June 26 – 25th June 1982 is a date in international football that has its own special place in notoriety. Forty-two years later, we now find ourselves with the same nightmare scenario, this time at Euro2024.
But let’s first go back in time…
At the El Molinon Stadium in Gijón, Spain, Austria and West Germany were playing the last game of Group 2 in the FIFA World Cup.
The scenario for both teams to advance to the next phase and shatter Algerian hearts, who were topping the group, was simple. West Germany would have to win 1-0, or 2-0. This was the period in time where the last group games were not played simultaneously.
After 10 minutes Horst Hrubesch scored for West Germany, and from that moment, neither team laid a glove on one another for the remaining 80 minutes.
The worldwide condemnation was swift. Algeria lodged a complaint that FIFA ignored, while years later Austrian player, Reinhold Hintermaier, admitted the game was fixed.
In Group E Slovakia play Romania tonight at the Deutsche Bank Park, in Frankfurt, while Belgium faces Ukraine in Stuttgart. A draw between Slovakia and Romania means both teams will move to the knockout phase.
The Romanian and Slovakian coach, Edward Iordanescu and Francesco Calzona have respectively been making the cliched noises. This has been accompanied by a significant amount of eye-rolling from the media, especially and this is where the irony kicks in, the German media.
Now, let’s be clear here. No one is saying that we are in for a repeat of the ‘Disgrace of Gijón’, however, Romania hasn’t qualified for the knockout rounds of a major tournament in 24 years (Euro 2000), while Slovakia last felt that knockout drama during South Africa 2010.
Add in the fact that these two countries are historically friendly with each other and it’s not a stretch to imagine that they might not be playing at 100% intensity. Meanwhile a draw favours Belgium while Ukraine must win to advance, so plenty to play for in Stuttgart.
UEFA will be on high alert as the integrity of the very tournament could be called into question if both teams indulge in Nichtangriffspakt, (non-aggression) however, it would be almost impossible to prove.
As this reporter heads to the Cologne train station and a trip to Frankfurt, my head is filled with conflicting thoughts. As a football reporter and fan, I want to see the ‘beautiful game’ in all its glory.
As a somewhat successful coach, I know that the result is the only thing that matters and if I were in the same situation as Iordanescu and Calzona, I would send out my teams to get the required result to advance.
In my opinion, the only thing that can save this game from joining the Disgrace of Gijón is a nasty tackle in the opening minutes that raises the tempers and gets emotions ticking.
From the respective fans, I’m sure that they’ll use this match as an excuse to party like its 2024 because they’ll be off to the knockout stages where anything can happen.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1719675079labto1719675079ofdlr1719675079owedi1719675079sni@o1719675079fni1719675079