Date: 15-06-1980
Stage: first round
Place: MILANO
Running time: 104 min.
Colour: PAL
Quality: HD 1080 50fps (9,5)
Commentary: MULTI: english/spanish/french
My rating: ***
Notes: Gerets,Cools,Vandenbergh,Ceulemans, Asensi,Zamora,Quini,Juanito
MATCH SUMMARY
Sunday, 15 June 1980, 17:45
Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Attendance: 11,430
Meteo: Partly cloudy, warm, 23°C
BELGIUM
Jean-Marie Pfaff
Eric Gerets
Walter Meeuws
Luc Millecamps
Michel Renquin
Julien Cools (c)
Wilfried Van Moer
Rene Vandereycken
Jan Ceulemans
François Van der Elst
Erwin Vandenbergh
Coach: Guy Thijs (BEL)
80′ ↓Wilfried Van Moer ↑Raymond Mommens
81′ ↓Erwin Vandenbergh ↑Rene Verheyen
SPAIN
Arconada
Alexanko
Gordillo
Migueli
Tendillo
Asensi (c)
Jesus Zamora
Juanito
Quini
Satrústegui
Saura
Coach: Ladislao Kubala (ESP)
25′ Asensi
29′ Migueli
37′ ↓Asensi ↑Del Bosque
78′ ↓Tendillo ↑Carrasco
Referee: Charles Corver (NED)
Goals:
16′ Eric Gerets BEL
36′ Quini ESP
64′ Julien Cools BEL
Match overview
Belgium upset the odds by defeating Spain 2-1 to take control of Group B. Erik Gerets opened the scoring with a fine solo effort before Quini equalised from Juanito’s free-kick. Julien Cools’ second-half winner came after goalkeeper Arconada hesitated under pressure, putting Belgium on the brink of their first European Championship final.
Trivia
This victory put Belgium, considered rank outsiders before the tournament, in an excellent position to reach the final. Jean-Marie Pfaff’s solid goalkeeping and Eric Gerets’ leadership from right-back formed the foundation of Belgium’s surprising success. The low attendance reflected the general lack of interest in matches not involving Italy.
