling similarity with West Germany after 1974: after Ivo Viktor, who retired, there was nobody. The same was in West Germany – Sepp Maier played ‘forever’ and his contemporaries were doomed (Nigbur, Cleff, Franke). When Maier stepped down, they were too old too – and there was nobody else. The back-up of Ivo Viktor shared the fate of the German keepers: he was of similar age and when Viktor retired Alexander Vencel was already at the end of his career, playing his last days for a small club. There was nobody else… Once upon a time promising players aged in the dark shadow of the great goalkeeper and never really developed their potential: back in 1971-72 Dusan Keketi was young, bright talent, expected to become really strong keeper with time. By 1980 he was 29 years old with 7 matches for the national team and still third choice. Other keepers were tried during and especially after Viktor and none satisfied. There was no firm starter. Venglos settled for Netolicka perhaps because he had many years ahead of him to play and was part of the strong at the time Dukla (Prague) team. But he was no better than his reserves, not even than those who also played for the national team, but were not selected this time – Michalik (Banik Ostrava) and Hruska (Bohemians Prague). Stanislav Seman, the 2nd goalie, had played for the national team only once so far… Venglos had no way of finding solution, honestly acknowledged the problem, and blamed his keeper eventually for costly mistake. And at the end the last similarity with West Germany, this one at the same time: Bonhof got injury too late to be replaced and the Germans went to Italy with 21 players. Czechoslovakia went with only 19. Dobias was unable to restore his form after injury and was left home. Nemec and Rott were also found out of shape too late and dropped. But the squads were already deposited and there was no way to make changes. Two champions of 1976 did not make the squad at all – Svehlik and Bicovsky. One may wonder what would have been the fate of West Germany, if Bonhof was fit and the team was shaped around him. The same wonder what if Dobias, Svehlik, and Bicovsky were at hand for Czechoslovakia. Very likely the results were not to be good, for with these players both teams would be firmly based on the old approach, which lead to failure. Failure was not in the books for the Czechoslovaks, though: they were considered too weak already by everybody, including their coach. Realistically, third in Group A. Happy to be at the finals, nothing more.

May 11, 2015

Group A. West Germany

West Germany was may be the second favourite. Of course, everybody lists the Germans as favourites ever, but there were serious doubts this time too. To a point, the actual strength of the team was a bit unknown, for West Germany had the easiest qualifying group and few paid close attention. The 1978 fiasco was well remembered, though – fueling doubts. It was not the exciting German team of the first half of the 1970s, decline was noticed since 1974, the great stars aged and retired, and there were no equal to them youngsters emerging. But Germans are never dismissed, for it is also well remembered that they always rise to the occasion. Well, except in 1978… well, they lost the European final in 1976 too… well, Beckenbauer warned about coming crisis right after the 1974 triumph. And the the team sunk at the 1978 World Cup… Schon was sacked. Or resigned. The press was very vocal about it – only to change its view after the fact.

