Group D.
01.06.86 (12.00) Guadalajara, Estadio Jalisco
BRA – ESP 1:0 (0:0)
(~65000) Bambridge AUS, Socha USA, Kelzer HOL
BRA: Carlos – Branco, Edinho (c), Julio Cesar, Edson – Junior (79 Falcão),
Socrates, Alemão, Elzo – Casagrande (66 Müller), Careca
ESP: Zubizarreta – Tomás, Maceda, Goicoechea, Camacho (c) – Victor, Michel,
Francisco (83 Señor), Julio Alberto – Butragueño, Julio Salinas
1:0 Socrates 63 h
booked: Branco / Julio Alberto
The favourites opened the group, which was both good and bad – on one hand, both teams had a chance to clear a bit their future goals after the end of the duel; on the other – such games tend to be cautious and boring. And tough. The first half was exactly that, including rough play from both teams. The second half was better and there was more football, and long lasting intrigue and bitterness. A Spanish goal was disallowed – well, a goal, according the Spaniards. It looked like the ball went in the brazilian net, but bounced out. It was difficult moment and if the referee was wrong, it was not deliberate. And it was not at all certain the ball actually crossed the line – it dropped somewhere there, on the line, before the line, behind the line, nobody could really tell. Spain, however, had no grief about Brazilian goal disallowed a little later: a hand ball. Difficult to spot, but the referee spot it. Still, Brazil scored and not a bad goal, but it was also more fuel for Spanish complaints: looked like Socrates was a bit offside. It was again difficult the judge occasion – was he, wasn’t he… millimeters. But that was the only goal of the match and it was hardly a great match. Both teams did not look terrific. Tele Santana was philosophically satisfied with the earned points, but also looked a bit troubled – he said he had to talk to his players to get livelier and play somewhat fearlessly. The Spanish coach was all blame: Spain was robbed! It was not just disallowed goal, but also a missed penalty in Spanish favour. There was also laughable complain that Brazil very well studied Spanish play and did not permit the team to display itself in attack. About Spanish roughness Munoz was understandably mute, but his cry that Spain did not deserve to lose only added fuel to simmering accusations of official helping Brazil. Socrates himself added fuel to that, but later.
03.06.86 (12.00) Guadalajara, Estadio Trez de Marzo
ALG – NIR 1:1 (0:1)
(~22000) Butenko ZSR, Petrović JUG, Daina SUI
ALG: Larbi – Medjadi, Kourichi, Guendouz (c), Mansouri – Kaci-Said, Ben
Mabrouk, Maroc, Madjer (33 Harkouk) – Zidane (71 Belloumi), Assad
NIR: Jennings – J.Nicholl, O’Neill, McDonald, Donaghy – Penney (89 Stewart),
McIlroy (c), McCreery, Worthington – Hamilton, Whiteside (62 Clarke)
0:1 Whiteside 6 f, 1:1 Zidane 59
booked: Mansouri / Whiteside, Worthington, McIlroy
One more tough, but uneventful match. It went more or less as expected – Northern Ireland traditionally had difficulties scoring goals and was better overcoming strong opponents than equals. Algeria was expected to be ‘matured’ by now, therefore, to play ‘smart’ football – tactical, physical, boring, not taking risks. And that was what happened on the pitch, both goals scored from free kicks and nothing else, except that both teams chopped opponents mercilessly.
