The
Euro Cup 1980 was planned according to the new format of the tournament. Instead of the usual four teams, eight teams participated in the final phase of the tournament. Italy hosted the tournament for the second time after 1968.
The qualifying stage of the championship was participated by 31 countries. Out of them, West Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, Belgium, England, The Netherlands and Czechoslovakia qualified to compete in the finals.
Two groups were formed with 4 teams in each of them. The two group winners Belgium and West Germany went straight to the final. The two group runners Italy and Czechoslovakia fought for the 3rd and 4th place. West Germany lifted the Euro Cup 1980 by beating Belgium 2-1 while Czechoslovakia secured the 3rd spot.
Four soccer crazy Italian cities Milan, Naples, Turin and the capital Rome were chosen to host the matches of the championship. The final was played at the Stadio Olimpico of Rome, which had a whopping capacity of almost 87,000.
The 1980 European Nations Cup saw the rise of some outstanding players like Jean Marie Paff, Klaus Allofs, Eric Gerets, Karl Heinz Rummenige and several others. Klaus Allofs of the champion side emerged the top scorer of tournament with 3 goals to his credit.
To know more about Euro 1980, click on the following links:
