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Spain Could Match France 84
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24 years ago, a Spanish team was headed to the European Championship final. But Luis Aragones’ Spain side will not be looking to emulate that Euro 84 squad, with the likes of Jose Camacho and Francisco Javier. Instead they will be trying to repeat the accomplishment of the team that beat Spain in that final match, the only team to ever win all of the matches on the way to a Euro title. Just a note: I know that technically, a penalty result is a draw, but to me the team that advances wins, so I call it a win by penalties.
A few points in common between this team and that one:
Top Scorer: France entered the final in 1984 with the golden boot already firmly on the foot of Michel Platini, whose boot should really be platinum for the all-time leading Euro scorer. Platini had 8 goals coming into the match, and added another for the incredible record of nine. Villa will enter the final with a much less impressive lead, but a lead nonetheless. But after the injury that took him off against Russia, he won’t play in the final, and so he’ll have to back into the title.
Breaking the Mold: France came into Euro 1984 favored, both as the host and based on the quality of their side. But they hadn’t yet won a major tournament. The closest they had come were semifinal runs in both the 1958 World Cup and Euro 1960. Spain goes into this final on a similar dry run, having amazingly not won a major since Euro 1964. It remains to be seen whether they can break that drought on Sunday.
One Group Blowout: France’s Group A performances were not all dominating, and like Spain this year, two of their three group wins were by a single goal. Also like Spain, the other match was a romp. Platini scored three on the way to a 5-0 over Belgium. Villa scored three for Spain this time on the way to 4-1 over Russia.
Three-goal semis: France got the final with a 3-2 win over Portugal (who, coincidentally, lost by that same scoreline to Germany this time). Spain has just finished their own three-goal performance against Russia, though the Russians didn’t manage a single goal in reply.
Nah, he means draws in knockout stages. Because at the end of the day, one team advances, the other goes home, through penalties.
It’s not a ‘win’ in the official record, but honestly, I don’t think the winners care what you call it. (The losers usually do, though.)
Brazil ‘94 and Italy ‘06 both drew in the group stages.
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Yeah, that’s my point exactly, Mac. Plus Brazil 94 and Italy 06 … both World Cups. We’re talking Euros here.
Posted from United States
That draw against Italy was a proud moment for US soccer, even if we only got it because of an own-goal, in an otherwise depressing outing. Seeing McBride bleeding from his face is an image I’ll always associate with WC2006.
Yeah, June 16 – I remember McBride’s face. And he did not even roll around on the floor whining. Whadda guy. Some players should learn from him.
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a draw is a draw. otherwise brazil 94 and italy 06 won all their matches in those cups they took home. And this is not true. even the goals from penalty shoot outs are not counted.