This Week: 16 June -22 June
A penalty taker that became a noun, some Brazilian brilliance, Czech revenge, Spain's psychological breakthrough, injury time madness and, somehow, a Serie A finale.
Morning everyone,
If you have managed to calm down from the unbearable tension of Bayern Munich v Auckland City then Rob Smyth and I have seven more stories from the past to provide you with some ideal listening to ease you into the week.
16 June - Poland actually started brightly in this second round match from the 1986 World Cup in Guadalajara but it wouldn’t be long before the beat of the drums in the stands matched the rhythm of the Brazilian team on the scorched pitch and goals flowed, including another topper from Josimar.
17 June - Remarkably on this day in 2001, there was still a league title to be decided. Before they could kick off the new season in September 2000, Serie A was dogged by a passport scandal. Obviously. But, when you’ve waited nearly twenty years for a title, what is an extra month? A Totti opener, a Batistuta goal to make sure, blazing sunshine, frenzied crowds. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
18 June - Rob chose to travel back a whole 12 months for this one but only to highlight just how rare it is to be so gripped as a neutral that you have to stop everything and watch a game to its conclusion. Unshackled by the neurosis of previous tournament failure, Georgia threw everything at Turkey in a pulsating group game that was live well into injury time in Dortmund. There would be heartbreak on their opening night but the Georgian pride was enough to ensure that they still made it through the groups.
19 June - Last week Rob relived the cruel end to a Euro 2000 group game between the Czech Republic and the Netherlands in Amsterdam so it was only fitting that I chose the revenge match just four years later. 2-0 down after less than 20 minutes, it was very obvious that this was a game still very much in play. It took them a while but an incredibly enjoyable and open match was settled with a couple of minutes to go. Possibly the greatest group game in the history of the European Championship.
20 June - A Euros final next and it was one decided by penalties in 1976. Notable both for West Germany failing - their prowess in the penalty competition (™️Barry Davies) not yet established - and for the winning spot kick eventually turning the player’s surname into an everyday footballing noun.
21 June - As the clock ticked past 93 minutes, Spain were out of Euro 2000. Three minutes later, they were group winners. A chaotic seven-goal thriller (can there be any other number in a thriller?) was characterised by the entirety of the Spanish outfield lined up ready for one last desperate charge at the restart following the sixth goal. I’d never seen anything like it, John Motson’s mind must have drifted back to Marseille 16 years before and the dangerous reality of more and more injury time in football was becoming clear to any team holding on to a precarious lead.
22 June - Spain had the chances to go further in that tournament as they danced toe-to-toe with France in the next round. But, of course, they failed. They always failed. Until they didn’t. We finish the week in 2008 with the story of their defeat of Italy - so often such a nemesis - and how breakthroughs can unleash a flood.
Please have a listen to the conversation about all of the above and assorted diversions and share your thoughts and reflections with us. For only $3.99 a month (less than 70p a week) you will get this show every Monday and the main Nessun Dorma show two days early and ad-free.
This week’s main show sees Aidan Williams and Jonathan O’Brien delight in revisiting the classic Euro ‘84 semi final between France and Portugal. It is one not to be missed.
Have a great week,
Martyn