Rinus Michels

Belgium 1-0 Netherlands 1985 WC Qualifier FULL MATCH

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• published: 10 Jun 2015
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https://www.facebook.com/classicfootballtv 16-10-1985 Belgium 1-0 Netherlands Referee : Pietro D'Elia Competition FIFA World Cup Group 1 play-off Venue : Parc Astrid BRUSSELS Attendance : 36,500 Goals : Frankie Vercauteren Belgium : Jean-Marie Pfaff,Georges Grun,Michel Renquin,Eric Gerets,Nico Claesen,Frankie Vercauteren,Franky van der Elst,Rene Vandereycken,Jan Ceulemans,Erwin Vandenbergh,Leo van der Elst Manager: Guy Thijs Netherlands : Hans van Breukelen,Ronald Spelbos,Michel van de Korput,Bennie Wijnstekers (captain),Adri van Tiggelen,Frank Rijkaard,Ruud Gullit,Rob de Wit,Willy van der Kerkhof,Wim Kieft,Marco van Basten Manager: Rinus Michels Although matches between Holland and Belgium may not possess quite the same level of rivalry as Dutch-German meetings, there is no doubting that the Derby der Lage Landen/les Pays-Bas is still of vital importance to both sets of supporters. Even more so when the extra incentive of a place at the World Cup finals is added to the mix, as was the case in the Autumn of 1985. The two-legged play-off between the sides would decide which country would be making the trip to Mexico in 1986. Failure for both just wasn't an option. The Dutch in particular were in desperate need of the right result. Memories of the Total Football era of the 1970s were fast fading, the 1980s arriving to usher in a period of Dutch disappointment. Failure to qualify for the previous World Cup was a wake-up call, yet it looked as if the wrongs had been righted during the qualification stages of Euro 1984, the Dutch seemingly assured of a spot in France, barring a miracle in the Spain-Malta match which concluded the group. Spain needed to win by 11 goals to deny Holland. Cue a miracle. Somehow the Spanish turned a 3-1 half-time scoreline into a barely believable 12-1 victory, qualifying for Euro 84, and prompting raised eyebrows and broken hearts among the Dutch. When your luck is out, it is out. Manager Kees Rijvers, who had introduced the likes of Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten to international football, and should have led his country to Euro 84, was now under the cosh. An unenviable position was made even worse when Holland lost their opening match of the 1986 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Hungary. Rijvers departed shortly after the defeat, the top club coaches in the country, including Leo Beenhakker, managing to persuade the legendary Rinus Michels to return to the post to provide inspiration, stability and impetus to the struggling national team. Read more : "How Belgium's last-gasp goal kept Holland out of the 1986 World Cup" http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/18/how-belgiums-last-gasp-goal-kept-holland-out-of-the-1986-world-cup