Group B.
03.06.86 (12.00) Mexico City, Estadio Azteca
MEX – BEL 2:1 (2:1)
(~110000) Esposito ARG, Valente POR, Méndez GUA
MEX: Larios – Trejo, Felix Cruz, Quirarte, Servin – Aguirre, Negrete, Muñoz, Boy (c – 69 Espana) – Flores (79 J.Cruz), Sánchez
BEL: Pfaff – Gerets, Broos, F.van der Elst, de Wolf – Vercauteren,Van der Eycken, Scifo, Ceulemans (c) – van den Bergh (66 Demol), Desmet (60 Claesen)
1:0 Quirarte 23 h, 2:0 Sánchez 39 h, 2:1 van den Bergh 45 h
booked: Sánchez, Muñoz / F.van der Elst
Home team at last came to the pitch, heavily supported by excited crowd. This is the principle game of the group and also the first group match. May be the Mexicans crumbled under pressure, as often happens to host teams, may be caution was the order of the day, but it was equal match, generally fought in midfield. Experienced and well balanced Belgium pretty much canceled the Mexican creative efforts, but was also unable to do more. The goals did not arrive from some great attacks, but from set-pieces and mistakes. At the end of the first half Mexico was leading 2-0 after free kick and corner kick, both times set by Boy. Meantime Larios hardly had anything to do, but the match was far from over. And right after the start of the second half Belgium scored one goal back – Gerets set the ball deep in the Mexican half after an out, Larios made big mistake and van den Bergh scored. And there was still the whole second half to be played… but nothing more happened in it, it was pretty much like the first half, both teams careful not to give chances to the opponent and never shy from kicking each other. Mexico won 2-1, which was a relief, but Mexican fans and journalists were not happy. Milutinovic emphasized the victory in realistic way – never mind it was not pretty, the team showed character and got 2 points; Thys shrugged it off – he was unhappy with the result, of course, especially after his team, in his view, dominated the last 30 minutes, but it was not the end of the world, it was the first match, there was still a lot ahead, etc, etc.
04.06.86 (12.00) Toluca, Estadio Bombonera
PAR – IRK 1:0 (1:0)
(~24000) Picon-Ackong MRS, Socha USA, Ulloa COS
PAR: Fernandez – Torales, Zabala, Schettina, Delgado (c) – Nunez, Ferreira, Romero, Cabañas – Canete, Mendoza (88 Guasch)
IRK: Salman (c) – Allawe, Mahmoud, Salim, Al-Roubai – Abidoun, Amaiesh, Hanna, Mohammed (82 Bassim) – Hassan (68 Aufi), Shihab
1:0 Romero 36
booked: Schettina / Mahmoud
Paraguay – Iraq attracted small audience and it was not surprising: Paraguay was not much, Iraq was nothing, easy victory for the South Americans, but nothing to watch. The lack of expectations served the Iraqis better – they played somewhat better than Paraguay and had a goal disallowed. It was curious decision, very likely a result of referee’s ignorance of the rules – in the last seconds of the first half Iraq had a corner kick, which went directly in the Paraguayan net, deliberate or lucky direct score from the corner, the ball untouched by any player. Uncertain what to do, the referee claimed that he blew the whistle for the end of the half when the ball was still in the air. That was the crucial moment – Romero scored for Paraguay 10 minutes earlier and an equalizer would have been great boost for Iraq, already certain that the devil is not so black. Iraq was better in the second half, but Paraguay had experience on its side and generally was busy killing Iraqi attacks at early stage.
07.06.86 (12.00) Mexico City, Estadio Azteca
MEX – PAR 1:1 (1:1)
(+114000) Courtney ENG, Igna ROM, Fredriksson SWE
MEX: Larios – Trejo, F.Cruz, Quirarte, Servin – Aguirre, Negrete, Mu&nitlde;oz, Boy (c – 89 Espana) – Flores (76 J.Cruz), Sánchez
PAR: Fernandez – Torales (81 Hicks), Zabala, Schettina, Delgado (c) – Nunez, Ferreira, Romero, Cabañas – Canete, Mendoza (63 Guasch)
1:0 Flóres 3, 1:1 Romero 86 h (88 Fernandez saved a penalty by Sánchez)
booked: Trejo, Negrete, Sánchez / Schettina, Mendoza
Mexico – Paraguay was an ugly clash. Points were at stake – whoever won would have its worries over before the third round. So, nobody won… instead the opponents kicked and slashed each other from start to finish. Mexico had wonderful start, scoring in the 3rd minute and very likely this goal triggered the following ugliness: Mexico eager to preserve its fragile lead, Paraguay enraged by the goal. The Englsih referee, used to tough, but fair British football, lost control of the game. Perhaps he was thinkimg that the players will calm down and concentrate on football, if he does not interfere much, but hose were Latin-American players: seeing murder goes unpunished, they only became more vicious. It was counted the game was stopped about 80 times for various infractions. At the end 5 players were booked, but none expelled. Paraguay, much more experienced in ugliness than Mexico, got what it wanted: the Mexicans lost themselves in brutality, but for the Paraguayans it was business as usual, so they kept cold heads and never forgot that they had to score equalizer at least. Eventually, they managed to score it in the 86th minute. But nothing was over yet – two minutes later Mexico got a penalty kick. Now it was over… Hugo Sanchez stepped in and Fernandez saved. The game ended 1-1. Later the Paraguayan keeper candidly revealed his secret: he watched TV and on TV there was constant commercials showing Sanchez scoring a penalty. Intrigued, Fernandez ask for videotapes of Sanchez’ penalties and learned that the striker always shoots the same, and was prepared. In his view, it was a big mistake using Sanchez as a prime penalty kicker: commerce made him an easy prey for any alert keeper. Bora Milutinovic took the blame on himself, which was mostly diplomacy, for Mexico still stayed strong and had an easy match ahead.
08.06.86 (12.00) Toluca, Estadio Bombonera
BEL – IRK 2:1 (2:0)
(~20000) Diaz COL, Sánchez ESP, Christov CZE
BEL: Pfaff – Gerets, Demol (69 Grun), F.van Der Elst, de Wolf – Vercauteren, Vandereycken, Scifo (67 Clijsters) – Ceulemans (c), Desmet, Claesen
IRK: Salman (c) – Allawe, Mahmoud, Salim, Al-Roubai – Abidoun, Amaiesh, Minshid (82 Aufi), Hanna – Hassan, Shihab
1:0 Scifo 16, 2:0 Claesen 22 p, 2:1 Ammaiesh 67
booked: Salman, Salim, AL-Roubai, Abidoun, Haman, Mahmoud (after match)
sent off: Hanna (51)
Ugliness spread around like a viral infection – as if not to be left behind, Iraq and Belgium staged their own slaughterhouse. Belgium got early lead and at last looked like that the anonymous outsiders will get their thrashing, but it was not to be. Economical Belgium very likely was prepared just to keep the comfortable advantage to the end of the game, but Iraq decided to fight back. And in very curious manner at that: instead of attacking and trying to score, they furiously started kicking the Belgians. There was a shower of yellow cards and even red one, although it was shown not to the actual culprit. And curiously again, after Iraq was left with 10 men, they suddenly remembered that the ball, not Belgian legs, is for kicking around and started playing football. And were rewarded for that with a goal, not a bad one too. But they still lost 1-2. Thys shrugged it off again: yes, his team did not play at its full force. There was no need for that, the boys had to keep their strength for the next games. Fans, though, never appreciate coach’s wisdom – they want excitement, not economy. They want a show – and there was none. There was plenty of hacking and very little football.