The German Federation appointed Jupp Derwall and there were plenty of critics: he never coached seriously, he was too liberal with the players, he lacked the intellectual capacity of Schon, he was Schon’s assistant after all, so what kind of new thinking one cane expect? Now it was felt that Schon should have stayed for few more years. The national team was under close scrutiny – and merciless criticism. On the other hand Derwall was natural choice – thus, the right choice. So far, West Germany was coached by only two men: Sep Hepberger was replaced by his assistant Schon. Following the established tradition, it was natural he to be replaced by his own long-time assistant. Derwall knew the workings of the national team in and out, he had enormous experience. Smooth replacement worked wonderfully before – that was the way. Nothing dramatic happened with the change: Derwall continued using players Schon included in the national team. Changes were natural – retirements – and new players were gradually and carefully introduced. But the first steps were rocky – West Germany started badly in the qualification group, hitting rock bottom in Malta. As time moved on, the real problems became clearer: careful, step-by-step reshaping of the team was unsatisfactory – Derwall appeared gutless by depending on well known players, who did not make the great teams of Schon and failed miserably in Argentina. In the same time youngsters lacked more than experience: they were not as good as the previous generation. If Derwall risked entirely new team, criticism would have been murderous. No-win situation, in which the coach steered in strange, but admirable way – a mixture of continuing Schon’s legacy with slow introduction of young players. Non-confrontational way, it appeared to be: the reason of someone becoming a starter was the retirement of a great veteran. Nobody can really protest… circumstances. And it was circumstances helping Derwall at the end – injuries of key players, or at least players Derwall, fearing risk, considered essential. Yet, the team strong, there were plenty of candidates for a place in it, there were first-rate European stars of the time, there was new talent already impressing keen observers and specialists. West Germany was a favourite, many a specialist considered it playing the final, if not a winner. The German Federation lifted the stupid ban on foreign-based players, which handicapped the team at the 1978 World Cup. On the surface, it was laughable matter – back in 1978 it was only Stielike playing abroad. In 1980 there were 2 players – Stielike and Bonhof. The picture was revealing the real problem of West German football: there was no great play-maker. The absence of Stielike immediately reduced West Germany to toothless team. Bonhof was the other option, but he was not exactly a play-maker – he was similar to Neeskens: great player, but only when having someone greater than him. Not a leader in terms of conducting and shaping the game. Stielike was universal player – the dream of the original total football: a player equally at home at any position. It was Derwall who moved him back as a libero – it was a copy of the original: Schon moving Beckenbauer back in defense to give him bigger creative freedom. But it was not the same… for ahead of Beckenbauer were Overatt or Netzer. Now… Derwall lamented that he needs two Stielikes and there is only one. Bonhof was perhaps the closest approximation of much needed creative midfielder. So it looked like… Stielike was back and Bonhof was also at hand. Until he suffered injury and was out – it was so late in the season, the squad lists for the finals were already deposited and changes were impossible. West Germany arrived in Italy with 21 players. Two more injuries happened earlier – Norbert Nigbur and Klaus Fischer. Sep Mayer retired in 1979 and Nigbur was his replacement. Already 31 years old, he was in and out of the national team for years, playing very little, because. Nigbur was reserve in 1974. Fischer had similar fate – because of Gerd Muller in his case – but eventually became the regular center-forward of West Germany around 1978. These two were the very heart of the German problem: second-stringers during the days of the great generation. They replaced the stars not that much on merit, but because they retired. By now the former second-stringers were quite old… experience was on their side. They were also the current top players. But with them the team struggled – and now it was clear why they were not starters before, but Mayer, Muller, Beckenbauer, etc. Something was missing… a bit of leadership, a bit of skill, a bit of consistency, a bit of nerve… and as a result, the team was not winning, was not exciting, and looked without future. But it was also impossible to dismiss them, for they were the top current stars. Nigbur and Fischer were good example: they were key players of the team under normal circumstances – behind them were either known veterans, tried and dismissed for those two were slightly better, if nothing else. The other options were… dangerous. The three goalkeepers Derwall brought to Italy had a grand total of 3 matches for the national team, which belonged to Toni Schumacher. Only one of them was full match… No coach will deliberately play such players at finals. Derwall was not thinking either – it was just because Nigbur and Fischer were injured Schumacher and Hrubesch became starters. It was because Culmann was in shaky form and Bonhof out Bernd Schuster got a chance. It was not Derwall, but circumstances making the stars of 1980s – one can make support such a claim quite easily. That was why West Germany was not seen as a overwhelming favourite and considered weaker then Holland.

1GK

Harald Schumacher

(1954-03-06)6 March 1954 (aged 26)

Köln

2DF

Hans-Peter Briegel

(1955-10-11)11 October 1955 (aged 24)

Kaiserslautern

2DF

Bernhard Cullmann

(1949-11-01)1 November 1949 (aged 30)

Köln

2DF

Karlheinz Förster

(1958-07-25)25 July 1958 (aged 21)

Stuttgart

2DF

Bernard Dietz (c)

(1948-03-22)22 March 1948 (aged 32)

Duisburg

3MF

Bernd Schuster

(1959-12-22)22 December 1959 (aged 20)

Köln

2DF

Bernd Förster

(1956-05-03)3 May 1956 (aged 24)

Stuttgart

4FW

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

(1955-09-25)25 September 1955 (aged 24)

Bayern Munich

4FW

Horst Hrubesch

(1951-04-17)17 April 1951 (aged 29)

Hamburg

3MF

Hansi Müller

(1957-07-27)27 July 1957 (aged 22)

Stuttgart

4FW

Klaus Allofs

(1956-12-05)5 December 1956 (aged 23)

Fortuna Düsseldorf

3MF

Caspar Memering

(1953-06-01)1 June 1953 (aged 27)

Hamburg

3MF

Rainer Bonhof

(1952-03-29)29 March 1952 (aged 28)

Valencia

3MF

Felix Magath

(1953-07-26)26 July 1953 (aged 26)

Hamburg

3MF

Uli Stielike

(1954-11-15)15 November 1954 (aged 25)

