Euro Rewind: Euro 1980 Final-Belgium vs. West Germany

June 25th, 2008 | By: julien | 2 Comments »

Belgium’s best European Championship outing was in Euro 1980 Italy. They finished first with 4 points in a tough Group B (Italy, England, and Spain) sending them to the final against West Germany. Our current coach, René Vandereycken, played in this match.

Euro 1980 Final
Belgium-West Germany
June 22, 1980
Match Time: 20:30 CET
Stadio Olimpico – Rome

Lineups
Belgium
1 Jean-Marie Pfaff
2 Erik Gerets
3 Luc Millecamps
4 Walter Meeuws
5 Michel Renquin
6 Wilfried Van Moer
7 René Vandereycken
8 Julien Cools
9 Raymond Mommens
10 François Van Der Elst
11 Jan Ceulemans

West Germany
1 Harald Schumacher
2 Manfred Kaltz
3 Karl-Heinz Förster
4 Uli Stielike
5 Bernhard Dietz
6 Bernd Schuster
7 Hans-Peter Briegel
8 Hansi Müller
9 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
10 Horst Hrubesch
11 Klaus Allofs
Substitutes:
12 Bernhard Cullmann

1st half
-Early offside for Belgium.
-West Germany won two early corners and dominated possession early on.
-W. Germany had trouble breaking through the Belgian defense.
-Hrubesch scores for Germany from just in front of the penalty area. It was a nice buildup to the goal. There was crisp passing.
-A nice through ball almost creates a goal for the Rode Duivels.
-The Germans played very calmly and confidently in this half.
-1st big chance for Belgium was saved by Harald Schumacher.
-Schuster (GER) nearly scored from a fantastic shot on Pfaff’s goal.
-A pass from Mommens to Ceulemans created a nice opportunity for Belgium, but the shot from Ceulemans missed.
-Germany’s Schuster continued to play well.
-Renquin passed the ball to Gerets but he spoiled a header close to the German goal. Another missed chance for the Rode Duivels.
-At the end of the half Millecamps (BEL) wastes time by staying down on the field and receiving treatment from a foul.

2nd half
-Opening seconds of the half have the Rode Duivels pressing and nearly scoring from a Ceulemans/Vandereycken buildup. The play soon was stopped for offside.
-Briegel (GER) almost was substituted for a foot injury, but instead he walked to the bench for treatment.
-Dangerous and cynical foul on Schuster in the penalty box. The referee said no penalty.
-Briegel returned to the pitch and drew a foul just outside of the penalty box. The free kick afterwards is saved, but it wouldn’t have counted anyway since there was a Germany foul in the box.
-Briegel appeared to be suffering from the earlier foul.
-Kaltz (GER) set up a nice play that troubled Pfaff in goal.
-Cullman (GER) warmed up again for a Briegel substitution. Briegel’s day ended with Cullman entering the match.
-A low shot from Gerets went wide.
-You could tell that Belgium was unconvinced that they could somehow pull out a victory.
-Julien Cools’ corner was poorly placed allowing the German defense to just head it away.
-A Vandereycken left footed shot almost scored Belgium’s first goal. The score was still 1-0 at this point. Belgium could get back in it.
-Cools got a breakaway, but was then tripped in the penalty box leading to a Belgium penalty kick. Great news for the Rode Duivels!
-Vandereycken tied the match for Belgium after taking a solid PK.
-The pace of the match picked up immensely after the Vandereycken goal. Belgium attacked more and it turned into end to end football.
-Belgium passing has become more fluid.
-Mommens took a nice shot but it flew just wide of the goal.
-Belgium really pushed players forward at this point.
-Germany succeeded in suppressing the quick Belgian momentum by feigning an injury.
-Pfaff played like former French keeper Fabien Barthez during the closing minutes of the half.
-It is all over for Belgium now. Hrubesch scored a late and lucky goal from a nice Rummenigge corner. 2-1 West Germany.