Euro 2016 Draw

England and Wales were drawn in the same group for the European Championships in France next summer.

The draw, this evening in Paris, saw two of the home nations pitted together with Slovakia and Russia in Group B.  England will take on Wales in Lens on June 16 in what will be their second match of the tournament.

England’s opening game is in Marseille against Russia on June 11.  Marseille was the venue for England’s 2-0 win over Colombia in France ’98 when David Beckham scored a great free-kick.  England’s last group match will be against Slovakia in St. Etienne on June 20.  St. Etienne was another of England’s venues in ’98, where they lost on penalties to Argentina and Michael Owen scored ‘that goal’.

This tournament has been expanded to 24 teams and this has thrown up the romantic occurrence of several first-timers to Europe’s top party.  Wales and Northern Ireland will make their bow in June, as will Albania, Slovakia and Iceland.

England were one of the top seeds in the draw, along with France, Spain, Germany, Portugal and Belgium.  France were automatically drawn into Group A, although UEFA couldn’t avoid the futility of having to draw their name out anyway, presumably to make sure we hadn’t forgotten them.

They were drawn in with Romania, Albania and Switzerland.  France v Romania will be the opening match Euro 2016 at Stade de France on June 10.

England were drawn out next to go into Group B, along with Wales who meet Slovakia first up on day two of the tournament in Bordeaux.

Northern Ireland were drawn into Group C, which was headed up by World Champions, Germany.  Ukraine and Poland make up the group.  Northern Ireland’s first opponents will be Poland in Nice on June 12.  They take on Germany in Paris on June 21, after meeting Ukraine in Lyon on June 16.

Defending champions, Spain, were drawn into Group D and will meet Czech Republic in their opening game.  Turkey and Croatia were also drawn into this group.

Group E appears to be the toughest of them all and poor old Republic of Ireland were given the honour of trying to find their way out of this one.  Belgium, who top FIFA rankings, Italy and Sweden are to be their opponents.  June 13 sees both opening games in this group with the Republic coming up against Sweden in Stade de France.  They then take on Belgium in Bordeaux on June 18 finishing with Italy in Lille on June 22.

Group F, in contrast, appears the easiest of groups and Portugal can consider themselves very lucky to be drawn top seed in this one.  They’re up against Iceland, Hungary and Austria.

The top two in each group progress to the knock-out stage along with four of the best third-placed teams.  These will be determined by points first, goal difference next and then goals scored.  The knockout phase takes on a similar format as World Cups do, with a Second Round, consisting of sixteen teams leading to a Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals before the Final at Stade de France on July 10.

There are many matches to look forward to and I’ll be posting some previews in anticipation of an exciting tournament.

In addition, I will be posting pieces on each of the previous tournaments.

If you want to follow the tournament using an online wallchart then look no further than this website.  This guy puts together some wonderful spreadsheets which means all you have to do is enter each result and the document automatically updates.  You can try and predict the scores too and see who might meet who in the knock-out rounds.

http://www.soccerwallcharts.com/downloads.html

World Cup 1982 - Day Sixteen

DAY SIXTEEN

Thursday 1^st July 1982

GROUP D, Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid. (17:15)

AUSTRIA   (0)   2   (Pezzey 50, Hintermaier 67)

NORTHERN IRELAND   (1)   2   (Hamilton 27, 74)

Austria: Koncilia; Krauss, Baumeister, Pezzey, Obermayer; Pregesbauer (Hintermaier), Prohaska, Pinkler; Schachner, Hagmayr (Welzl), Jurtin

Northern Ireland: Platt; J. Nicholl, C. Nicholl, McClelland, Nelson; O’Neill, McCreery, McIlroy; Hamilton, Armstrong, Whiteside (Brotherston)

The Irish had not had the best preparation for this phase of the tournament.  Pat Jennings had a groin strain and there was disruption to several training sessions.  Bingham replaced Jennings with Jim Platt.  Although Platt would only be winning his 16^th cap for his country he had played over 400 games for Middlesbrough.  Sammy Nelson, a 2^nd half substitute against Spain, replaced Mal Donaghy at left-back.  Austria had to win the game, having just lost to France and so they were more desperate for a goal.  For the Irish, if they won they would then be playing France in what would effectively be a Quarter-Final. 

