Results 

Qualifier 1
21.09.1988 Luxembourg 1-4 Switzerland
Goal: Langers 
Luxembourg (4-4-2): van Rijswijck – Meunier (c), Weis, Bossi, Petry – Girres (Scuto 63), Hellers, Jeitz, Scholten – Langers, Krings (Morucutti 73)
Luxembourg stood no chance as expected, but saw a worrying amount of goals conceded. Langers’ strike ten minutes from time was a mere consolation. Weis demonstrated that he is hardly the ideal choice as sweeper, and the midfield often got pushed too deep, thus unable to support the front two

Qualifier 2
18.10.1988 Luxembourg 0-2 Czechoslovakia
Luxembourg (4-4-2): van Rijswijck – Meunier (c), Petry, Scheuer, Bossi – Jeitz (Girres 82), Hellers, Weis, Scholten – Langers, Krings (Morucutti 62)
The first of the two Luxembourg matches that italia1990.com do not possess. A second straight defeat for the plucky Luxembourgers, but the margin of loss will perhaps have been less than expected.

Qualifier 3
16.11.1988 Portugal 1-0 Luxembourg
Luxembourg (4-4-2): van Rijswijck – Meunier (c), Petry, Bossi, Scheuer – Girres, Weis, Jeitz, Scholten (Thomé 82) – Langers, Krings (Malget 62)
This was an improved showing from Luxembourg in a low-paced match. Again, the forwards were left isolated, and Hellers’ absence left a big gap in midfield. On a lighter note, the defence managed to keep tight apart from that one moment of brilliance from home skipper Gomes

Qualifier 4
09.05.1988 Czechoslovakia 4-0 Luxembourg
Luxembourg (4-4-2): van Rijswijck – Meunier (c), Scheuer, Petry, Bossi – Girres, Weis, Birsens, Jeitz (Saibene 76) – Krings (Malget 89), Hellers
Clearly inferior against strong opponents, but Luxembourg managed to shut Czechoslovakia out with one exception until a late goal rush from the hosts. Hellers was back in the side, but this time they were without Langers up front

Qualifier 5
01.06.1989 Luxembourg 0-5 Belgium
Luxembourg (4-4-2): van Rijswijck – Meunier (c), Petry, Scheuer, Bossi – Girres, Jeitz (Saibene 76), Birsens, Scholten (Malget 83) – Langers, Krings
In a match played on French soil, Luxembourg managed to restrict Belgium to just the one goal in a dull first half. Whenever Standard Liège midfielder Hellers is not playing, there is no one to feed the forwards from central midfield, as both Jeitz and Birsens are typical hard workers. Langers was quite lively and could have scored on at least two occasions, but he was probably the only bright spot

Qualifier 6
11.10.1989 Luxembourg 0-3 Portugal
Luxembourg (3-5-2): van Rijswijck – Birsens, Weis (c), Bossi – Girres, Hellers, Malget, Saibene, Groff (Jeitz 71) – Langers, Reiter (Scholten 59)
italia1990.com are unfortunately not in possession of live pictures from this match, but it seems very likely that team manager Philipp had scrapped the traditional 4-4-2 for 3-5-2 for the visit of the Portuguese. Meunier, who had captained the side in their five first qualifiers, was nowhere to be seen, and there had been a starting berth for Malget, possibly in a holding midfield role. Up front, Reiter joined Langers, and the speedy Groff took up Scholten’s place to the left in midfield.

Qualifier 7
25.10.1989 Belgium 1-1 Luxembourg
Goal: Hellers
Luxembourg (3-5-2): van Rijswijck – Scheuer (Scholten 83), Weis (c), Bossi – Girres, Saibene (Jeitz 75), Birsens, Hellers, Groff – Langers, Malget
Luxembourg put on a confident display and frustrated their hosts all afternoon as they thoroughly deserved their draw and first point of the qualification. Falling behind four minutes from time seemed to be yet another case of misery, but they got their reward through Hellers’ calm finish just over a minute from time. Philipp had got his tactics spot on as they cut off Belgian supply lines in nullifying the threats from Van der Elst and Scifo. Scheuer did a splendid job in keeping Ceulemans anonymous.

Qualifier 8
15.11.1989 Switzerland 2-1 Luxembourg
Goal: Malget
Luxembourg (3-5-2): van Rijswijck – Bossi, Weis (c), Scheuer – Girres, Saibene, Birsens, Hellers, Groff – Malget (Scholten 83), Morocutti (Reiter 64)
Another credible performance from Philipp’s plucky selection. They appear to have found themselves in this 3-5-2, and even without quick striker Langers they were often a handful for the hosts, who eventually came good after Malget’s crisp first half finish had given Luxembourg the upper hand. The visitors succumbed to two second half goals, and unfortunately van Rijswijck was unable to prevent substitute Bonvin’s finish at his near post for 1-1. Hellers was unfortunate to tackle the ball into the path of Knup, who assisted Türkyılmaz for 2-1. But no reason to feel too downbeat. This team should continue to grow stronger.

Conclusion

Having been a 4-4-2 team for the five first matches of the qualification, manager Philipp decided to switch to 3-5-2 for the home clash with Portugal, their first autumn fixture in ’89. Resultwise, it may not have signalled much of an improvement, but Luxembourg knew they would never be anywhere near the gifted Portuguese anyway unless the visitors had an off day. Luxembourg kept with this formation despite the 3-0 reverse, and their next task was Belgium away. The home side needed to win to be guaranteed a first place finish, but were below par for the entire match, and had to see the inspired underdogs return back home with a sensational point following a late leveller. Belgium 1, Luxembourg 1 might just have been the single most amazing scoreline from the European section of the qualification. Three weeks later, in their last fixture, they would go in front in their away fixture against the disappointing Swiss, albeit end up on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline. They had given the Swiss an almighty scare, and thus rounded their qualification off with two performances which would have given a lot of hope for the future.

