Group 5. Holland, Hungary, Poland, Greece, Cyprus. Something strange here… a revival of Holland was already noticed after 1984, but by itself it was not enough to place them in urn 1, the urn of the favourites: Holland failed to qualify to both 1984 Euro and 1986 World Cup. Yet, they were in among the mightiest and Italy – among the so-so teams in urn 4… Meantime Hungary was so-so and Poland in decline. Since past shapes the present, Holland was cautiously seen as a favourite, but also cautiously Poland and Hungary were pretenders… anything could happen. At least before the games started. Greek football was rising, but for the moment the most Greece was able of was giving troubles to the stronger teams and perhaps messing up their plans. Cyprus… the usual outsider. What was imagined as rather tough and unpredictable group crushed such illusions right away – Holland was really coming back with vengeance and Poland and Hungary were really less than supposed to be. Of course, not everything was smooth: Poland gave the fright to the Dutch with their blatantly defensive football in Amsterdam – Holland dominated the match by far, but it ended 0-0. Then a few months later Greece did the same – 1-1 in Amsterdam. And at this point – March 25, 1987 – the group was suddenly truer than the expected: Greece was leading the table! The great rivalry between the three favourites was going to cost them dearly – the underdog sneaked unnoticed. Rather, noticed… Hungary had issues with the lost game against Greece in Athens – from Polish standpoint, the Hungarians had to blame only themselves. However, it was tit for that – usually the home team won, so 4 teams just shuffled positions depending on the latest result. Everything ended at the end of the schedule: on October 19th, 1987, when the four teams played at the same time. Greece, still on top of the table, visited Hungary in Budapest. Poland hosted Holland. Now everything fell into the right position – Greece fought as much as they could, but lost 3-2. Poland was really too weak for the new Dutch and lost at home 0-2. Right after that came a farce… Holland won at home 8-0 against Cyprus. Nothing wrong with the result itself – and Holland actually needed only a tie to win the group – but hoolliganism popped-up its ugly head: a Dutch supporter hurled smoke-bomb or cracker which exploded next to the Cypriot goalkeeper and he fell down. Really injured or not, the referee stopped the game, the keeper was carried out on a stretcher and the whole Cypriot team left the field. In the next 56 minutes the President of the Dutch Federation tried to persuade the Cypriots to come back and finish the game. Eventually, he succeeded and the Cyprus came back with substitute keeper to whom 7 of the 8 Dutch goals were scored. But even if the Cypriots decided not to file protest the incident was noted and recorded and a month later UEFA issued its verdict: the game was annulled and Cyprus was awarded 3-0 victory. Holland immediately appealed this decision. The basis of their appeal was the very unclear decision of the Luxembourg referee to stop the game – according to the Dutch, he did it right away, so it least their leaving the field was only following his order. Referee’s version was different – he decided to stop the game because the Cyrpiots already left the field. All that shifted the blame to the Cypriots and new verdict for a replay of the match on neutral ground was issued near the end of November. This infuriated the Greeks, whose only hope for qualification laid on awarded victory to Cyprus and heroic win in the last group match in which they hosted Holland – now this scheme was out and in retaliation they changed the venue of the match with Holland from Athens to tiny stadium in the city of Alexandropoulis at the Turkish border. UEFA reacted with big threats and Greece had to abandon this idea, but still without giving up – the new proposal was in Rodos Island and they also announced that they will field their Olympic team because this match is of no importance to anybody now. This time UEFA accepted the Greek proposal and one may wonder why… Well, the game really did not mattered any more – that was certain. In the replay Holland won 4-0 and soon after both Greece and Holland met with substitute squads and Holland won 3-0. It was mere formality anyway, but Holland was the last team to qualify to the 1988 finals.
Cyprus – last, as expected. 0 1 7 3-16 1 point.
Poland – 4th. It was a fact: this was very inferior team compared to the one of 1974. Having chance to win the group was only that – a chance, much depending on stumbles of others. 3 2 3 9-11 8 points.
Hungary – 3rd. Like the photo of Poland, this is picture of their home game against Holland – which, like Poland, they lost, 0-1. This sums it all – the real class showed in direct games and in them chance was not a factor. 4 0 4 13-11 8 points.
