Euro 1984 Qualifs Record Breakers Espana Malta

Group Stage

21 decembre 1983

ESP 3h10special, Game + Doc

Euro.1984.Qualif.Espana;Malta.ESP.twb22.mp4

5.46 Go https://1fichier.com/?6cruez1fdvr60c378lha

Some football matches will forever be shrouded in suspicion. Every so often a result comes along that lends itself to conspiracy theories and accusations. Ask any Dutch football fan about a match that brings into question sporting integrity and they will point you to Spain’s 12-1 victory against Malta on 21 December 1983.The Netherlands were on the brink of qualifying for Euro 84, having just beaten Malta 5-0 in Rotterdam in their final qualifier. They were top of the group, two points above Spain – in the era of two points for a win – with a whopping 11-goal advantage. Only a victory by 11 goals or more would see Spain qualify.

Malta were not world beaters  they had only won one of their games in the group  but they had never lost by 11 goals. They had suffered significant reverses since their first international match in 1957. West Germany inflicted 8-0 thrashings in 1976 and 1980, with East Germany and Austria both winning 9-0 in 1977. But losing by 11 goals was surely a step too far, especially as Spain had only beaten Malta 3-2 in the away match earlier that year. To slightly misquote Muhammad Ali, Spain seemed to have two hopes: slim and none.