Both teams had chances before the Irish took the lead in the 27^th minute.  McIlroy found Armstrong on the right, just inside his own half, and the Watford man was able to beat two Austrian defenders before getting to the bye-line.  His pin-point cross was met for Hamilton at the far post and the Burnley forward headed past Koncilia to put the Irish, 1-0 up.

Early in the second half, McClelland failed to deal with a high ball into the Irish box and the ball fell for dangerous Austrian striker, Walter Schachner, who hit the post and Jimmy Nicholl scrambled the ball out of play.  From the resulting corner, Prohaska found Baumeister on the edge of the area and his low shot was turned in by Pezzey for the equaliser.  The Austrians were now buzzing and a slick passing move saw Schachner beat Platt but the goal was ruled out for offside.  As the game moved towards the final 20 minutes, Austria had a free-kick 25 yards out.  The ball was played short to Hintermaier and his shot rifled past Platt to put the Austrians in front.  The Irish now looked to be in trouble, but this side was made of sterner stuff.

Eight minutes later a patient build-up in midfield saw Armstrong run at the defence again and his shot from outside the area, deflected off Obermayer.  Jimmy Nicholl had been charging forward to create the overlap and he now found himself clear of the defence on the right hand side.  As Koncilia came out, Nicholl hooked the ball to the far post where Hamilton was again on hand to head the ball into the empty net.  Now the Irish still needed another goal to avoid having to beat the French but try as they might they just couldn’t break the Austrians down and the game ended all square.

GROUP A, Estadio Nou Camp, Barcelona. (21:00)

USSR   (0)   1   (Oganesian 49)

BELGIUM   (0)   0 

USSR: Dasaev; Borovsky, Baltacha, Demianenko, Chivadze; Bal (Daraselia), Oganesian, Gavrilov, Bessonov; Shengelia (Rodionov), Blokhin

Belgium: Munaron; de Schrijver (M. Millecamps), Renquin, Meeuws, L. Millecamps; Vercauteren, Coeck, Cuelemans, Verheyen; Vandenbergh, Vandersmissen (Czerniatynski)

What a tournament this had been for Belgium.  Two weeks ago they beat the holders, Argentina, in Barcelona.  Now they were back in the Nou Camp, having to use their third different goalkeeper of the competition and staring an exit right in the face.  Three days previously they had been torn apart by a Boniek-influenced Poland, and now found that even victory against Soviet Union might not be enough to see them reach the Semi-Finals.  USSR had come through Brazil and Scotland’s group knew that Poland’s 3-0 win on Monday meant they would have to win both their matches to go through, unless they bettered the Poles result in this match.

It wasn’t a game to remember with Belgium having the better chances in the first half, but early after the break, Gavrilov played a one-two with Blokhin and his cross from the left fell to Khoren Oganesian, the only Armenian in the squad, volleyed it left footed past Munaron.  It was a bad goal to concede for Belgium as they all left the goalscorer to each other.  They set about trying to repair the damage but really it was all done last Monday against Poland.

USSR won 1-0 to set up a match with Poland which was effectively a Quarter-Final, although a draw would see Poland go through on goal difference.

World Cup 1982 - Day Fourteen

DAY FOURTEEN

Monday 28^th June 1982

GROUP D, Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid. (17:15)

FRANCE   (1)   1   (Genghini 39)

AUSTRIA   (0)   0

France: Ettori; Battiston, Janvion, Tresor, Bossis; Genghini (Girard), Tigana, Giresse; Lacombe (Rocheteau), Six, Soler

Austria: Koncilia; Krauss, Degeorgi (Baumeister), Pezzey, Obermayer; Hattenberger, Prohaska, Hintermaier, Jara (Welzl); Schachner, Krankl

The start of the second phase and we were down to two games a day.  France and Austria met in Madrid, as both had finished 2^nd in their groups.  Austria was still reeling from the fallout of their arranged match with West Germany.  They were also a squad struggling with injuries, whereas France had got over their loss to England in their opening game and now had a settled side.

