Historical Football Kits

 

European Championship 1980

 

european championships 1980 logoWith the growing success of the World Cup in mind, UEFA decided to expand the 1980 tournament to eight teams. For the first time the host nation, in this case Italy, was decided in advance and exempt from the qualifying competition. The eight finalists were drawn into two groups and played on a round-robin basis, with the group winners contesting the final. The runners-up met to decide third place.

The format led to some meaningless games while defensive tactics produced a lot of tedious matches. Attendances were very poor when Italy were not playing and hooliganism became an issue after clashes between English and Belgian supporters.

Research by Franc Forjan suggests that UEFA banned the appearance of manufacturers' logos and those teams supplied by Adidas resorted to covering these with masking tape. The Greek team disregarded the ruling and had to pay a fine after the tournament.

 

Group A
west germany european championship 1980 kit

West Germany

czechoslovakia 1980 european championship red kit

Czechoslovakia

West Germany 1 Czechoslovakia 0

Stadio Olimpico, Rome (11,059)
11 June 1980

Germany got their revenge for their defeat in the 1976 final. The Czech team included several members from that historic win now past their best while Germany fielded an entirely new and young team.

(Stein Jacobsen)

 

netherlands 1980 european championship kit

Netherlands

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Greece

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Netherlands 1 Greece 0

Stadio San Paolo, Naples (14,990)
11 June 1980

The Dutch struggled to get the better of the surprise qualifiers, the winning goal coming from a penalty after the Greek goalkeeper collided with a Dutch player while one of his colleagues was happily dribbling the ball away from danger.

(James Clyde, Jeff Krul, Pantelis Kalogiannis)

 

west germany european championship 1980 kit

West Germany

netherlands 1980 european championship kit

Netherlands

West Germany 3 Netherlands 2

Stadio San Paolo, Naples (26,546)
14 June 1980

West Germany looked very solid and led by three goals after 65 minutes. The Dutch then mounted a counter-offensive and pulled back two goals but time ran out before they could find an equaliser.

 

czechoslovakia 1980 european championship red kit

Czechoslovakia

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Greece

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Czechoslovakia 3 Greece 1

Stadio Olimpico, Rome (4,726)
14 June 1980

The Czechs bounced back with a win to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive but they would need to beat the Netherlands in their final group game and hope that that the Greeks could pull off an improbable result against Germany.

(James Clyde, Jon Jones)

 

netherlands 1980 european championship white kit

Netherlands

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czechoslovakia 1980 european championship red kit

Czechoslovakia

Netherlands 1 Czechoslovakia 1

San Siro, Milan (11,889)
17 June 1980

Only a win would give either team even a slim chance of overhauling Germany. They couldn't manage one.

(Franc Forjan)

 

greece 1980 european championship kit

Greece

west germany european championship 1980 kit

West Germany

Greece 0 West Germany 0

Stadio Comunale, Turin (13,901)
17 June 1980

With the result of the Netherlands v Czechoslovakia already known (the last group games were not played simultaneously), Germany could have lost this game and still reached the final. In the event they ground out a tedious goal-less draw.

(Jon Jones)

 

Group B
belgium 1980 european championship kit

Belgium

england 1980 european championship kit

England

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Belgium 1 England 1

Stadio Comunale, Turin (15,186)
12 June 1980

The start was delayed as police used tear gas to break up fighting among rival supporters. Ray Wilkins gave England the lead after 26 minutes but Belgium hit back three minutes later and that was that.

 

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Spain

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italy-1980 european championship kit

Italy

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Spain 0 Italy 0

San Siro, Milan (46,816)
12 June 1980

Defences dominated in a cautious game that ended all square.

(José M. Casero, Bjorn Toulouse, Franc Forjan)

 

belgium 1980 european championship white kit

Belgium

spain 1980 european championship kit

Spain

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Belgium 2 Spain 1

San Siro, Milan (11,430)
15 June 1980

Unlike most of the other participants, Belgium were committed to the attack, perhaps because they were considered outsiders. Goals in each half put them top of the group.

(José M. Casero, Bjorn Toulouse, Franc Forjan)

 

italy-1980 european championship kit

Italy

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England

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Italy 1 England 0

Stadio Comunale, Turin (59,646)
15 June 1980

The largest crowd of the tournament watched this eagerly anticipated match. England were lively but unable to break through Italy's solid defence. The home side snatched the lead after 79 minutes and then shut England out until the final whistle.

 

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England

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Spain

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England 2 Spain 1

Stadio San Paolo, Naples (14,440)
18 June 1980

Neither team could progress so played out a meaningless fixture that was not without incident. Spain equalised with a Dani penalty three minutes into the second half. Dani converted a second spot kick five minutes later but the referee ordered a retake, which Clemence saved. Woodcock got England's winner after 61 minutes.

(José M. Casero, Bjorn Toulouse, Franc Forjan)

 

italy-1980 european championship kit

Italy

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Belgium

Italy 0 Belgium 0

Stadio Olimpico, Rome (42,318)
18 June 1980

Italy's inability to score cost them dear as they were out-thought by the Belgian coach, Guy Thys, who left out his star striker and packed the midfield. With both teams level on points and on goal difference, Belgium qualified for the final because they had scored more goals. Pinstripes featured on Belgium's shirts.

(Franc Forjan)

 

Third Place Play-Off
czechoslovakia 1980 european championship kit white

Czechoslovakia

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Italy

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Czechoslovakia 1 Italy 1 (after extra time)
(Czechoslovakia won 9-8 on penalties)

Stadio San Paolo, Naples (24,652)
21 June 1980

With nothing but pride to play for, Italy relaxed and showed their class but they still had to come from behind against a spirited Czech team. With no goals in extra-time, a remarkable penalty competition followed in which each side scored with their first eight kicks. Finally Fulvio Collavati's effort was saved by Netolička to settle the match.

(Franc Forjan)

 

Final
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West Germany

belgium 1980 european championship kit

Belgium

West Germany 2 Belgium 1

Stadio Olimpico, Rome (47,864)
22 June 1980

Horst Hrubesch was Germany's hero with two goals, the first of his international career. He put Germany ahead in the 10th minute and scored the winner with less than two minutes of normal time remaining. This was West Germany's second European Championship title and they wore a specially designed shirt for the occasion.

(Franc Forjan)

 
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