Greece – 2nd. Here chance worked in their favour – to the point of entertaining hopes for winning the group. But depending on chance was not enough… 4 1 3 12-13 9 points.
Holland won. Top row from left: Ruud Gullit, Adri van Tiggelen, Addick Koot, Ronald Spelbos, Frank Rijkaard.
Middle row: Marco van Basten, Ronald Koeman, Sjaak Troost, Erwin Koeman, John Bosman.
Sitting: John van ‘t Schip, Sonny Silooy, Joop Hiele, Rinus Michels, Hans van Breukelen, Jan Wouters, Michel Valcke.
Well, this is the squad in 1987 and everything seems done – Holland was back with new great team. As usual, coming back from decline is not just an explosion, but rather long and shaky process, step by step. Really, the Dutch team started playing with comfort in 1987, but the shaky beginning of the campaign did not look so shaky at the end: 6 2 0 15-1 14 points.
Group 6. Denmark, Wells, Czechoslovakia, Finland. Denmark was considered favourite, with slight possibility of Wells or, likelier, Czechoslovakia challenging the Danes. May be, just in case, just to stay on the safe side, if something surprising happened… Nothing happened – Wells was Wells, with its limited resources they had no chance; like many other countries, Czechoslovakia was in decline during the 1980s, now even losing to Finland (0-3 in Helsinki), Finland was getting better somewhat, but may be only because others were weaker now, and Denmark, although having difficulties in scoring goals, was better the the others and fulfilled the predictions. However, they had to thank the Fins – Czechoslovakia lost only one match and that was to the Fins – if they managed different outcome, Denmark was going to be second. Then again, if the outcome in Helsinki was different, nay be other results – particularly those between Czechoslovakia and Denmark (0-0 and 1-1) may have been differed too.
Finland – 4th. Modest, but brave. 1 1 4 4-10 3 points.
Wales – 3rd. What can you say? Pity Jan Rush… However, they do not give up, which is admirable. 2 2 2 7-5 6 points.
Czechoslovakia – 2nd. They had a chance to win, but, frankly, such a team did not deserve to win. Of course, some good players here – but also many not so good. That was all Czechoslovakia had at hand at that time – nothing like the 1960s and 70s, when there was plenty of talent. In the 80s there was simply not enough. 2 3 1 7-5 7 points.
Denmark qualified to the Euro finals. The 1980s was their decade – great generation. Small, but wonderful. Aging already, but very experienced and as every small squad there was the advantage of players knowing each other inside out. Given their limited resources, one can understand why they struggled occasionally – especially against relatively modest, but decent teams. Yet, they deserved to reach the finals and not just because they were everybody’s darlings. 3 2 1 4-2 8 points.
Group 7. Belgium, Bulgaria, Eire, Scotland, Luxembourg. The most uncertain and unpredictable group – except Luxembourg, anybody could win. The relative parity came from the decline of Belgium, having its own great team aged and stars retiring, the decline of Scotland, having fewer and fewer really great players in recent years, on one hand. On the other hand, Bulgaria had routinely underperformimg talent, which was pretty much enough to fight successfully current Belgians and Scots, and the Irish fought bravely no matter what. No team was particularly great, but that was a matter of a draw and not their fault – an iron group was formed, so here was really difficult to make predictions. Belgium had great World Cup in 1986, but it was already clear that it was the swansong of a generation stepping down, so it was dangerous to think of them as favourites – highly possible was that goal-difference could be the decisive factor at the end, so suddenly the matches with Luxembourg became of almost crucial importance – very likely who scored the most against the eternal outsiders would win. However, none of the candidates was a high scoring team, especially when playing against punching begs… And caution was justified right from the start of the campaign – Scotland-Bulgaria 0-0 and Belgium-Eire 2-2. Then Belgium seemingly made the most important step – scored goals. Luxembourg-Belgium 0-6. At the same time Eire-Scotland ended 0-0. Nobody lost chances, everybody planned and schemed hopefully. Scotland-Luxembourg 3-0, Belgium-Bulgaria 1-1. Scotland-Eire 0-1, Bulgaria-Eire 2-1, Belgium-Scotland 4-1. Now it looked like