The French were really growing into this tournament with Giresse, Tigana and Genghini pulling the strings, yet they missed Platini and you always wondered with this French team, how much better they’d be with a decent goalscorer.  Ironically, the goal came from just the type Platini would’ve relished.   A free-kick about 25 yards out on the right-hand side of the area and Genghini floated it beautifully over the wall and into the top corner, despite Koncilia’s best efforts.  Schachner and Krankl offered the most threat for Austria, but the French were always a cut above and the only surprise was they didn’t score more.  But they the all important win and could sit out the next match when Austria would play Northern Ireland.

GROUP A, Estadio Nou Camp, Barcelona. (21:00)

POLAND   (2)   3   (Boniek 4, 26, 53)

BELGIUM   (0)   0 

Poland: Mlynarczyk; Dziuba, Janas, Zmuda, Kupcewicz (Ciolek); Matysik, Buncol, Majewski, Boniek; Lato, Smolarek

Belgium: Custers; Plessers (Baecke), Renquin, Meeuws, Millecamps; Vercauteren, van Moer (van der Elst), Coeck, Cuelemans; Vandenbergh, Czerniatynski

This was an odd game.  Belgium had started the tournament so well when they beat the holders, Argentina, but didn’t really follow it up against El Salvador or Hungary.  Poland were poor in their first two matches, failing to score, then suddenly they woke up and thumped Peru.  Boniek had yet to really turn up at this tournament either, although his influence in the Peru went a long way towards their success, but this was the game when one of the best players in Europe at the time, finally joined the party.  He opened the scoring after just 4 minutes when Lato made a good run to the bye-line on the right, pulled the ball back and Boniek fired into the top corner from the edge of the area. 

Belgium just couldn’t deal with his pace and his incessant running.  26 minutes in and he added a second.  Zmuda crossed from right to left where Smolarek nodded the ball back for Boniek, unmarked, to head the ball over Custers, who’d strayed off his line.  Boniek saved the best till last as he completed his hat-trick just 8 minutes into the second half.  He began the move when he picked up the ball wide on the right just inside the Belgian half and swept a ball out to the far left Smolarek was.  Smolarek drifted inside, found Lato on the edge of the ‘D’ and he waited for Boniek to run past him.  As he played him in, Boniek was now one-on-one with the keeper and simply rounded him and stroked the ball into the empty net for an impressive hat-trick.  Belgium had simply been blown away by one man, and unless they could pull off a miraculous result against USSR, their tournament was effectively over.  Poland were now a rejuvenated team and unless USSR could beat Belgium, might only need a draw to reach the Semis.

World Cup - Day Thirteen

DAY THIRTEEN

Friday 25^th June 1982

GROUP TWO, Estadio El Molinon Gijon. (17:15)

WEST GERMANY   (1)   1   (Hrubesch 10)

AUSTRIA   (0)   0

West Germany: Schumacher; Kaltz, K-H Forster, Stielike, Briegel; Littbarski, Dremmler, Breitner, Magath; Rummenigge (Matthaus), Hrubesch (Fischer)

Austria: Koncilia; Krauss, Pezzey, Degeorgi, Obermanyer; Hattenberger, Weber, Prohaska, Hintermaier; Schachner, Krankl