06.06.86 (12.00) Guadalajara, Estadio Jalisco
BRA – ALG 1:0 (1:0)
(~48000) Méndez GUA, Quiniou FRA, Martinez URU
BRA: Carlos – Branco, Edinho (c), Julio Cesar, Edson (11 Falcãao) – Junior, Socrates,
Alemão, Elzo – Casagrande (60 Müller), Careca
ALG: Drid – Medjadi, Megharia, Guendouz (c), Mansouri – Kaci-Said, Ben Mabrouk,
Madjer, Menad – Belloumi (79 Zidane), Assad (68 Bensaoula)
1:0 Careca 67
The heat was fantastic this day – too much even for teams used to play in hot weather. That was the big reason for sluggish tempo and practically nothing happening on the pitch, but let face it: fans and specialists never care for the weather – players are expected to play, to do something, to dazzle. Brazil at least tried a few lame kicks towards the Algerian net, but nobody was fooled by that and Brazilian journalists were particularly furious. Algeria proved to be not so mature yet – a terrible double mistake of the two central defenders provided opporunity for Careca to score and only after that the players of both teams came to life. The Algerians had to equalize, so they started running to the great displeasure of their Brazilian opponents, who favoured walking. Thanks to Edinho, Algeria was unable to equalize. Brazil was already in the next stage with perfect record, but nobody liked the way the team played and Santana had to endure particularly vicious questioning after the match – he blew up, saying that journalists have no idea not only what is to play in such heat, but what African football is all about. It was not at all a punching bag and Algeria had fantastic goalkeeper on top of it. Gone were the days of easy wins, lectured Santana in vain. He had bigger problem, though: Edson was already injured and Alemao was tried on his position – right full-back – against Algeria. But it was temporary and not very well working improvisation… Santana had to think of some other solution, which bordered with the fantastic – there was only Josimar, who never played for the national team before and in any case looked like only making the numbers. Presently, Josimar was not even an option yet… presently, Santana had to find an option.
07.06.86 (12.00) Guadalajara, Estadio Trez de Marzo
ESP – NIR 2:1 (2:0)
(~28000) Brummeier AUT, Nemeth HUN, Agnolin ITA
ESP: Zubizarreta – Tomás, Gallego, Goicoechea, Camacho (c) – Victor, Michel,
Francisco, Gordillo (54 Caldere) – Butragueno, Julio Salinas (78 Señor)
NIR: Jennings – J.Nicholl, O’Neill, McDonald, Donaghy – Penney (54 Stewart),
McIlroy (c), McCreery, Worthington (71 Hamilton) – Whiteside, Clarke
1:0 Butragueño 2 (63 sec), 2:0 Julio Salinas 18, 2:1 Clarke 48 h
booked: Victor / Hamilton
From North Irish point of view, Spain was uncomfortable opponent. But the same could be said in reversed order: Northern Ireland played best against strong teams. Spain had to win, though… and already had two missing starters, Maceda and Julio Alberto. The Irish had intact team and was ready to battle. But they were terribly surprised – Butragueno scored quick goal and before the Irish recovered Salinas made it 2-0. To the end of the first half the Spanish side had only one thing on mind: to kill Irish attacks as early as possible. It worked… after all Northern Ireland did not have many strikers to feed. But the second half in the humid heat was more difficult for Spain, especially after Gallego and Zubizarreta made double mistake and Clarke scored out of nothing in the 48th minute. The second half was dominated by the Irish, but scoring was always their weak point and they missed great chances. At the end it was 2-1 Spain and both coaches were a bit out of touch – Munoz complained that he is getting close to using second team, because of injuries (Gallego was added to Maceda and Julio Alberto) and said little about not very inspired football his team played. Billy Bingham found 90 minutes too short… if there was some more time, his team was surely going to equalize, may be even win. There was no denying Northern Ireland looked better on the pitch, as usually attacking team looks better than defending one, but they missed good scoring opportunities and the result was 1-2. Five more minutes would have been enough, lamented Bingham… well, 90 minutes were not enough, but 5 surely would have been… losing coaches often talk nonsense, but Northern Ireland played a brave game, one can be sorry for them.
