Group 2 was expected to be tough: 4 teams were capable of qualifying. Norway did not count at all. They got just a single point from away match, surprising Belgium. Perhaps the matches between Belgium and Scotland were really the decisive ones – they were scheduled at the end of the campaign, Scotland actually playing the last 3 games in the group, and thus looking like having an advantage. Belgium won 2-0 at home and was with 10 points. Scotland was out after this match – they had to win all of their last 3 matches to qualify and nothing else could do. Austria was still on top with 11 points, but no more matches to play. Belgium had to win their last match, which was doubtful – Scotland may have been eliminated, but they never gave up. But Belgium, which started badly with surprising home tie against the outsider Norway, was in great shape by now and managed to prevail 3-1. The last match of the group between Scotland and Portugal was mere protocol – both countries were already eliminated.
Austria with a new coach, but preserving the team so impressive at the 1978 World Cup. Standing from left: Karl Stotz – coach, Baumeister, Schachner, Pezzey, Obermayer, Hattenberger, Gasselich, Prohaska, Krankl, Schmidt – assistant coach.
First row: Weber, Zuenalli, Mirnegg, Koncilia, Baumgartner, Kreuz, Sara, Hintermaier.
Austria had a chance to reach the finals – but their fate depended on others and they finished 2nd.
The battle between 4 countries was intriguing to the very end – even Portugal had theoretical chance of winning the group, if Belgium and Scotland tied the matches between them and then Portugal won with a big result their last away match. Well, the chance was strictly theoretical – they needed to beat Scotland by more than 5 goals. But theory was not to be tested. Belgium delivered when mattered most – first they won at home 2-0 over Scotland, thus coming back into the picture. Still nothing was decided yet – before the last any of the 4 competitors could end on top. The all-decisive match was in Glasgow. And here Belgium was superb, winning 3-1. End of story.
The squad, beating Scotland 2-0 in Bruxelles on November 21, 1979: standing from left: Vandereycken, Custers, Millecamps, Meeuws, Ceulemans.
First row: Van Moer, Gerets, Renquin, Van Der Elst, Voordeckers, Cools.
Some of the players were well known either from the past – van Moer – or from the recent strong years of Anderlecht and FC Brugges, but they were very famous yet. Still, it was not surprising to see Belgium going to the finals – the Red Devils did not reach World Cup finals in the 1970s, but were regularly strong in the European championships. They did not lose a match during the qualification campaign.
1. Belgium 4 4 0 12-5 12
2. Austria 4 3 1 14-7 11
3. Portugal 4 1 3 10-11 9
4. Scotland 3 1 4 15-13 7
5. Norway 0 1 7 5-20 1