This day was to go down as one of the most memorable in World Cup history.  FIFA changed their rules on scheduling as a result of the events which occurred on 25^th June 1982.  The problem was that these were the last matches in three of the groups and each of the sides knew exactly what they had to do to go through.  They also knew how to manipulate the system.  This had not been a problem in previous tournaments but it was the Germans who found a way round things when they arranged their match with Austria in Gijon.  Austria had won both their matches so far, with the Germans suffering a surprise defeat to Algeria.  Algeria had lost to Austria but beaten Chile so they had finished on 4pts.  Austria were also on 4pts but with a superior goal difference to Algeria.  West Germany were on 2pts but also with a better goal difference than Algeria.  So if West Germany won by no more than 2 goals, both they and Austria would be through.  Horst Hrubesch put West Germany in front within 10 minutes of the start and that was, quite emphatically that.  The result suited both sides so they just knocked it about between each other to play out the remaining 80 minutes.  The crowd was incensed at the sheer audacity and bare faced cheek of the whole episode and they voiced their derision loud and clear through most of the second half.  Both teams therefore booked their place in the second phase and the poor old Algerians had to go home.

GROUP FOUR, Estadio San Mames, Bilbao. (17:15)

KUWAIT   (0)   0

ENGLAND   (1)   1   (Francis 27)

Kuwait: Al-Tarabulsi; N. Mubarak, Al-Mubarak (Al-Shemmari), Mayouf, M. Mubarak; Al-Houti, Al-Buloushi, Al-Anbari, Al-Suwayed; Marzouq, Al-Dakheel

England: Shilton; Neal, Thompson, Foster, Mills; Coppell, Hoddle, Wilkins, Rix; Francis, Mariner

England had won both of their group matches and were already confirmed as group winners after France failed to beat the Czechs the day before.  Kuwait had impressed during their draw with Czechoslovakia but were well beaten by the French in a controversial game.  England made a couple of changes with Foster coming in for Butcher and Hoddle starting ahead of Robson.  England were inventive early on but couldn’t convert their chances until in the 27^th minute, Peter Shilton cleared the ball upfield and Mariner and Francis combined to leave Trevor Francis to beat the keeper from the right-hand edge of the area.  Without the motivation of needing to win by more England settled for a simple 1-0 win.  Hoddle had a couple of good chances to score but blasted over on each occasion.  A perfect record from the group stages and England went into the second phase in buoyant mood, with hopefully, Keegan and Brooking to return.

GROUP FIVE, Estadio Luis Casanova, Valencia. (21:00)

SPAIN   (0)   0

NORTHERN IRELAND   (1)   1   (Armstrong 47)

Spain: Arconada; Camacho, Alexanco, Tendillo, Gordillo; Alonso, Saura, Sanchez; Juanito, Satrustegui (Quini), Lopez-Ufarte (Gallego)

Northern Ireland: Jennings; J. Nicholl, C. Nicholl, McClelland, Donaghy; O’Neill, McCreery, McIlroy (Cassidy); Hamilton, Armstrong, Whiteside (Nelson)

Another capacity crowd in the Mestalla expected to see the hosts cruise past Northern Ireland.  But this was not the Spain of today, this was a Spanish team racked with nerves at the pressure & expectation of hosting the biggest tournament in world football.  But this night belonged to the Irish.  It has gone down as one of the greatest nights ever in Northern Irish football. 

Pat Jennings was at his best as the Spanish pressed forward and frustrated them on several occasions.  The Spanish looked dangerous from set-pieces but it was goalless at half-time.  Early in the second half, Armstrong pounced on a loose pass deep in his own half and drove into the Spanish half before laying the ball to his right where Hamilton skinned Tendillo to get to the bye-line.  He crossed the ball into the box and keeper, Luis Arconada, probably one of Europe’s best at the time, inexplicably palmed the ball out to the penalty spot where Armstrong was lurking.  Instead of placing the ball in either corner, Armstrong fired a right-foot shot under the hapless keeper and into the net.  Amazingly, the Irish were 1-0 up against Spain, in Spain.

Despite the fact this result would see both teams go through, the Spaniards couldn’t stand the embarrassment of losing at home and so threw everything at Jennings goal but the Arsenal man was equal to the task.  Midway through the half, Mal Donaghy was sent-off for a 2^nd bookable offence when he lashed out at Camacho.  But despite their man advantage, Spain couldn’t break through and Northern Ireland had pulled off a famous win.

Final Group Tables