Real Madrid

2DF

Herbert Zimmermann

(1954-07-01)1 July 1954 (aged 25)

Köln

3MF

Karl Del’Haye

(1955-08-18)18 August 1955 (aged 24)

Borussia Mönchengladbach

3MF

Lothar Matthäus

(1961-03-21)21 March 1961 (aged 19)

Borussia Mönchengladbach

3MF

Miroslav Votava

(1956-04-24)24 April 1956 (aged 24)

Borussia Dortmund

2DF

Manfred Kaltz

(1953-01-06)6 January 1953 (aged 27)

Hamburg

1GK

Walter Junghans

(1958-10-26)26 October 1958 (aged 21)

Bayern Munich

1GK

Eike Immel

(1960-11-27)27 November 1960 (aged 19)

Borussia Dortmund

The squad made people skeptical and critical – this is one of youngest German selections, averaging a bit over 24 years. Two players were barely 19 years old. Most names were little known outside Germany. Some appeared even wild – Caspar Memmering for sure. Many had played only a handful matches for the national team. For those lamenting the lost purity of the German team nowadays: Miroslav (Mirko) Votava was born in Czechoslovakia and arrived in West Germany after some years in Australia – his parents left their native country in 1968, thanks to the Soviet-led invasion. At a glance, one may think Derwall was a radical, introducing entirely new team. But it was circumstance again – by now only two 1974 World Champions remained: Bonhof and Culmann. Nigbur was out because of injury. Eventually, Bonhof was also out. It was not Derwall’s wish… and he persevered and played Culmann. Retirement and injuries ‘revolutionized’ the squad. Before the finals it was very sucpicious squad… During the finals it was not a happy squad both on and off the field. It was not a squad without problem after the championship either. There was promise, but so far it was very difficult to see in these names the big stars of the 1980s. What was quite visible at first was dulness… Culmann again, the ever-present ultra-reliable dull player, usually a reserve, but year after year in the team. A prime example of the ugly change of free, creative total football into physical battle of the fittest, in which those who run the most win.

May 9, 2015May 9, 2015

Group A. Holland

Group A was the easier, but more puzzling group. West Germany and Holland were the favourites, yet, the pros and cons were many. As arbitrary as it is, let’s start with Holland. Strong at the 1978 World Cup, but not good enough to win. Very experienced squad, but lacking the quality of Cruijff’s era. The key figures were dangerously aging and there were no replacements of similar class. The team’s play became more physical and lacking the flair of the original ‘flying Dutchmen’, but they were tough and concentrated when needed: they had problems in the qualification group, but when it mattered most delivered, beating DDR as visitors in the very last group match and thus winning the group. Ruud Krol, the team’s captain, was very critical of the team, saying to France Football that he does not see any chance for Holland. West Germany and Czechoslovakia he considered stronger and Holland lacked quality players. Many considered his opinion typically Dutch underapreciation of their own. Many considered Holland prime favourite. But still not overwhelming one: Jan Zwartkruis was good coach, but he was replaced for the World Cup finals and success came with temporary big name – Happel. The same tactic as in 1974, when Michels was brought for the finals. Curiously, the Dutch did not change the coach for 1976 European finals and repeated the same in 1980. In 1976 they failed… There was also the old problem with pigheaded players, who often refused to play for the national team – quarrels and refusals were old story, so Holland hardly ever had the best team at hand. This time the problem was relatively small, but still existed: Neeskens refused to come back from USA for the finals. Arie Haan, however, accepted to join the team in which he was not to be a key figure as he was in 1978. Zwartkruis included many little known players – as much as risky experiment as it was a testimony of the short pool of talent. But the squad had enough class, plenty of experience, and had strong collective approach which compensated for evident shortage of superstars in 1978. It was high time for Holland to win something – perhaps this was the time, considering that the group was weaker and West Germany had perhaps more problems than Holland. And Krol, somewhat contradicting himself, spoke that it is time for revenge.

Jan Zwartkruis was at the helm of the team since 1976 – he shaped the team as he wanted. As he wanted to a point: he never got what he really wanted. Players whims plus the strong pressure from the leading clubs, which always argued against the needs of the national team, reduced his options for preparing the squad. Friendlies were particularly lacking and when they were scheduled, then key players were not available. But he adjusted to the circumstances and managed to qualify the team to two consecutive finals. This time he was not to be replaced for the real thing – a comfortable situation.

