- Group C updates from the 8pm BST kick-off in Amsterdam
- Euro 2020 overview: group tables, results, fixtures
- Get in touch! Email Rob with your thoughts on the game
“Your clip prompted me to look up where the 1978 World Cup was held because there was such a distance between the pitch and the crowd I wasn’t sure if it was on the moon,” says Matt Burtz. “Anyway, it was in Argentina, and in my research I learned that it was the last World Cup to be limited to 16 teams. Ten of those came from Europe, and aside from the two we know about, I defy anyone to name the other eight without cheating, as it is a motley assortment.”
Come on, that’s easy: Scotland and seven others.
“I don’t believe in revenge and I don’t believe that Austria have a strong chance of grabbing all three points today,” tubthumps Peter Oh. “However, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for a couple of hours in the slim hope that Alaba and company will exorcise the 5:1 loss to the Dutch at the 1978 World Cup. Arnautovic’s absence will hurt (more so because it was so avoidable) but on their day the Austrians have enough quality to squeeze the Oranje for maximum juice.”
That’s the only previous game between these two at a major tournament. The defending isn’t the best, though it’s nice to be reminded of Rob Rensenbrink’s incisive elegance.
