Back in 1983, the Netherlands were fighting to punch their ticket to EURO 1984 in Group G, a group with Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Malta. The Netherlands and Spain were equal on points, but Oranje boasted a far superior goal difference.
If Spain wanted to qualify, they had to beat Malta on the final day. And they'd have to do that with a margin of eleven goals. A bit of a challenge after beating Malta 3-2 earlier in the qualifying campaign, thanks to an 84th-minute winner from Rafael Gordillo.
The Netherlands beat Malta 5-0 just four days before Spain were to meet Malta in Seville, and the Dutch, with Ronald Koeman in the squad, relaxed, took a seat, and waited for the final whistle - the whistle that would bring them to EURO 1984.
Things went a little differently, however. Spain beat Malta 12-1, with a margin of exactly eleven goals. Spain qualified for EURO 1984 in France, the Netherlands missed out. And they were not happy.
It would not take long for people to suspect foul play, especially in the direction of Malta goalkeeper John Bonello. The same Bonello who, only a couple of days before the match, said that Spain "can't even score eleven goals against a team of children" and added: "I wouldn't return to my country if they scored 11 goals."
Bonello was not afraid to say something slightly controversial in the rowdy 1980s. After the 5-0 loss against the Netherlands, Dutch press secretary Wim Jesse reportedly heard the stopper shout: "The f*** for Holland, Spain is going to France."
'I believe the goalkeeper has the same last name...'
Fast-forward 42 years, and Malta and the Netherlands are scheduled to play each other again. Not for the first time since 1983 - the two sides met four times in the 1990s - but with interestingly familiar faces: Henry Bonello, son of John, in goal for Malta, and Ronald Koeman, who played the full 90 minutes in the 5-0 win over Malta in 1983, on the bench as manager of the Netherlands.
Henry has never been eager to talk about that fateful day in 1983, and especially not when the Spanish press asked the stopper about it in 2019. "More than 30 years have passed since that match. Can you let it go? My father has had enough of it," he said.
It was not let go, and it was not let go by the Dutch press either.
When Algemeen Dagblad journalist Mikos Gouka wanted to speak to Henry, the Maltese press secretary was quick to tell Gouka that Henry "does not really like giving interviews." A Dutch journalist wishing to talk to the son of John Bonello as a game between the Netherlands and Malta edges closer—who can blame him?
Someone willing to talk about it, admittedly a little, was Koeman. During Monday's press conference at the headquarters of the Dutch national team, Koeman was made aware that he'll face John Bonello's son. "I believe the goalkeeper has the same last name. Is it family?"
"It's his son? Okay...", Koeman said, smiling behind his hand, and laughed: "That's good to know. I'll say nothing further."
But 42 years after missing out on his first major tournament, when asked whether he'd carry some feeling of revenge towards the match, Koeman answered calmly: "No, not anymore."
An old wound is an old wound, and it'll still hurt deep down - even if you've had a career like Koeman's. The name 'Bonello' will always bring up questions in the Dutch football universe, but Tuesday night, it'll all be about continuing a good start to the World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Netherlands and Malta will kick off their FIFA World Cup qualifier in Groningen on Tuesday, June 10th, at 20.45 CET.