Manager Philipp, a temperamental figure, often seen waving vehemently in the direction of officials whenever a decision went against his team, had been sent to the stands during the 4-0 defeat in Czechoslovakia, which saw him suspended from the touchline for the subsequent home fixture with Belgium. These two matches saw them go down by their greatest margins of defeat. Luxembourg’s players, those who played at home, were part-timers, and only star players Langers and Hellers were earning their wages through football. Stylish midfielder Hellers was a regular at Standard Liège, a club regularly featuring in the top half in the Belgian league. The speedy Langers, a forward, had done very well in the second tier of French football, until Nice, a top flight side, signed him for the 1989/90 season. He would go on and have two good seasons there, and though the players around them were desperately lacking in quality on the international stage, these two made sure Luxembourg were no total pushovers.

Luxembourg had a few rugged players at the back. In particular Marcel Bossi, an ever present during the qualification, was a tough customer. However, he, like the rest of their defenders, lacked in pace. They would adopt Pierre Petry in a libero capacity, and he looked a slim, athletic player. The experienced Carlo Weis, who started the qualification in midfield, would round off in Petry’s libero role. In midfield, the worksome Jeitz would give a fine account of himself in some of the games, whereas one of the up and coming players in Birsens made more of a mark later on. And up front, even the big and burly Théo Malget proved he did have some qualities, striking home a leading goal in Switzerland. An enthusiastic young wide man by the name of Joël Groff seemed an interesting prospect along the left flank, and if Philipp could hang on to his star players and perhaps get in another couple of players of promise, Luxembourg could possibly emulate their one point tally for the next qualification.

Final position: 5 (out of 5)
Total record: 8 0 1 7 3-22 1
Home record: 4 0 0 4 1-14 0
Away record: 4 0 1 3 2-8 1

Player statistics

Number of players used: 20
Number of players including unused substitutes: 21
Ever-presents (720 mins): 2 (van Rijswijck and Bossi)
Leading goalscorer: Langers, Hellers, Malget (all 1)
Yellow/red cards: 10/0

– overview

Player	Apps	Start	Sub	UnSub	Mins	Gls	Y/R
van Rijswijck, John	8	8			720		1/0
Meunier, Hubert	5	5			450
Bossi, Marcel	8	8			720		1/0
Weis, Carlo	7	7			630		2/0
Petry, Pierre	5	5			450
Girres, Jean-Paul	8	7	1		611
Hellers, Guy	6	6			540	1	4/0
Jeitz, Gérard	7	5	2	1	448		1/0
Scholten, Théo	7	4	3		390
Langers, Robby	6	6			540	1
Krings, Armin	5	5			376		1/0
Koch, Paul				8
Scheuer, René	6	6		2	533
Birsens, Marc	5	5		3	450
Scuto, Denis	1		1	4	27
Morocutti, Patrick	3	1	2	1	109
Malget, Théo	6	3	3		299	1
Thomé, Marc	1		1	4	8
Saibene, Jeff	5	3	2		283
Groff, Joël	3	3			251
Reiter, Jeannot	2	1	1	1	85

– game by game

Player	Sui (h)	Cze (h)	Por (a)	Cze (a)	Bel (h)	Por (h)	Bel (a)	Sui (a)	Apps	Mins
van Rijswijck	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	8	720
Meunier	90	90	90	90	90				5	450
Bossi	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	8	720
Weis	90	90	90	90		90	90	90	7	630
Petry	90	90	90	90	90				5	450
Girres	63	8	90	90	90	90	90	90	7+1	611
Hellers	90	90		90		90	90	90	6	540
Jeitz	90	82	90	76	76	19	15	R	5+2	448
Scholten	90	90	82		83	31	7	7	4+3	390
Langers	90	90	90		90	90	90		6	540
Krings	73	62	62	89	90				5	376
Scuto	27	R	R	R	R				+1	27
Morocutti	17	28		R				64	1+2	109
Scheuer	R	90	90	90	90	R	83	90	6	533
Malget			28	1	7	90	90	83	3+3	299
Thomé			8		R	R	R	R	+1	8
Birsens	R	R	R	90	90	90	90	90	5	450
Saibene				14	14	90	75	90	3+2	283
Groff						71	90	90	3	251
Reiter						59	R	26	1+1	85
Koch	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

– ratings

Pos	Player	Average rating	Number of rated games
1	Langers	6,82	4
2	Hellers	6,77	4
3	van Rijswijck	6,70	6
4	Bossi	6,60	6
5	Weis	6,60	5
6	Malget	6,53	3
7	Scheuer	6,50	5
8	Petry	6,42	4
8	Birsens	6,42	4
10	Scholten	6,36	3
11	Jeitz	6,35	4
12	Meunier	6,17	4
13	Girres	6,10	6
14	Krings	5,80	4

Explanation to table: Total number of rated games: 6. A player needs to have obtained a rating in half or more of the games in order to be considered.

Post-qualification

Friendly
28.03.1990 Luxembourg 1-2 Iceland
Goal: Malget
Line-up: Koch – Birsens, Petry, Bossi – Girres, Weis, Goergen (Thomé 65), Scuto (Jeitz 76), Groff (Scholten 57) – Morocutti, Malget