Football Books

Podcast: Euro 1984 – The Greatest Tournament You Never Saw

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My guest is Aidan Williams, whose new book Euro 1984: The Greatest Tournament You Never Saw.

Back when the Euros was a proper elite eight-team tournament, France provided a sublime and dramatic tournament spearheaded by Michel Platini, who bagged nine goals in just five games as France won its first major tournament.

Here’s a summary of what we discuss:

Television Coverage: Euro 1984 was not widely televised in the UK, with only two live games shown, leading to it being lesser-known among British fans.

France’s Journey: We discuss France’s path to victory, including their win in the final and the critical role of Michel Platini, who scored in every game.

Qualifying Drama: Several dramatic moments during the qualifiers are discussed, including Denmark’s rise, England’s failure to qualify, and the surprising eliminations of Italy and the Soviet Union.

Denmark’s Emergence: Denmark’s transformation into a formidable team, known as “Danish Dynamite,” was a key storyline, with notable players like Preben Elkjær and Michael Laudrup.

Northern Ireland and Wales: Northern Ireland’s notable victories over West Germany and Wales’ near-qualification highlighted the competitiveness and unpredictability of the qualifiers.

Spain’s Controversial Path: Spain’s dramatic qualification, which included a 12-1 victory over Malta, raised suspicions and discussions about the fairness and integrity of the match.

Tournament Format: Euro 1984’s eight-team format is contrasted with modern tournaments, emphasising its elite and competitive nature.

Portugal as a Surprise Package: Portugal’s chaotic yet impressive run to the semi-finals is detailed, with Fernando Chalana being a standout player despite the team’s internal divisions.

The Final Match: We look at France v Spain, focusing on Platini’s decisive free kick and Bruno Bellone’s goal, sealing France’s first major international trophy.

Here’s that epic France v Portugal semi-final match we discuss. Quite incredible:

I release a new podcast every two weeks, so be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. You can find Football Travel by Outside Write on AppleSpotifyPlayer.FM and Anchor. Look for it in Google Podcasts too. I’d really appreciate a rating or view if you like what I’m doing as it helps others discover the podcast. 

The podcast is sponsored by Pibe de Barriothe on-the-ground football experts in Buenos Aires, helping you live the Argentine matchday experience.


Chris

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