12.06.86 (12.00) Guadalajara, Estadio Jalisco
BRA – NIR 3:0 (2:0)
(~51000) Kirschen DDR, Courtney ENG, Traore MLI
BRA: Carlos – Branco, Edinho (c), Julio Cesar, Josimar – Junior, Socrates
(68 Zico), Alemão – Elzo, Müller (28 Casagrande), Careca
NIR: Jennings – J.Nicholl, O’Neill, McDonald, Donaghy – Stewart, McIlroy (c),
McCreery, Campbell (71 Armstrong) – Whiteside (68 Hamilton), Clarke
1:0 Careca 18, 2:0 Josimar 42, 3:0 Careca 88
booked: Donaghy
This game deserves longer note. Brazil had nothing to play for now, but the criticism was so big, the team was not exactly in position to take it easy – to many, they have been taking it easy too long already. The whole team was blamed, but there were newly discovered reasons to pile up more: Socrates spent his time in Mexico drinking and smoking, no wonder nothing good happened on the field since the great star did not care a bit. And Zico was practically on vacation… it was well known that not only he was not fully recovered, but that he will never fully recover. Why bringing the useless tourist? Especially when it was clear the team was not playing good and a single new injury created a huge problem – who was going to play on the right side of defence? See what happens when alienating Leandro? Meantime Billy Bingham was thinking clever way of beating Brazil – at least that was what British journalists thought, getting optimistic from Bingham’s words that Brazil has beatable defensive line. However, mathematically the suitable for both teams result was a draw. Very likely one more sluggish match with nothing memorable. All preliminary talks were discarded right after the match started. Both teams, despite the heat, were in fine mood, keen on winning. The ‘clever scheme’ of Bingham proved to be the same as ever – 10 men defending, one solitary striker, hoping for a long ball coming from the trenches. Santana placed Josimar on the right of his defence – a debutante! On paper, extreme risk, but Brazil suddenly was playing lovely attacking football and the unknown defender excelled. Brazil was creative, showed exceptional skills and Northern Ireland was defending all the time, which suited them best. Of course, the Irish played hard, but there was welcome lack of vicious tackles – the spirit of both teams was not mean, they came out to play. The technically poor Irish tried their best, trying to counter-attack whenever possible, but the match was generally one-sided and Carlos had almost nothing to do. At last Brazil came back to life, the magic was back. Jennings, on the other had, had plenty to do and was the usual pillar – he made some tremendous saves, but could not stop all. At the end of the first half it was 2-0 Brazil and the second goal was scored by Josimar – and what a goal it was! A great curved long kick, which was unstoppable – it took courage first of all, for a defender and debutante to try something like that and the result was a beauty. In the second half Brazil was still wonderful, but the Irish contributed too – they had to come back somehow, so they moved ahead and attacked as often as Brazilians would permit them. But spirit alone cannot compensate for skills against superior team in playing mood itself. To the credit of Brazil, they did not decided to kill the game in the second half, but continued to attack as well. And there was a crowd-pleasing moment: in the 68th minute, when it was more or less clear, that Brazil was going to win, Santana replaced Socrates with Zico. It may have been even a tribute, may be the last chance for Zico to play a few minutes at this championship, but the fans cheered him greatly and, more importantly, Zico was determined to play and fitted in perfectly. In terms of tributes, this may have been the original plan, for Junior, in perfect position to score, chose to pass to Zico, to give him the chance to end his national team career with a goal. Jennings, however, saved – by passing instead of shooting, Junior gave him a second to try to cover, and greatness for greatness, Jennings managed. But Brazil was too strong and flying, so Careca scored a third goal just before the game end. Nobody was sorry after – it was wonderful match to watch, Brazil came back and sparkled, new star was born – Josimar played great football, Zico was seemingly ready for more than sitting on the bench, Northern Ireland played with great spirit and there was no blame in losing and even in ending its campaign now. There was nothing nasty on the pitch, a nice change for already becoming very ugly championship. The only bitter thing was that this ending came on the 41st birthday of Pat Jennings. It would have been great to get a point and have a chance for the next round, it would have been fantastic if the match ended 0-0, as a birthday present to the man who just played his 119th match with the national team jersey in 22 years of soldiering… but it did not happened. The consolation was less festive, but still – Jennings played a wonderful game, he saved a lot, showed great class. If not for him, the result could easily have been 6 or 7 nil (or may be 7-1 – but Carlos saved two extremely difficult situations). Well, that was that… Brazil was going ahead with perfect record of 3 wins and 0 goals received; Northern Ireland was going home, but proudly.
