EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 1980

For the 1980 European Championship, the tournament changed format to include eight teams in the final stages. For the first time, the hosts (in this case Italy) would qualify automatically and two groups of four would decide the finalists. There were no semi-finals, with group winners going directly into the final and runners-up into the third place play-off.

In Group A, the tournament kicked off with a repeat of the 1976 final between West Germany and holders Czechoslovakia. The Germans took their revenge for their defeat four years earlier with a 1-0 win, and after beating the Netherlands in their second match were effectively guaranteed a place in the final. A draw in their final game with outsiders Greece confirmed first place in the group, and Czechoslovakia ensured that despite the loss of their title, they would have a chance of finishing third when a draw with the Dutch gave them second place on goal difference.

Group B saw very few goals being scored, and ultimately this would cost the hosts Italy their chance of a second title. Both the Italians and Belgium picked up a win and a draw from their games with England and Spain, but crucially Belgium had scored more goals. A draw in the final game would take them through, and the match finished goalless to give Belgium a shock place in the final and leave Italy chasing third. England's win over Spain came much too late to affect the qualification places.

Having taken the title on penalties in 1976, Czechoslovakia again edged through a tight match following a shoot-out to finish third. A 1-1 draw was followed by a remarkable penalty competition where both sides scored their first eight kicks, before a Fulvio Collovati miss allowed the Czechs to claim a 9-8 win. In the final, Horst Hrubesch gave West Germany a tenth minute lead and for much of the match it seemed that this would be enough for victory. With fifteen minutes remaining, Belgium were awarded a penalty and René Vandereycken converted it to bring the scores level. However, just as extra-time beckoned, Hrubesch struck again with two minutes left and Belgium had no time to reply. West Germany had made amends for their agonising defeat in 1976 by becoming the first nation to win the European title twice.