The Euros-Part V (1976 Edition)-Part A (Qualifiers-Groups I To 4)
June 14, 2019
Edit
By the fourth dimension the qualifiers for the Fourth (1976) Euros kicked off inwards the Fall of 1974, the competition had maintained its identify equally instant inwards importance solely to the World Cup.
UEFA had yet held on to the staging the Finals betwixt iv teams, but at that spot were calls to growth the seat out of participants for the Final stage.
Just similar the previous edition, the 32 Nations were to live divided into 8 Groups (each containing iv teams).
The winner of each Group would hence advance to the Quarterfinals serial (home together with away) inwards the Spring of 1976, followed soon thereafter amongst the Finals that included the lastly iv teams.
There was also a air current of alter sweeping across Europe equally the continent was inwards the throes of the Dutch inspired ‘Total Football’ of Kingdom of the Netherlands together with West Deutschland amongst Johann Cruyff together with Franz Beckenbauer equally the undisputed kings of the Old Continent.
Others similar Italy together with England were inwards rebuilding stage amongst novel Managers.
The Qualifiers:
Group 1
This Group would consist of England, Czechoslovakia, Portugal together with Cyprus.
Following Alf Ramsey’s failure to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, England were right away managed yesteryear onetime Leeds United Boss Don Revie.
He was expected to band changes together with identify England dorsum at the top.
Portugal had been fading since 1966 together with Republic of Cyprus were the weakest squad of the Group.
At first, Czechoslovakia were non seen equally favorites for this Group that appeared England’s for the taking. Especially when England defeated Czechoslovakia (3-0) to boot laid out the Don Revie Era (along amongst novel Admiral Kit).
This would destination beingness Czechoslovakia’s solely loss on their means to concluding glory equally they chalked upwardly wins to win the Group.
England’s troubles started equally early on equally their instant fit subsequently they were held scoreless at Wembley yesteryear a super defensive Portugal.
England’s chief highlight for this crusade ended upwardly beingness Malcolm MacDonald’s v goals vs. Cyprus.
Czechoslovakia took an alternative on the Group when they defeated England (2-1) inwards Bratislava inwards belatedly Oct 1975 (this was Revie’s starting fourth dimension always defeat equally England Manager).
After that, England had to promise for other results to become their way, including the unlikely scenario that Republic of Cyprus could musical rhythm out the Czechs.
They didn’t together with England missed the Finals of an International Tournament again.
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, Dec 1974 (October 30, 1974, EC Qualifier, England3-Czechoslovakia 0) |
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, Dec 1974 (October 30, 1974, EC Qualifier, England3-Czechoslovakia 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, Apr 19, 1975 (October 30, 1974, EC Qualifier, England3-Czechoslovakia 0) |
 |
Photo From: England, The Complete Post-War Record, Author Mike Payne (October 30, 1974, EC Qualifier, England3-Czechoslovakia 0) |
 |
Photo From: England, The Complete Post-War Record, Author Mike Payne (November 20, 1974, EC Qualifier, England 0-Portugal 0) |
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, Jan 1975 (November 20, 1974, EC Qualifier, England 0-Portugal 0) |
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, Jan 1975 (November 20, 1974, EC Qualifier, England 0-Portugal 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, Nov 22, 1975 (November 20, 1974, EC Qualifier, England 0-Portugal 0) |
 |
Photo From: England, The Complete Post-War Record, Author Mike Payne (April 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, England 5-Cyprus 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, May 17, 1975 (April 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, England 5-Cyprus 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, May 17, 1975 (April 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, England 5-Cyprus 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, May 17, 1975 (April 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, England 5-Cyprus 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, Nov 22, 1975 (April 30, 1975, EC Qualifier, Czechoslovakia 5-Portugal 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, Nov 22, 1975 (October 30, 1975, EC Qualifier, Czechoslovakia 2-England 1) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, Nov 22, 1975 (October 30, 1975, EC Qualifier, Czechoslovakia 2-England 1) |
Group 2
This Group (featuring Austria, Wales, Republic of Hungary together with Luxembourg) appeared to live a competition betwixt the to a greater extent than experienced Hungarians amongst their Austrian neighbors equally probable challengers.
At starting fourth dimension glance, Wales did non look equally probable contenders.
Hungary would convey problems at the Managerial forepart equally Jozsef Boszik would convey to take due to disease only prior to the laid out of the qualifiers together with 3 Managers followed (Ede Moor, Janos Szocs together with ultimately Lajos Baroti).
Austria would also convey managerial problems equally their won equally Leopold Stasny would resign subsequently losing at Republic of Hungary inwards September 1975.
