This was on live on a Wednesday night during the early summer. Remember it well, great game to watch. Greenwood’s England were one of the best in Europe at that stage-as were Austria, fresh from a great WC in Argentina the year before
@@johnmorell7020 England WERE one of the best teams in Europe over that late 1977 to 1980 period. The damage was Revie’s fault. Greenwood got plenty out of that team. Why do people in England expect trophies? A lot of good teams were around then without winning anything(Poland 74, 82; Belgium 80; Yugoslavia and Holland 70s).1978 and 79 was a purple patch for England, not a purple haze. I remember them being distinctly unplayable and doing things like winning away in Bulgaria for their Euro 80 group, something no other team could think of doing. They failed in Italy, hampered by a tough group and didn’t recover from a draw disrupted by their own thuggish fans. They were attractive to watch then too, which I would grudgingly have to admit not being a fan of theirs.
Good game. In the thousands of games I've watched, it's the first time I've ever heard a player (who played in the same game) work as co-commentator - Peter Shilton in the second half.
Like many people commenting on this thread, I have distinct memories of this great football match. It was played at a great pace from the kick-off, both teams seeming to have little regard for defence. Austria, in particular, were superb going forward and thoroughly deserved the win.
They only qualified from their 1st round group in '78 as it was very poor and the one really good team they played in the finals - Holland, gave them a 5-1 pasting.
@@gunternetzer9621 uhm harsh. They beat Spain , Sweden & West Germany, topped their group above Brazil and lost only 1-0 to Italy & Brazil. Not too shabby, England didn’t even qualify for the tournament.
I try to be objective. They were all poor sides and the Italians were physically knackered by the time they played them. I'm not comparing Austria with England who although by the time the World Cup came around had improved a lot under Ron Greenwood, were no world beaters. They probably would have got as far as Austria had they qualified as the field in 1978 was pretty average and of course Austria beat them here a year later.
To think at the time Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa rules Europe. In yet the same old problem. Our national team was shit. Players who were brilliant for their club teams simply froze when playing for England. Let’s be honest we’re shit at national level. We should compete with Germany at national level, however, we don’t. Germany play, as do the Italians with a certain maturity that we don’t posses. England haven’t had a truly world class national team since 1970. 1990 in Italy it came together for a golden fortnight and then again in 1996 in the European championship. However, not since 1970 have we stood shoulder to shoulder with Brazil. This England performance against Austria sums it all up. Remember watching it as a kid. Thought we’d beat Austria, because we’re England. Here lies the problem. The rest of the world caught up and passed us a long time ago.
To compare what was going on here with what happens now is ridiculous. In those days, the main problems with England were a). an obsession with 4 - 4 - 2, which was predictable and opponents knew just how to cope with it and b). in the days before foreign players came into the English leagues and helped improve technical ability and slowed the game down, it was all a bit frantic. The defending in this game was a disaster, but fortunately, that old squared up defence is consigned to history.
I'm viewing all these England games from the 70s, you've got a point: terrific players, many teams dominating over european football, National team struggling to qualify for EC and WC tournaments. Anyway, looking at these games I realized how good Keegan and Brooking were. Certainly among the top world players of that period.
Clemence was a very good keeper but Shilton lost his form in 1974 and when Revie took over he preferred Ray and so began his long run until 1978 when Shilton's form with Forest brought him back under Ron Greenwood but they both continued to alternate until 1982.
@@gunternetzer9621 Ray Clemence was very good too. I do not think it made too much difference which of them were in goal really, as both were competent.
Maybe I'm biased but laurie cunningham bryan robson and cyrille regis were the most exciting players in england at the time west brom were 3rd in the league. But were overlooked. if only ths midfield had got Coppell Robson Hoddle and Cunningham.
@@philh8288 agree..Statham that is a name from the past..!...agree with that selection, Alvin Martin was top draw..(how did bobby robson drop him for terry fenwick against argentina in '86' is a first class mystery?!!!