Piet Schrijvers

(1946-12-15)15 December 1946 (aged 33)

Ajax

Ben Wijnstekers

(1955-08-31) (aged 24)

Feyenoord

Michel van de Korput

(1956-09-18) (aged 23)

Feyenoord

Hugo Hovenkamp

(1950-10-05)(aged 29)

Ruud Krol (c)

(1949-03-24)(aged 31)

Vancouver Whitecaps

Jan Poortvliet

(1955-09-21) (aged 24)

PSV

René van de Kerkhof

(1951-09-16) (aged 28)

PSV

Willy van de Kerkhof

(1951-09-16) (aged 28)

PSV

Kees Kist

(1952-08-07)(aged 27)

Arie Haan

(1948-11-16) (aged 31)

Anderlecht

Heini Otto

(1954-08-24)(aged 25)

Twente Enschede

Johnny Rep

(1951-11-25) (aged 28)

Saint-Étienne

Dick Nanninga

(1949-01-17)aged 31)

Roda Kerkrade

Adrie Koster

(1954-11-18) (aged 25)

PSV

Huub Stevens

(1953-11-29) (aged 26)

PSV

Pim Doesburg

(1943-10-28)(aged 36)

Sparta Rotterdam

Martien Vreijsen

(1955-11-15) (aged 24)

NAC Breda

Frans Thijssen

(1952-01-23) (aged 28)

Ipswich Town

Romeo Zondervan

(1959-03-03)(aged 21)

Twente Enschede

Hans van Breukelen

(1956-10-04) (aged 23)

Utrecht

Ernie Brandts

(1956-02-03)aged 24)

PSV

John Metgod

(1958-02-27) (aged 22)

Third row: Vreijsen, Thijssen, Schrijvers, Stevens, Hovenkamp,Wijnstekers.

Middle row: Zondervan, van de Korput, Rep, Doesburg, Krol, Poortvliet, assistant coach Baan, coach Zwartkruis.

Sitting: Willie van de Kerkhof, Haan, Rene van de Kerkhof, Van Breukelen, Nanninga, Kist, Koster, Brandts.

A curious selection: on one hand, this was aging team, based on the stars of 1974 – 6 of the great team were here. But Schrijvers and van de Kerkhof twins were reserves back then. The other three were aging and by 1980 only Ruud Krol was world class. Rep was fading away and Haan was somewhat underapreciated. Even Krol was perhaps doubted by now: at 31, he just moved to play abroad and it was not one the big Spanish, German, or English clubs, but the Canadian Vancouver Whitecaps. Going to NASL was a sign of nearing the end. Zwartkruis also used players from 1978 – Nanninga and Brandts were heroes back than ,but the first was accidental hero and not a real star. He was 31 years old – hardly in his prime. Brandts unfortunately went downhill since the World Cup and it was already clear that he was not to be a great star. Hovenkamp, who left the team just before the finals in 1978 was back – this time a regular. Haan was to be a sustitute too, a sign his days were over – at least in the national team. The goalkeeping problem was painfully familiar – no classy keeper. Schrijvers was number one, and Doesburg – his back up. At 36, Doesburg had played only 3 matches for Holland… The third goalie was unheard of and was to remain so, for he was just making the numbers: Hans van Breukelen. Given his illustrious career and success later in the 1980s, one can guess that the talent was there already – but apparently Zwartkruis did not have the guts for taking a risk with youngster playing for lowly Utrecht. So far, van Breukelen had 0 matches for Holland – as well as Zondervan and Vreijsen. Seven players had less than 10 matches for the national team, some of them starters. And that in the most experienced and old team at the finals! It was not entirely clear what Zwartkruis wanted – the team was clearly based on Krol, which was fine since he was perhaps the best in the world at the moment and capable of much more than defending. But Haan – always reliable, Thijssen – in great form and key player of Ipswich Town at its best, Kist – the top European goalscorer, and van de Kerkhof twins – still the top Dutch midfielders, were not regulars. It looked like Zwartkruis wanted a physical, collective-minded team, spurred and influenced by Krol, and depending heavily on Rep to finish the attacks. Did not look great, but there was not much to say against such approach either – it was more than possible to reach the final and then whatever happens. Contrary to the photo above, there were no players using individual kits this time. As ever before, there were players not included who knows why – Tahamata (Ajax), for instance.

May 6, 2015

The 6th European Championship

The 6th European Championship was entirely new – except for the trophy.

Like the World Cup, the finals had not only official logo, but a mascot, serving as a concurrent logo of the tournament.