11.06.86 Toluca, Estadio Bombonera
BEL – PAR 2:2 (1:0)
(~16000) Dochev BUL, Silva CHI, Ben Naceur TUN
BEL: Pfaff – Broos, Demol, Grun (89 L.van der Elst), Renquin – Vercauteren, Vervoort, Scifo, Ceulemans (c) – Veyt, Claesen
PAR: Fernandez – Torales, Zabala, Delgado (c), Nunez – Ferreira, Romero, Cabañas, Canete – Mendoza (68 Hicks), Guasch
1:0 Vercauteren 32, 1:1 Cabañas 50, 2:1 Veyt 60, 2:2 Cabañas 76
booked: Ceulemans / Romero (82 the Paraguaian coach expulsed from the bench)
A note on the general rules of this finals is needed to explain this match. Because of the shameful ‘fixing’ of West German and Austria in 1982, it was decided that the last games in every group will be played at the same time in 1986. But another thing was not taken into account… 4 of the 6 3rd-placed teams were going ahead, depending on points. And groups had different dates, so calculations were still important – some things were already known, so scheme the best for yourself. Presently, both Paraguay and Belgium were practically sure of their going to the next round and the match itself was rather meaningless, so expected to be boring affair, aimed at a tie. Paraguay had 3 points, Belgium – 2, but two groups were already finished and Bulgaria and Hungary had worse records than either Paraguay and Belgium. Take it easy, save strength for later, walk around 90 minutes for 0-0… except the 3rd-placed here was going to meet USSR in the next stage, which so far was the most feared team… there was some intrigue after all, but not all that great. In the first half Belgium managed to score, which seemingly enraged the Paraguayans. However, the rage was expressed only after the break, in the second half – Paraguay suddenly increased the tempo and went into attack. They equalized, but continued to attack and were caught by counterattack. Belgium was leading again… and Paraguay continued its drive ahead, but the mood was different: kicking started. To the end of the match it was battling and hacking, with curious involvement of the Paraguayan coach – he went to the pitch to tell the referee what to do and how to do it. The coach was send off. Paraguay eventually equalized, but the bitterness remained to the final whistle – and nobody could tell why the game became suddenly ugly and why so many arguments: at the end, it was exactly the ending both teams were seeking.
11.06.86 (12.00) Mexico City, Estadio Azteca
MEX – IRk 1:0 (0:0)
(+103000) Petrović JUG, Agnolin ITA, Nemeth HUN
MEX: Larios – Amador (63 Dominguez), F.Cruz, Quirarte, Servin – Aguirre, Negrete, Boy, Espana – Flóres, de los Cobos (79 J.Cruz)
IRK: Jassim – Allawe (c), Majeed, Salim, Al-Roubai – Abidoun (61 Aufi), Amaiesh, Tweresh (69 Hamza), Basim – Minahid, Shihab
1:0 Quirarte 54
booked: Allawe, Minahid
This match was a matter of prestige: Mexico had to win only to satisfy their fans, Iraq – to end its firs World Cup with dignified performance, for only a miracle could make them winners here. Even the absence of suspended Hugo Sanchez was not closing the gap between the opponents: Mexico was superior by far and sure winner. One expects some free and nice football from games like this one, but… it was entirely mediocre match, leaving no memories at all. Mexico was looking heavy and uninspired. Worse, against clearly inferior Iraq, the Mexicans chose individual actions, leading nowhere. Iraq was not motivated either. Eventually, Mexico managed to score a goal and that was the end of everything – to the great displeasure of their own fans, the Mexican players just started killing time with long simulations after every minimal contact with Iraqi player. The torture lasted about 35 minutes until the referee counted the last second and ended it. Milutinovic was not happy either, only tried to stay ‘positive’ – after the match, he said that his team won the group and has 4 days before the next match to think something better, especially in the attacking aspects.
1. MEX^ 3 2 1 0 5 4-2
2. PAR^ 3 1 2 0 4 4-3
3. BEL^ 3 1 1 1 3 5-5
4. IRK 3 0 0 3 0 1-4
Iraq arrived as an anonymous squad and left Mexico anonymous again. No player made impression, the team left no memory of itself. What was recognized was minimal: they were not exactly a punching bag, but how good was suspect: the group was weak, Iraq did not face formidable opponents. Against somewhat uninspired teams, Iraq proved only one thing – when it came to nasty attitudes, to hacking and kicking around, they were pretty equal to the masters. No points came out of that, though.