In a repeat of their last-eight contest on the global stage in 1986, and meet once again at . “The circumstances are remarkably similar: another World Cup against Belgium. Hopefully Spain will be able to settle the score 40 years on,” Eloy Olaya told FIFA. Rewind four decades and it was forward Eloy who missed the only penalty of the Puebla shoot-out after a tight contest finished 1-1 after extra time.
Mexico 1986 would be his only World Cup. Eloy did not play the opening match against Brazil, which ended in a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat, nor in La Roja’s hard-earned 2-1 victory over Northern Ireland. Yet he made a dazzling debut in the group-stage finale against Algeria as a half-time substitute for Emilio Butragueno, assisting Ramon Caldere’s 68th-minute strike and adding a third unanswered Spanish goal moments later. “Just being in the squad was enough for me – l was a 21-year-old from a modest club [Sporting Gijon]. It was such a joy making my debut, providing an assist, scoring a goal and helping the team qualify for the Round of 16,” he recalled.
It was the first time Spain had advanced beyond the first stage at a World Cup since 1950, and Eloy – who amassed just shy of 100 goals and played more than 500 top-flight matches for Sporting Gijon and Valencia – remembers it as “a fantastic, wonderful day”, adding: “One of the most beautiful moments of my career. Playing in a World Cup is something incredibly emotional and exciting for any footballer, even if it’s only for a few seconds or minutes. It’s something you never forget.”
Miguel Munoz’s side entered the Round of 16 as underdogs against the formidable Danes. Denmark had swept through the group stage, beating Scotland, Uruguay and West Germany to top their group. Spain’s task got even harder when Jesper Olsen converted a 33rd-minute penalty. But the Iberians refused to buckle. Butragueno equalised just before half-time, sparking a remarkable turnaround in which ‘El Buitre’ netted three more times in the second half and won a penalty converted by Andoni Goikoetxea. An emphatic 5-1 victory ensued.
In the quarter-finals, Belgium awaited. On Sunday, 22 June, La Roja watched the Argentina v England match from their hotel, Diego Maradona scoring his two most famous World Cup goals: the ‘Hand of God’ and the ‘Goal of the Century’. “It was incredible, especially the second goal. Back then, there weren’t so many cameras, and watching it we thought he’d headed in the first goal. Later they showed replays from other angles and we saw he’d used his hand. The second goal was breathtaking.”
After La Albiceleste’s success over the Three Lions, the Spanish players boarded their bus for Puebla’s Cuauhtemoc Stadium, brimming with ambition ahead of a unique moment in the nation’s football history. “Confidence was already high within the camp, but beating Denmark 5-1 gave us a tremendous boost. We had absolute faith,” Eloy explained.
Yet after Jan Ceulemans’ 35th-minute opener, the Red Devils looked set for victory until Juan Senor equalised five minutes from the end. “We finished the match feeling we hadn’t played well, but a few years ago I watched the full game again and realised we hadn’t been that poor. In the second half we put them under enormous pressure, and in extra time we had chances. We should have won it before the penalties.”
This tie between two countries chasing a first-ever World Cup semi-final would be settled by a shoot-out. When Munoz and assistant Vicente Miera turned their attention to selecting Spain’s penalty takers, Eloy accepted without hesitation. Senor and Ceulemans, the two goalscorers, converted the first penalties. Then it was Eloy’s turn.
“As I walked to the penalty spot, I made my decision. When I looked at Jean-Marie Pfaff, I sensed he was going to dive that way, but I didn’t want to change my mind because I had already decided. I thought if I hit it hard and accurately, he wouldn’t reach it. But I struck it badly,” Eloy said sadly.
“I felt angry, but others had missed in penalty shoot-outs in the tournament, so I thought Belgium would miss one because they still had four more players to take theirs. But they scored all five.” Leo Van der Elst converted Belgium’s fifth and final spot kick to ruin Spain’s title hopes. “I felt sad, really sad,” said Eloy, who would barely sleep that night. “It was a collective sadness because we’d been so hopeful, we’d been so confident and we’d felt strong.”
The native Asturian has watched that penalty “many times” but prefers to focus on the support he received from team-mates and fans. “The reception in Madrid was fantastic. There were so many people waiting for us at the airport. A massive crowd.” Some supporters even sang: “Eloy, dear friend, Spain stands with you.”
La Roja suffered further last-eight exits in 1994 and 2002, enduring what became known as the ‘quarter-final curse’. The spell was finally broken in 2010 when they lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy in South Africa. However, 40 years on from the pain of Puebla, Spain will want to avenge the defeat and book their semi-final berth.
Sources: FIFA Official
