Football at the 1981 Maccabiah Games
Football at the 1981 Maccabiah Games| Tournament details |
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| Host country |
Israel |
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| Dates |
7 – 15 July |
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| Teams |
20 |
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| Venue(s) |
5 (in 4 host cities) |
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| Final positions |
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| Champions |
.svg.png) South Africa |
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| Runners-up |
 United States |
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| Third place |
 Israel |
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| Fourth place |
 Great Britain |
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| Tournament statistics |
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| Matches played |
49 |
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| Goals scored |
169 (3.45 per match) |
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Football at the 1981 Maccabiah Games was held in Israel starting on 7 July.
The competition was open for men's teams only. A record number of 20 teams took part in the competition. South Africa won their first gold medal, beating USA 3–1 in the final.[1] This was the first time since 1935 that the hosts finished outside the top two. Israel's 1–2 loss to South Africa in the semi-finals was their first loss since 1961, after 24 unbeaten matches (21 wins, 4 draws).
Format
The 20 teams were divided into four groups of five, with each team playing the others once. The two top teams from each group qualified to the quarter-finals. The rest of the teams were eliminated.
First round
Group A
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| 7 July 1981 |
| Israel | 6–0 |  Finland | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
Australia  | 2–0 | .svg.png) Belgium | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| 8 July 1981 |
| Belgium | 1–1 | United States | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| Israel | 6–0 | Australia | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| 9 July 1981 |
| Israel | 4–1 | United States | Winter Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| Australia | 2–0 | Finland | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 10 July 1981 |
| Finland | 5–2 | Belgium | Hapoel Ground, Ra'anana |
| 11 July 1981 |
| United States | 2–0 | Australia | Wingate, Netanya |
| 12 July 1981 |
| United States | 5–0 | Finland | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| Israel | 5–0 | Belgium | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
Group B
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| 7 July 1981 |
Netherlands  | 0–0 |  Italy | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
Argentina  | 0–0 |  Peru | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 8 July 1981 |
Sweden  | 2–2 | Argentina | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| Peru | 2–0 | Netherlands | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 9 July 1981 |
| Peru | 1–0 | Italy | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| Sweden | 3–1 | Netherlands | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| 10 July 1981 |
| Argentina | 4–0 | Italy | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 11 July 1981 |
| Sweden | 4–3 | Peru | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 12 July 1981 |
| Italy | 0–0 | Sweden | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| Netherlands | 1–1 | Argentina | Wingate, Netanya |
Group C
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| 7 July 1981 |
| South Africa | 2–1 |  Chile | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
West Germany  | 5–0 |  Republic of Ireland | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 8 July 1981 |
| South Africa | 2–1 | West Germany | Wingate, Netanya |
Colombia  | 4–1 | Republic of Ireland | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 9 July 1981 |
| South Africa | 2–1 | Colombia | Wingate, Netanya |
| West Germany | 3–0 | Chile | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 10 July 1981 |
| Republic of Ireland | 1–0 | Chile | Winter Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| 11 July 1981 |
| West Germany | 3–1 | Colombia | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| 12 July 1981 |
| South Africa | 6–0 | Republic of Ireland | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| Chile | 1–1 | Colombia | Wingate, Netanya |
Group D
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| 7 July 1981 |
Mexico  | 0–0 | Great Britain | Wingate, Netanya |
Brazil  | 0–0 |  France | Wingate, Netanya |
| 8 July 1981 |
Denmark  | 1–1 | Mexico | Wingate, Netanya |
| Great Britain | 1–1 | Brazil | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 9 July 1981 |
| Great Britain | 2–0 | France | Wingate, Netanya |
| Brazil | 3–2 | Denmark | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| 10 July 1981 |
| France | 2–1 | Mexico | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
| Great Britain | 5–1 | Denmark | Wingate, Netanya |
| 12 July 1981 |
| France | 3–0 | Denmark | University Football Stadium, Tel Aviv |
| Brazil | 1–1 | Mexico | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan |
Knockout rounds
Quarter-finals
1. The match was abandoned at the 120th minute, as an Argentine player was sent off, but refused to leave the pitch.[2]
5th-8th places play-off
* Both France and Sweden forfeited their matches in the classification round.
Semi-finals
3rd-4th place match
Final
Final ranking
References
Football at the Maccabiah Games |
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