FIFA World Cup 1986 Group E

fifa world cup 1986 poster After reaching the semi-finals of the European Championships in 1984, the team dubbed "Danish Dynamite" for their all-out attacking philosophy burst onto the world stage in their first World Cup finals. Their startlingly innovative halved shirts would have been worn with matching shorts but FIFA intervened and insisted on plain shorts for televised matches. West Germany and Uruguay (the South American Champions) were brushed aside and once again Scotland failed to get past the first round.

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Uruguay

West Germany

Uruguay 1 West Germany 1

Estadio La Corregidora, Querétaro (30,500)
4 June 1986

Uruguay's defence held firm after they took an early lead thanks to Alzamendi only for Allofs to snatch a late equaliser for Germany.

(Andre Silva)

Denmark

Scotland

Denmark 1 Scotland 0

Estadio Neza 86, Nezahualcóyotl (18,000)
4 June 1986

Elkjær Larsen scored Denmark's winner in the 57th minute from a characteristic passing move through the centre of the pitch.

(Willie Mackie)

West Germany

Scotland

West Germany 2 Scotland 1

Estadio La Corregidora, Querétaro (30,000)
8 June 1986

Scotland briefly held the lead thanks to Gordon Strachan but Rudi Völler equalised from point blank range after a sharp passing move scythed through Scotland's defence. Allofs slotted home the winner shortly after the half-time break.

(Andre Silva, Willie Mackie)

Denmark

Uruguay

Denmark 6 Uruguay 1

Estadio Neza 86, Nezahualcóyotl (26,500)
8 June 1986

Elkjær Larsen helped himself to a hat-trick and made two more as the Danes took Uruguay apart in a display of thrilling attacking football.

(Andre Silva)

Denmark

West Germany

Denmark 2 West Germany 0

Estadio La Corregidora, Querétaro (36,000)
13 June 1986

Denmark resisted the temptation to field a reserve team even though defeat would have given them an easier tie against Morocco in the next round. Only players on a yellow card were rested and Denmark recorded their first win in a competitive match against West Germany. This was furthermore the first time the teams had met in 14 years, the West German authorities having previously considered the Danish to weak to be worthwhile playing.

(Andre Silva)

Scotland

Uruguay

Scotland 0 Uruguay 0

Estadio Neza 86, Nezahualcóyotl (20,000)
13 June 1986

A win for Scotland would have seen them in with a chance of progression as one of the four teams finishing third but they could not find a way through Uruguay's solid defence. The match was marred by violent play, Uruguay's Batista setting the tone by getting sent off in the first minute for a dangerous tackle on Strachan.

(Andre Silva, Willie Mackie)