West Germany reach EURO 1980 final with Group 1 stalemate against Greece

Devastating in their previous outing against the Netherlands, it was a far more subdued West Germany which drew 0-0 with Greece to rubber-stamp their place in a third successive UEFA European Championship final.

Bernd Schuster was the 1976 runners-up's creator in chief against the Dutch but missed out against Greece. His team were notably blunter in his absence, though their opponents fielded a much-changed side themselves. Quietly impressive despite losing their opening two fixtures, Greece could so easily have crowned their campaign off with two points rather than one.

Though Christos Ardizoglu came closest when he hit a post with a spectacular swerving shot 20 minutes from time, there had been earlier opportunities as well. Konstantinos Kouis, Dimitris Nikoloudis and Ilias Galakos, all presented with chances as a result of lax marking, all failed to capitalise.

Jupp Derwall's charges had openings of their own, Horst Hrubesch and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge heading wide, but were unable to hit top gear. Though the West German juggernaut had been slowed, it chugged on and into the showpiece once again.

Lineups

The Greek team poses during the Euro 1980 match between Greece and West Germany in Delle Alpi Stadium, Turin, Italy, on June 17th 1980. (Photo : Gerard Bedeau / Onze / Icon Sport via Getty Images)Icon Sport via Getty Images

Greece: Poupakis; Gounaris, Nikolaou, Ravusis; Xanthopoulos, Nikoloudis (c) (Kudas 65), Livathinos, Kouis; Ardizoglou, Galakos, Mavros (Kostikos 79)
Substitutes: not listed
Coach: Alketas Panagoulias

West Germany: Schumacher; Kaltz, Karl-Heinz Förster, Briegel, Cullmann (c), Bernd Förster (Votava 46); Stieleke, Müller, Memering; Rummenigge (Del’Haye 66), Hrubesch
Substitutes: not listed
Coach: Jupp Derwall

Referee: Brian McGinley (Scotland)