Belgium was getting ahead, but nobody was out of the race yet. Eire-Belgium 0-0, Luxembourg-Bulgaria 1-4. Bulgaria-Luxembourg 3-0, Luxembourg-Eire 0-2, Eire-Luxembourg 2-1. Looked like Eire lost the race thanks to their small wins against the outsider and the main race will be between Belgium and Bulgaria. Bulgaria-Belgium 2-0 and Bulgaria not only killed the Belgian advantage, but gained best chances to qualify – especially after the next match in which Scotland won over Belgium 2-0. But then Eire won against Bulgaria 3-0 and everything was back at square one. Kind of… Scotland was out, Belgium was out, Eire was on top with 11 points, but finished their games already and was on the mercy of others. Looked like Bulgaria will be the group winner – they had their last game at home against already eliminated Scotland and needed only a point. Playing for the ‘sure point’ in such situations is stupid, because there is no plan B, but, as many other times, Bulgaria made the stupid decision and even forget that they had to face British team – the Scots had nothing to play for, they will take it easy, we will be a bit careful in defence, will kill time without attacking too much so not to accidentally anger and invigorate the Scots, done deal! A terrible mistake – British teams never take it easy or give up. Scotland came to Sofia to fight and shortly before the end of the game scored. And won 1-0. There was still one more game in the group and this time Scotland took it easy – and gave a point to Luxembourg at home. One has to read British teams much better than the Bulgarians did…
Luxembourg – last as ever. Only they were not the expected decisive factor of the group, but not their fault. 0 1 7 2-23 1 point.
Scotland – 4th. Not in good shape, surely, but they became the decisive factor of the group – first killing the chance of Belgium, second – those of Bulgaria. If anything, they played with heart… just about everything Scottish football had at the moment. A very long moment, unfortunately, seeming without end. 3 3 2 7-5 9 points.
Belgium – 3rd. This squad was from the early months, when they appeared to be on the right track (4-1 at home against Scotland). From left to right: Stephane Demol, Philippe Desmet, Nico Claesen, Erwin Vandenbergh, Franky van der Elst, Georges Grun, Enzo Scifo, Leo Clijsters, Frank Vercauteren, Patrick Vervoort, Jean-Marie Pfaff. To a point, the inevitable decline is shown here – how long those players can play ? Decline in terms of the great team which emerged in 1980. From bigger perspective – nothing really terrible : Belgium always managed to come back with small group of good players. They were not Italy or West Germany with huge pool of talent and had to do with little – and little had crucial moments when in need of replacement. Scotland gave them good chance, Scotland took it away… 3 3 2 16-8 9 points.
Bulgaria – 2nd. Another failure, coming right after disappointing World Cup finals. A long list of objections to coach (the same Christo Mladenov, whp spoiled the 1974 World Cup finals), selection, attitude can be made – and it was made back then in Bulgaria in the aftermath of the shocking loss from Scotland – but what is perhaps the really important lesson of this failed campaign is about the stupidity of scheming and calculating. Playing for a ‘sure point’ against British team… 4 2 2 12-6 10 points.
Eire – or Republic of Ireland, the winners. This is the squad which tied Belgium in Brussels at the beginning of the qualifications. Pretty much all Ireland had – not much, but playing with big hearts. Lady Luck helped them – disguised as Scotland, which in way qualified the Irish by eliminating in two strokes Belgium and Bulgaria. Yet one can dismiss the Irish as just lucky team – they were modest, their tactics were considered primitive, they had only a handful of decent players, their bets known stars – Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady – were dangerously aging, but these boys gave the best they could, sometimes even more than that. In a way, Eire deserved most to win, because with them at least one thing was sure – they will give their best at the finals. Declining Belgium and rather Scotland were suspect about meaningful performance in 1988 and Bulgaria… well, it had history of pathetic performances at big finals, so better without them. In any case modest Irish lost only once in the ‘iron group’, which was recommendation in itself. 4 3 1 10-5 11 points.