12.06.86 (12.00) Monterrey, Estadio Tecnologico
ESP – ALG 3:0 (1:0)
(~20000) Takada JAP, Esposito ARG, Picon-Ackong MRS
ESP: Zubizarreta – Tomás, Gallego, Goicoechea, Camacho, Victor – Michel
(84 Señor), Francisco, Caldere – Butragueno (46 Eloy), Julio Salinas
ALG: Drid (20 El Hadi) – Kourichi, Megharia, Guendouz (c), Mansouri – Kaci-Said,
Zidane (59 Menad), Madjer, Harkouk – Maroc, Belloumi
1:0 Calderé 17, 2:0 Calderé 68, 3:0 Eloy 71
booked: Goicoechea / Madjer
NOTE: Calderé failed anti-dope testing. However the Spanish officials
explained that the drug taken was actually a necessary medicine for asthma.
Therefore no personal sanctions were applied against the player, but the
Spanish federation was obliged to pay a 25000 SFR worth of fine.
Well… both teams needed victory, the Algerians more so, for that was their only chance to go ahead. Ambition is one thing, realization quite another – the match quickly deteriorated into brutality, initiated by Algeria, but joined by the Spaniards, for it was their traditional instinct. After the game the Japanese was heavily and rightly criticized: he lost control of the game and even did not bother to shower the players of both teams with yellow cards. With some red cards for good measure. But it was not easy to keep order in such explosive match – Algeria unhappy with game not going their way just unleashed violence and the Spaniards not only never shied away from murdering opponents, but it was almost a second nature to them and they did not need much push in this direction. But Spain scored goals, unlike Algeria – curiously, second stringers, on the pitch only because the regulars could not play, scored all three goals. Perhaps Munoz did not have much reason to wail that he is reduced to using his reserves after all. Spain secured place among the 1/8-finalists and everything was kind of fine. Kind of fine, for Munoz spoke little about the anti-football his team was too happy to play, reserving his observations for criticism of the brutal players – mostly Algerian beasts, of course – and the incompetent referee. The Algerian coach had little of worth to say, as is the typical case of losing coaches: he chose to put the blame on the injury of his regular goalkeeper. The back-up, what can you do, was not up to the task… conveniently forgetting that the goalkeeper was not guilty of any goal and it was not him serving victory to Brazil in the previous match. Strange as it was, but Spain was not really punished for using dope-positive player. Which of course begs the question of favoritism, back-room deals, the tendency to help teams with clout at the expense of those from the Third World.
1. BRA^ 3 3 0 0 6 5-0
2. ESP^ 3 2 0 1 4 5-2
3. NIR 3 0 1 2 1 2-6
4. ALG 3 0 1 2 1 1-5
Algeria was going home leaving few memories, mostly unpleasant ones. If they were wronged in 1982, this time they could only blame themselves. If anything, few questions were raised: if at least some representatives of African football developed really close to the leading European football, the Algerian example was of bitter kind: tough to beat, but brutal team. ‘Maturity’ seemed to be ability to hack, kick, and chop. Maturity seemed to be killing the game, lack of artistry, lack of imagination – just dull force, caring little for creativity. So… may be African football was not mature yet: Algeria deteriorated between 1982 and 1986. It took the worst elements of modern football and applied only them, discarding entirely constructive play. One would much prefer unsofisticated naive play with some joy, even ridden by mistakes. As it was, most people were relieved to see Algeria eliminated. The magic of 1982 was not repeated this time.