Group E of the 1986 FIFA World Cup was one of the groups of nations competing at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The group's first round of matches began on 4 June and its last matches were played on 13 June. Matches were played at the Estadio La Corregidora in Querétaro and at the Estadio Neza 86 in Nezahualcóyotl. Impressive debutantes Denmark topped the group - surprisingly beating Germany 2-0 despite having a man sent off: they were joined in the second round by West Germany who would go on to reach the final. 3 red cards were handed out in this group, 2 of them against Uruguay who made the second round but were criticized for their physical play, especially in their last group game against Scotland where José Batista was sent off in under a minute. Scotland Manager Sir Alex Ferguson made the surprise decision to leave out captain Souness and passed responsibility on to Strachan and Albiston, a move with which Ferguson would later recall "his biggest mistake in football" despite being a man up, Scotland was unable to score, the match finishing 0-0, and Uruguay went through in third place instead.

Before the tournament, English-language media reported Uruguay manager Omar Borrás's description of it as the "group of death", popularising a phrase first used in Spanish in the 1970 World Cup.

Standings

Matches

Uruguay vs West Germany

GK 12 Fernando ÁlvezDF 2 Nelson GutiérrezDF 3 Eduardo AcevedoDF 4 Víctor Diogo DF 6 José BatistaMF 5 Miguel BossioMF 8 Jorge Barrios (c) MF 11 Sergio SantínMF 10 Enzo FrancescoliFW 9 Jorge da SilvaFW 7 Antonio Alzamendi Substitutions:MF 16 Mario Saralegui FW 19 Venancio Ramos Manager: Omar Borrás GK 1 Harald Schumacher (c)DF 2 Hans-Peter BriegelDF 4 Karlheinz FörsterDF 6 Norbert EderDF 14 Thomas BertholdDF 15 Klaus AugenthalerDF 3 Andreas Brehme MF 10 Felix MagathMF 8 Lothar Matthäus FW 19 Klaus AllofsFW 9 Rudi VöllerSubstitutions:MF 7 Pierre Littbarski FW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Manager: Franz Beckenbauer

Scotland vs Denmark

GK 1 Jim LeightonDF 2 Richard GoughDF 5 Alex McLeishDF 6 Willie MillerDF 3 Maurice MalpasMF 7 Gordon Strachan MF 8 Roy AitkenMF 4 Graeme Souness (c)MF 13 Steve NicolFW 19 Charlie NicholasFW 20 Paul Sturrock Substitutions:GK12Andy GoramFW 9 Eamonn Bannon MF11Paul McStayDF14David NareyFW 16 Frank McAvennie Manager: Alex Ferguson GK 1 Troels RasmussenSW 4 Morten Olsen (c)DF 3 Søren BuskDF 5 Ivan NielsenRWB 9 Klaus Berggreen DM 12 Jens Jørn BertelsenCM 15 Frank Arnesen CM 6 Søren LerbyLWB 8 Jesper Olsen FW 11 Michael LaudrupFW 10 Preben ElkjærSubstitutions:GK16Ole QvistDF 2 John Sivebæk MF 7 Jan Mølby FW19John EriksenMF20Jan BartramManager: Sepp Piontek

West Germany vs Scotland

GK 1 Harald Schumacher (c)DF 2 Hans-Peter Briegel DF 4 Karlheinz FörsterDF 6 Norbert EderDF 14 Thomas BertholdDF 15 Klaus AugenthalerMF 10 Felix MagathMF 8 Lothar MatthäusMF 7 Pierre Littbarski FW 19 Klaus AllofsFW 9 Rudi VöllerSubstitutions:DF 17 Ditmar Jakobs FW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Manager: Franz Beckenbauer GK 1 Jim LeightonDF 2 Richard GoughDF 6 Willie MillerDF 14 Dave NareyDF 3 Maurice Malpas MF 9 Eamonn Bannon MF 8 Roy AitkenMF 7 Gordon StrachanMF 4 Graeme Souness (c)MF 13 Steve Nicol FW 17 Steve Archibald Substitutions:GK12Andy GoramMF10Jim BettMF11Paul McStayMF 16 Frank McAvennie MF 21 Davie Cooper Manager: Alex Ferguson

Denmark vs Uruguay

GK 1 Troels RasmussenSW 4 Morten Olsen (c)DF 3 Søren BuskDF 5 Ivan Nielsen RWB 9 Klaus BerggreenDM 12 Jens Jørn Bertelsen CM 15 Frank ArnesenCM 6 Søren LerbyLWB 21 Henrik AndersenFW 11 Michael Laudrup FW 10 Preben ElkjærSubstitutions:GK22Lars HøghDF2John SivebækMF 7 Jan Mølby MF 8 Jesper Olsen FW19John EriksenManager: Sepp Piontek GK 12 Fernando ÁlvezDF 2 Nelson GutiérrezDF 3 Eduardo Acevedo (c)DF 4 Víctor DiogoDF 6 José BatistaMF 5 Miguel Bossio MF 16 Mario SaraleguiMF 11 Sergio Santín MF 10 Enzo FrancescoliFW 9 Jorge da Silva FW 7 Antonio Alzamendi Substitutions:GK22Celso OteroDF14Darío PereyraMF 17 José Zalazar FW 19 Venancio Ramos FW21Wilmar CabreraManager: Omar Borrás

Denmark vs West Germany

GK 22 Lars HøghSW 4 Morten Olsen (c)DF 3 Søren BuskDF 21 Henrik AndersenRWB 15 Frank Arnesen DM 2 John SivebækCM 7 Jan MølbyCM 6 Søren LerbyLWB 8 Jesper Olsen FW 11 Michael LaudrupFW 10 Preben Elkjær Substitutions:FW 19 John Eriksen FW 14 Allan Simonsen Manager: Sepp Piontek GK 1 Harald Schumacher (c)DF 4 Karlheinz Förster DF 5 Matthias HergetDF 6 Norbert Eder DF 14 Thomas BertholdDF 17 Ditmar Jakobs DF 3 Andreas BrehmeMF 21 Wolfgang Rolff MF 8 Lothar MatthäusFW 19 Klaus AllofsFW 9 Rudi VöllerSubstitutions:MF 7 Pierre Littbarski FW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Manager: Franz Beckenbauer

Scotland vs Uruguay

GK 1 Jim LeightonDF 2 Richard GoughDF 6 Willie Miller (c)DF 14 David Narey DF 15 Arthur AlbistonMF 7 Gordon StrachanMF 8 Roy AitkenMF 11 Paul McStayMF 13 Steve Nicol FW 18 Graeme SharpFW 20 Paul Sturrock Substitutions:GK12Andy GoramMF10Jim BettFW17Steve ArchibaldFW 19 Charlie Nicholas MF 21 Davie Cooper Manager: Alex Ferguson GK 12 Fernando Álvez DF 2 Nelson GutiérrezDF 3 Eduardo AcevedoDF 4 Víctor Diogo DF 6 José Batista DF 14 Darío PereyraMF 8 Jorge Barrios (c)MF 11 Sergio SantínMF 10 Enzo Francescoli FW 21 Wilmar Cabrera FW 19 Venancio Ramos Substitutions:GK1Rodolfo RodríguezFW 7 Antonio Alzamendi FW9Jorge da SilvaDF13César VegaMF 16 Mario Saralegui Manager: Omar Borrás

See also Denmark at the FIFA World Cup Germany at the FIFA World Cup Scotland at the FIFA World Cup Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup

References

Match reports