Spain and Honduras opened the group, gathering almost 50 000 fans at the stadium, mostly Spanish. The hype was great, for it was the beginning of arguably big Spanish run for the crown. Reality quickly proved different.
Instead of easy win over modest outsiders, Spain struggled. Honduras silenced the crowds in the 8th minute, when Zelaya gave the lead to the unknown Central Americans. Spain more or less dominated the match, but was toothless and unable to create something really dangerous. Honduras was surprisingly competent team, especially in defense. Everything was going wrong for the hosts until the 62nd minute, when a penalty was called. A suspect penalty to many, but criticism really erupted a few days later. Lopez Ufarte equalized. Spain was unable to do more. 1-1.
Observers considered Yugoslavia – Northern Ireland tougher match than Spain – Honduras, but Yugoslavia was the big favourite, expected to win. Coaches were more careful – Billy Bingham had no options anyway, so he said he will use its standard eleven. But he included teenage Norman Whiteside among the starters – there was nothing to fear or lose: Northern Ireland was no Brazil or West Germany . Miljanic was cautious, emphasizing that the opponents were tough and one had to be careful with them. May be Miljanic’s caution set the tone of the game – it was disciplined and well organized approach from both sides.
Norman Whiteside, pictured here, made good debut at the world stage, but neither team was particularly inspired in midfield and attack. Yugoslavia was more dangerous but unable to score. 0-0.
Suddenly the easiest group was not easy at all and Spain, blowing away their ‘easiest’ of all matches, had to win against Yugoslavia. But Yugoslavia too had to win. And when the match started, they were the stronger team. And scored a goal in the 10th minute. Spain was greatly disturbed and Yugoslavia pressed forward, creating quickly two more scoring possibilities. Then… Spain got a penalty. It was more than obvious favour to the hosts and later none was more critical of the Danish referee than his compatriots: it was blatant help to Spain, for there was no penalty at all – Miguel Alonso was at least 1 meter outside penalty area. And even this was not enough, for Lopez Ufarte missed the net with his kick – and the referee ordered the penalty to be replayed: Pantelic moved before the ball was kicked. A laugh, really, but the second time Juanito scored. 1-1. Yugoslavia was disturbed, Spain restored some confidence.
A picture like this one suggest Spanish superiority, but there was nothing even close – Yugoslavia clearly outplayed Spain and remained dominant most of the time. As a last resort, Santamaria made unusual double-substitute, fielding two strikers – Quini and Saura. They did not change Spanish play by much, but the strikers proved dangerous enough – in the 66th minute Quini missed the ball, but Saura still managed to get to it and scored a second – and first from playing situation – goal for Spain. To the end, the hosts managed to preserve their fragile lead. 2-1. After the match critics of Santamaria smiled: for a long time they blasted the coach for not using Santillana and Quini. And they were right – Quini proved their point; now bring back Santillana in the team! Yugoslavia was suddenly… going out?
Honduras vs Northern Ireland. The outsiders were to become true outsiders now… Northern Ireland had the edge, theoretically, but they had great difficulty scoring, so a tie was also possible.
Well, the Irish scored early – in the 10th minute – which very possibly would have been the final result: Honduras worried about Irish physical dominance before the game. Northern Ireland pressed as hard as they could, but surprisingly the Central Americans responded more than well, getting the initiative in the second half and equalizing the result in the 62nd minute. They attacked to the final whistle and Pat Jennings was the hero of the day, making at least one fantastic save. 1-1.
Yugolsavia had to win its last game, which was no longer just an easy walk over, but a matter of life and death. So was for modest Honduras, which was still unbeaten and had a good chance of going to the next round too.
Yugoslavia was out from the tournament almost to the end of the match – they scored at last in the 87th minute and only thanks to a penalty. Honduras left wonderful impression, but was out. Minimally, but out. Yugoslavia – 1, Honduras – 0. Nothing going – Yugoslavia depended on the result of the last group match.
Yugoslavia – Honduras game qualified Spain to the next stage, so the last group match was largely a matter of getting confidence and trying to convince increasingly critical public that the team was actually strong. Northern Ireland, however, had a chance to go ahead too, so it was not to be a protocol match at all. Spain got no sympathy from foreigners at all – it was helped by the referees, for now even the penalty against Honduras was considered a gift, and the insulting to the game practice continued in the last match – the referee red-carded an Irish player, Mal Donaghy. But Spain was disorganized, sometime entirely shapeless and clueless, lacking any systematic approach. Northern Ireland defended itself more than well, especially against uninspired and toothless attacks, using any chance for counter-attacking.
And then the horror… if one was Spanish. Two minutes after the beginning of the second half Armstrong came face to face with Arconada and scored. That was enough – the match ended 1-0 for Northern Ireland. Yugoslavia was out, brave Irish – to the next stage.
Northern Ireland 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 4
Spain 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 3
Yugoslavia 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 3
Honduras 3 0 2 1 2 3 − 1 2
The ‘easiest’ group was a surprise. The football shown may not have been great, but the outsiders played more than well. Yugoslavia had nobody to blame, but themselves – most likely they paid heavy price for having been too tactically minded, thus lacking improvisation and inspiration. Yes, they were robbed by the referee against Spain, but the plain fact was Yugoslavia did not play as well as expected. Spain was a great disappointment and only after the first truth came out: Santamaria finally announced what was known for years outside Spain: the best for his squad was to play tough defensive game,watching for opportunistic counter-attacks. But, Santamaria said, the whole Spain demanded the team to play attacking football and he bent under this demand, asking his team to play a kind of football they were unable to do. There were no players in Spain capable of such kind of game. Of course, Santamaria was criticized right away for such demoralizing views, but it was clear to anyone watching without a bias, that Spain was awful and no help from officials would propel the team to the title – after all, the road to there demanded they win the group in order of having easier second stage group. With shameful help from the referees, Spain finished second. Norther Ireland, on the other hand, played above its own ability, becoming instant darling of the fans. Nobody supposed them to go beyond second stage, but they played with hearts and surely would not go down without a great fight.