Wales, subsequently losing its opening fit to Republic of Austria (1-2), would become on together with win all their other games to win the grouping convincingly.
The highlight of their qualification was perchance the win inwards Budapest inwards Apr 1975 that confirmed their intent.
 |
Photo From: World Soccer , Oct 1974 (September 4, 1974, EC Qualifier, Republic of Austria 2-Wales 1) |
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, Nov 1974 (October 13, 1974, EC Qualifier, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 2-Hungary 4) |
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, Nov 1974 (October 13, 1974, EC Qualifier, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 2-Hungary 4) |
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, Apr 1975 (October 13, 1974, EC Qualifier, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 2-Hungary 4) |
 |
| (October 30, 1974, EC Qualifier, Wales 2-Hungary 0) |
 |
Photo From: Österreichs Fußball Länderspiele Chronik 1902 – 1993, Author: Anton Egger (Hans Krankl, April 2, 1975, EC Qualifier, Republic of Austria 0-Hungary 0) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, June 13, 1981 (April 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, Republic of Hungary 1-Wales 2) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, May 17, 1975 (April 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, Republic of Hungary 1-Wales 2) |
 |
Photo From: Shoot, Nov 22, 1975 (May 1, 1975, EC Qualifier, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 1-Wales 3) |
This Group consisted of Yugoslavia, Sweden, Northern Republic of Ireland together with Norway.
Yugoslavia together with Sweden appeared to live favorites amongst Northern Republic of Ireland jutst behind, equally Kingdom of Norway seemed unlikely to mountain a challenge.
In the early on going, Northern Republic of Ireland surprisingly defeated Sweden (at Stockholm) together with Yugoslavia to throw the grouping broad open.
However, this would live Yugoslavia’s solely defeat equally they would pick themselves upwardly together with win all their remaining v matches amongst the other teams canceling each other out. Their convincing win over Sweden (3-0) inwards Oct 1975 effectively sealed the Group for them.
 |
Photo From: Shoot, May 17, 1975 (April 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, Northern Republic of Ireland 1-Yugoslavia 0) |
Group 4
This Group consisting of Spain, Denmark, Kingdom of Spain together with Romania appeared to live balanced of all amongst no clear-cut favorites.
In the destination Kingdom of Denmark would live a disappointment equally the other 3 fought it to the end.
For Spain, a contestation would surroundings nearly the eligibility of Argentinean-born Roberto Martinez. After their starting fourth dimension match, Kingdom of Denmark would inquiry his condition together with fifty-fifty inwards the Castilian League itself, the Castilian Federation would convey to opened upwardly an enquiry subsequently clubs protested. In the destination he would live discarded to allay whatever doubts.
Spain would follow the win over Kingdom of Denmark amongst or hence other substitution away win over Scotland inwards Nov 1974, where Iribar would surpass Ricardo Zamora equally the Castilian caps tape holder.
Both Kingdom of Spain together with Romania would live undefeated inwards these qualifiers. However, Romania were able to register a unmarried win (a 6-1 win over Denmark) together with ended upwardly tying the ease of their matches. This allowed Kingdom of Spain to border ahead inwards the end.
For the Scottish, their trip at Copenhagen inwards September 1975 would utilization contestation equally v of their players (including Billy Bremner) were involved inwards a nightclub incident. This effectively ended Bremner’s International career. |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (September 25, 1974, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Denmark 1-Spain 2) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (Spain squad, September 25, 1974, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Denmark 1-Spain 2) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (November 20, 1974, EC Qualifier, Scotland 1-Spain 2) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (November 20, 1974, EC Qualifier, Scotland 1-Spain 2) |
 |
Photo From: Todo Sobre La Seleccion Espanola, Felix Martialay, 2006 (Spain squad, November 20, 1974, EC Qualifier, Scotland 1-Spain 2) |
 |
Photo From: World Soccer, March 1975 (February 5, 1975, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Spain 1-Scotland 1) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (February 5, 1975, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Spain 1-Scotland 1) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (Spain squad, February 5, 1975, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Spain 1-Scotland 1) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (April 17, 1975, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Spain 1-Romania 1) |
 |
Photo From: Todo Sobre La Seleccion Espanola, Felix Martialay, 2006 (Spain squad, April 17, 1975, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Spain 1-Romania 1) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (October 12, 1975, EC Qualifier, Kingdom of Spain 2-Denmark 0) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (special thank you lot to Jose Luis Carbonell) (November 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, Romania 2-Spain 2) |
 |
Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a spider web log viewer (Spain squad, November 16, 1975, EC Qualifier, Romania 2-Spain 2) |