The Dutch team trained in the COPA Holland 1983 Retro Football Shirt. With the absence of the Dutch team at the European Championships in France this summer, history repeats itself. In 1984, when the European Championships also took place in France, the Orange team was also missing from the final round. Spain did go, thanks to a controversial goal festival against Malta. In the pool phase, Spain could only overtake the Dutch team if Malta won the last qualifying match by eleven goals. It was 12-1.
A positive thought from Kees Rijvers' time was his willingness to bring young talent along and he was willing to bring young talent... responsible for introducing future stars such as Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten and Ronald Koeman to the international arena during this period.