Channelling the spirit of 1986: Belgium looking to repeat World Cup victory over Spain forty years on

Channelling the spirit of 1986: Belgium looking to repeat World Cup victory over Spain forty years on 22 nd June, 1986, Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Peubla, a World Cup quarter-final. After 120 minutes neither side could be separated.  Penalties were required, and when Leo Van der Elst stepped up, he had the chance to win the game. The then Club Brugge man made no mistake from the spot, sending Belgium through to the semi-finals of the World Cup for first time in their history. Their opponents that day: Spain. Fast forward forty years, and Belgium and Spain will once again meet in a World Cup quarter-final. Rather than Mexico, this game will be played further north, in Los Angeles. Belgium will be hoping to channel the spirit of 1986 as they look to overcome a Spain side that remain one of the contenders for the World Cup. Back in 1986, under Guy Thys, Belgium had not a golden generation, but an underrated generation. Some of the greatest players in the history of the country starred in that team, such as Enzo Scifo, Jean-Marie Pfaff and Jan Ceulemans. Like in 2026, Belgium had been involved in a dramatic game already in the knock out stages. Rather than the Round of 32, in the Round of 16 Belgium had faced the Soviet Union in León. Twice the Soviet’s took the lead, only for Scifo and Ceulemans to equalise. The goals continued to flow in extra-time, but thankfully for Belgium they scored twice while the Soviets could only muster one. That 4-3 victory saw them into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. Like in 2026, Spain now stood in their way. Unlike Belgium, Spain had made easy work of their previous game. Coming up gainst Denmark, the side went 1-0 down on the half-hour mark thanks to a Jesper Olsen penalty, only for Emilio Butragueno to score four, with Andoni Goikoetxea adding another to make it 5-1. Unlike Belgium, Spain had reached the quarter-finals before, in 1934 and in 1950 when they finished fourth.   In Peubla , it was Ceulemans who, just after the half hour mark, had given the Red Devils the lead. This came after a prolonged period of Spanish pressure, although they only really created half chances that barely troubled Pfaff. Ceulemans, Belgium’s captain was a prolific goal scorer during his Club Brugge career, scoring just shy of 200 goals in over 400 games. This was Ceulemans third goal of the tournament already and was one of his best, with a fantastic diving header beating Andoni Zubizarreta in the Spanish goal. It was a wonderful cross from Franky Vercauteren, and Ceulemans ghosted in between the Spanish defence to finish well. Belglium had a great chance to make it 2-0, but Zubizarreta made a fantastic save to deny Daniel Veyt. The goalkeeper was set for a big money move that summer to join Barcelona and showed why he was so highly rated. At the other end, Pfaff was called into action on a number of occasions as Spain pushed for an equaliser. With time winding down, Spain struck an equaliser. Zaragoza legend Juan Antonio Señor was introduced at half-time and with five minutes to go ensured that the game would go to extra-time. A ball to the edge of the box was struck first time by Señor, flying through a body of players as Pfaff was wrongfooted. It had been an end to end game between the two sides, but after the extra half hour they still could not be separated. Señor stepped up for Spain first and made no mistake once again. Nico Claessen scored the first for Belgium. Eloy, the youngest player in the Spanish team was second to take, but was denied by Pfaff who made a comfortable save down to his right. Scifo made it 2-1 to Belgium before Chendo, Hugo Broos, Butragueno, Vervoort and Victor Munoz all scored. This left Leo Van der Elst to take the deciding penalty. The man wearing number 15 made it a perfect penalty shoot out for Belgium as he absolutely smashed it home, leaving Zubizarreta with absolutely no chance and sending the rest of the team into pandemonium. There are similarities and cross overs between 1986 and 2026. One is Hugo Broos being back, having taken charge of South Africa and led them into the knock out rounds. The other is that ,while Spain and Belgium are returning quarter-finalists from 1986, Argentina, England and France are also in the same spot. Belgium in 1986 went on to face Argentina in Mexico City, losing 2-0 at the hands of the legendary Diego Maradona. Argentina beat West Germany in the final, while Belgium lost to France in the battle for third. In 2026, victory over Spain could see them face France instead of Argentina (or maybe even Morocco). Plenty will remember that day in 1986 and how much the victory meant to Belgium, yet they go into this clash as the clear underdogs. In many ways that may well suit the Red Devils. They have somehow gotten to the quarter-finals, yet it is time to certainly disregard the performances prior to the victory over the USMNT. How that victory transpired may well have changed the trajectory of the entire tournament for Belgium and Rudi Garcia. From disappointment and pressure they suddenly had something to rally around, and it was clear that the team really came together over what they perceived to be an injustice. Belgium have every chance of repeating 1986, and if they do, perhaps going one step further this time. It would be quite a shock, but nothing is impossible at the World Cup. GBeNeFN  |  Ben Jackson