The long nose of Pinocchio… endearing mascot, or a reminder of the long Italian tradition of cheating on and off the pitch? Totonero was just happening. Long noses all around. Nothing to do with the European finals, though. The tournament was played between 11th and 22th of June in Rome, Naples, Turin, and Milan. The draw placed West Germany, Holland, Czechoslovakia, and Greece in |Group A, and Italy, England, Belgium, and Spain in Group B. Winners were to play for the title, 2nd placed teams – for bronze medals. The new formula of the finals had no ½ finals. Like the World Cup finals, the host got a bye and did not have to qualify, but the reigning European champion had no such privilege – unlike the world champion. Another difference from the World Cup was that the final groups had no designated stadiums: games were scheduled in all hosting cities. But all is relative – Czechoslovakia played 2 games in Rome, one in Milan, and one in Naples, for example. Only Italy played on all 4 stadiums – and that was only because they did not reach the final. The ugly face of hooliganism appeared at the finals, just a sign of what was coming to characterize the 1980s, but compared to later years, nothing big happened. Group A was considered the easier group – West Germany and Holland were the favourites. Italy was also a favourite, but they had tougher competition – England. Spain and Belgium were very difficult to beat, so Group B was the ‘iron group’. The finals were supposed to draw big attendance – may be the only real disappointment of the finals. In football crazy Italy – and a country so close to all participants – only 4 games attracted more than 25 000 fans. Czechoslovakia – Greece was expected to be the lowest attended match, but 8000 was perhaps bellow the mark considered ‘low’ by the organizers. The hype over the new formula run counter to the reality of actual attending – the matter was hushed, of course. Television was partial reason for low attendance, yet, pointed proudly as a big success: after all, numbers are numbers. Stadiums were half-empty, but look at how many watched at home! But the low attendance was a verdict: finals of the club tournaments attracted much more fans than the European championship final.

May 4, 2015

The round year – the end of a decade and a beginning of new one. Ten years earlier optimism was in the air. It was justified optimism – the first half of the 1970s was great. Then the exciting advance of total football halted and the game started changing in not so great way. The end of the 70s was not optimistic at all, yet, it was nothing compared to what laid ahead: in the 1980s football was alarming and disappointing. Not only the game, but the whole culture surrounding the sport. One English journalist summed it with this verdict: ‘If this is football, let it die.’ And to death marched the game… quite literally. But not in 1980. 1980 was expected with excitement: the European championship with new formula was the bright sign. It was to be a mini-version of the world cup. More matches to be seen, more drama – the whole state of the tournament was suddenly elevated. So far, for the most part of the campaign interest was local. Only the final round – ½ finals and the final attracted vaster interest, largely via television. 1976 was perhaps the greatest success of the tournament – the great drama of overtime and shoot-outs to the end. 1980 was expected to beat that: now there were 8 finalists, divided into 2 round-robin groups. Many expected Euro finals to be stronger and better than the World Cup. And some feared that the new formula may kill the World Cup altogether by becoming the stronger and more interesting to watch championship. Hopes and predictions.

Campionato Europeo di Calcio was not the only big news this year – the other two also came from Italy. The one was the big Totonero scandal – players and clubs fixed matches to accommodate betting. Investigation found 7 clubs from Serie A and Serie B plus various players and managers guilty. Corruption was nothing new in Italian football, but this time there were stiff penalties even for the ‘untouchables’: Milan, the champions of 1978-79, were relegated along with Lazio to second division when the 1979-80 season ended. The new superstar Paolo Rossi was banned from the game for 3 years. Later his suspension was reduced to 2 years. As often is the case, only few players really suffered: the veteran goalkeeper Albertosi had to quit. He was suspended for 4 years – at his age, it was entirely unlikely he could come back well over 40 years of age and he just retired. The scandal itself was largely important because this time the Italians appeared determined to really investigate and punish. The third big news was the lifting of the ban on foreign players in Italy – it was in effect since 1964. The big clubs did not like the ban and lobbied against it for years. They even tried to curtail it, but the Federation stayed firm. In 1980 the market was open at last – one foreigner was permitted at first and unlike the Spanish, who always bought more foreigners than the number allowed to play, the Italian clubs stuck to the limit. Still it was exciting race for foreign stars and Italy quickly edged Spain – money were not a problem somewhat and in short time the bigger names were going to Italy, not Spain.

The last big event was not strictly football – the Olympic games were staged in Moscow and boycotted by USA and many other countries. A big news with its political overtones and noise. As for the football at the Olympics, it was hardly affected – the Olympics were still largely important for the Communist countries and dominated by them. The rest of the world cared little for Olympic football.