Italy v Belgium, 18 June 1980

Score0-0
RefereeAntonio Garrido
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group B
VenueOlimpico, Roma
Attendance42,318
Kick Off: 20:30 Local (19:30 BST) Belgium held their nerve in the lion's den of the Stadio Olimpico to finish top of their group and reach their first ever major final. Belgium reached the 1980 UEFA European Football Championship final – their first ever major showpiece – thanks to a perfectly-executed goalless draw against Italy. Knowing a point would be enough to put them through, Belgium coach Guy Thys left out Erwin Vandenbergh and packed his midfield. Every bit the collective unit they had been throughout the tournament, Thys' side once more showed admirable resolve to keep out an Italian attack which needed to score but rarely looked like doing so. Belgium, for their part, made chances of their own on the break, Dino Zoff diving to save from Michel Renquin, Raymond Mommens and René Vandereycken. For the Azzurri, Francesco Graziani and Roberto Bettega combined to play in Franco Causio, but Jean-Marie Pfaff came out to make the block. The Belgians, who kept their nerve in the lion's den of the Stadio Olimpico, were worthy finalists. For the hosts, home advantage had not proved as beneficial as hoped. As one headline put it, 'Italy out – and so are the knives'. Coach Enzo Bearzot, however, had broad shoulders and, luckily for Italy, he was still in charge for the next FIFA World Cup.

0  Italy

Manager: Enzo Bearzot

0  Belgium

Manager: Guy Thijs

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Dino Zoff (captain)
Defender Fulvio Collovati
Defender Claudio Gentile
Defender Gaetano Scirea
Midfielder Giancarlo Antognoni
Midfielder Romeo Benetti
Midfielder Gabriele Oriali
Midfielder Marco Tardelli
Forward Roberto Bettega
Forward Franco Causio

Starting lineup:

Jean-Marie Pfaff Goalkeeper
Eric Gerets Defender
Walter Meeuws Defender
Luc Millecamps Defender
Michel Renquin Defender
Julien Cools Midfielder (captain)
Raymond Mommens Midfielder
Wilfried Van Moer Midfielder
Rene Vandereycken Midfielder
Jan Ceulemans Forward

Substitutions:

Giuseppe Baresi for Giancarlo Antognoni 35
Alessandro Altobelli for Gabriele Oriali 46

Substitutions:

Rene Verheyen for Wilfried Van Moer 48
Erwin Vandenbergh for Raymond Mommens 77

Cards:

Franco Causio Y
Gabriele Oriali Y

Cards:

Rene Vandereycken Y
François Van der Elst Y
Walter Meeuws Y

On the bench:

Defender Giuseppe Baresi

On the bench:

Defender Rene Verheyen

0  Italy

Manager: Enzo Bearzot

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Dino Zoff (captain)
Defender Fulvio Collovati
Defender Claudio Gentile
Defender Gaetano Scirea
Midfielder Giancarlo Antognoni
Midfielder Romeo Benetti
Midfielder Gabriele Oriali
Midfielder Marco Tardelli
Forward Roberto Bettega
Forward Franco Causio

Substitutions:

Giuseppe Baresi for Giancarlo Antognoni 35
Alessandro Altobelli for Gabriele Oriali 46

Cards:

Franco Causio Y
Gabriele Oriali Y

On the bench:

Defender Giuseppe Baresi

0  Belgium

Manager: Guy Thijs

Starting lineup:

Jean-Marie Pfaff Goalkeeper
Eric Gerets Defender
Walter Meeuws Defender
Luc Millecamps Defender
Michel Renquin Defender
Julien Cools Midfielder (captain)
Raymond Mommens Midfielder
Wilfried Van Moer Midfielder
Rene Vandereycken Midfielder
Jan Ceulemans Forward

Substitutions:

Rene Verheyen for Wilfried Van Moer 48
Erwin Vandenbergh for Raymond Mommens 77

Cards:

Rene Vandereycken Y
François Van der Elst Y
Walter Meeuws Y

On the bench:

Defender Rene Verheyen