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ARGENTINA
!
Argentina had been promised the
11th World Cup in 1966, but ten years later, a military junta
headed by General Videla ousted Isabella Perón amidst charges
of corruption. The country was under a state of siege and an
estimated 5000 people lost their lives with many more jailed and
tortured. With two years to the start of the World Cup, then, it
was a worrying time for FIFA and some European countries,
notably Holland, talked openly about boycotting the tournament
if it was staged in Argentina. But FIFA gave the go-ahead for
the final stages to take place as planned. The new Argentinian
regime had guaranteed a trouble-free tournament, but the
delivery of such an undertaking looked unlikely when General
Omar Actis, the president of the Argentina World Cup Organizing
Committee was assassinated by guerrillas. Happily, all the
pre-tournament worries were unfounded and the 11th World Cup was
to pass without a major incident.
The format of the 1978 World Cup was the same as the one in West
Germany four years earlier. More than 100 countries took part in
the qualifying and the 15 best teams made the journey to
Argentina to join the hosts in the 16 team tournament held in
South America for the first time since 1962.
The World Cup finalists from the previous tournament in 1974,
West Germany and Holland arrived in Argentina without their
captains Cruyff and Beckenbauer. Still they looked good enough
to go all the way in this World Cup. Argentina had an exciting
young attacking team, so too had Italy who infact beat the hosts
in the first round. Also in that group was France, with a young
Platini, but they found it too hard to go through from that
group. Tunisia made history when they beat Mexico 3-1 in group
B. That was the first ever victory for an African side in a
World Cup match. Rob Rensenbrink of Holland was honoured to
score the 1000th goal in World Cup history, when he converted a
penalty against Scotland. Peru with Cubillas played some superb
soccer in the early stages and topped Holland's group.
However, in the second phase of the tournament, the star of
Mundial 1978 woke up. His name was Mario Kempes. He scored both
goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Poland, then after a
violent goalless draw with Brazil he scored two more as
Argentina beat Peru by 6-0 and qualified to to the final.
Argentina had to win that match by four goals, otherwise Brazil
would have qualified to the final instead. In the other second
phase group, an all European by the way, Holland trashed Austria
by 5-1, while Italy and West Germany battled in 90 minutes
without scoring a goal in a drab match. When Holland held the
Germans to a draw in Cordoba, it meant
that West Germany couldn't reach the final. Instead
Italy and Holland played a decisive match for the right to play
Argentina in the final. Ernie Brandts scored an own goal, but
then made it up again with a goal at the other end to make it
1-1. Then Arie Haan from over 40 yards put Holland in front with
one of the greatest goals in World Cup history. Holland held on
to the lead and would play in the final yet again. Brazil beat
Italy in the bronzematch, once again a long range shot beat Zoff.
The final itself was dramatic and went to extra time. Kempes
scored two goals and became topscorer of the tournament. Holland
once again beaten by the hosts in a World Cup final. Read more
about the final by clicking on the "Final" link in the
left column.
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