Groups of Death ( a death of)
In a modern format with more nations, are they still a thing? We investigate a dying concept
June 23, 2021. Portugal versus France, the 89th minute. Antoine Griezmann slips by two defenders before firing past Rui Patricio to seal a dramatic last- gasp 3- 2 victory that gives Les Bleus a place in the last 16 as group winners. Germany will go with them as runners- up, while Portugal – the 2016 winners – will be joining Hungary on the first flight home. Moments after the final whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo & Co trudge off the pitch; in the media mixed zone, there’s one phrase on everybody’s lips. Portugal have just become the group of death’s latest victim.
This is a fictional scenario, of course, but one that could be played out at Euro 2020 this summer. Certainly, these scenarios have claimed many scalps in the past.
The forerunner of a now- omnipresent phrase can be traced back to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Then, the local press labelled Group Four, with Brazil, England, the Soviet Union and Austria, as ‘ Giganernas Kamp’ (‘ The Battle of the Giants’). The specific phrase ‘ group of death’ was first coined at the 1970 World Cup by a Mexican journalist who dubbed Group Three – with eventual winners Brazil, reigning champions England, 1962 finalists Czechoslovakia and Romania – as the ‘ Grupo de la Muerte’.
The phrase was used again in 1982, when the most deadly group in World
Cup history made up the second round’s Group C. Only one team would progress from a pool consisting of the defending champions Argentina, favourites Brazil and eventual winners Italy.
The psychological benefits of navigating such a tough group were there for all to see – Italy boss Enzo Bearzot admitted after beating Brazil 3- 2 that it “already felt like we were champions”, and a newly free- flowing Azzurri went on to dispose of Poland and West Germany in the semi- finals and final respectively.
The term ‘ group of death’ became popularised after the 1986 tournament, when Uruguay boss Omar Borras used it to describe Group E, which included his Celeste side, West Germany, Denmark and Scotland.
“If ever there was a group of death it was that one,” says former Denmark and Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby, who played in all three group matches. “Uruguay were the South American champions at the time, West Germany got to the final in 1982 and still had some amazing players, while Scotland were still really strong. Denmark were written off by everybody because it was the first time we’d qualified for the World Cup, but we went on to win all three of our group matches... and did it in some style.”
That’s an understatement: Denmark edged out Scotland 1- 0, before going on to annihilate Uruguay 6- 1 and outplay West Germany 2- 0. Only Scotland failed to progress from the group.
“When the draw was made, I was at a testimonial dinner in Liverpool and a lot of the Scottish lads were there,” says Molby. “I got a phone call, and when I told everyone we had Uruguay, West Germany and Scotland, all the Scottish lads were taking the mickey saying,
‘ That’s you getting an early flight home then’. But that really motivated us... and in the end it was Denmark who had the last laugh.”
THE SPECIFIC PHRASE WAS FIRST COINED A T THE 1970 WORLD CUP