Honours even between Belgium and England in EURO 1980 Group 2

England and Belgium drew 1-1 in their opening group game of the 1980 UEFA European Championship.

Pitted in a section also including previous winners Italy and Spain, neither side did much to press their claims in Turin. Big things were expected of an England side spearheaded by 1978 and 1979 European Footballer of the Year, Kevin Keegan, but the Hamburg forward was unable to turn the tide in his country's favour.

Indeed, it was the more industrious, albeit no less influential, figure of Ray Wilkins who put England in front. When a cross from the left was headed clear by René Vandereycken, it was the Manchester United midfielder who made sure the ball was his. He surged forward after controlling on his chest, chipped over the defence and finished with a delightful lob over goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff.

With Keegan out of sorts, perhaps still feeling the effects of losing the European Cup final just two weeks earlier, Ron Greenwood's side needed a moment of such brilliance. Only three minutes later, though, their hard work was undone. Jan Ceulemans got his head to a corner from the right and Vandereycken, reacting sharpest inside a crowded penalty area, smashed in the equaliser.

Lineups

England line up in TurinPopperfoto via Getty Images

Belgium: Pfaff; Renquin, Meeuws, Millecamps, Gerets; Vandereycken, Van Moer (Mommens 88), Cools (c); Vandenbergh, Ceulemans, Van Der Elst
Substitutes: none listed
Coach: Guy Thys

England: Clemence; Sansom, Watson, Thompson, Neal; Wilkins, Keegan (c), Brooking; Woodcock, Johnson, Coppell
Substitutes: none listed
Coach: Ron Greenwood

Referee: Heinz Aldinger (West Germany)