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World Cup 1978

Winner

Argentina

Highlights

The 1978 World Cup was held in Argentina, then ruled by a military junta, in a political climate that prompted calls for a boycott in Europe. The Netherlands, runners-up four years earlier, travelled without Johan Cruyff. Tunisia recorded the first victory by an African team at the finals, beating Mexico 3-1.

The second round, again played in two groups, produced two results that are still talked about. Austria beat holders West Germany 3-2 in Córdoba and knocked them out. Argentina, needing to win by four goals to overtake Brazil on goal difference, thrashed Peru 6-0, a result that remains controversial to this day. The unbeaten Brazilians had to settle for third place.

In the final in Buenos Aires, Mario Kempes opened the scoring, but Dick Nanninga equalised for the Netherlands and Rob Rensenbrink hit the post in the last minute of normal time. In extra time, Kempes, the tournament's top scorer with six goals, and then Daniel Bertoni gave Argentina their first world title (3-1).

Statistics

Total goals
102
Matches played
38
Goals/match
2.68
Best attack (goals scored)
15
Argentina
Best defense (goals conceded)
2
Spain

First round

Qualified for the next round

Group 1

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Italy 6 3 3 0 0 6 2 +4
2.Argentina 4 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1
3.France 2 3 1 0 2 5 5 0
4.Hungary 0 3 0 0 3 3 8 -5
Match results
Argentina - Hungary2 - 1
Italy - France2 - 1
Argentina - France2 - 1
Italy - Hungary3 - 1
Italy - Argentina1 - 0
France - Hungary3 - 1

Group 2

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Poland 5 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3
2.Germany 4 3 1 2 0 6 0 +6
3.Tunisia 3 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1
4.Mexico 0 3 0 0 3 2 12 -10
Match results
Germany - Poland0 - 0
Tunisia - Mexico3 - 1
Poland - Tunisia1 - 0
Germany - Mexico6 - 0
Germany - Tunisia0 - 0
Poland - Mexico3 - 1

Group 3

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Austria 4 3 2 0 1 3 2 +1
2.Brazil 4 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1
3.Spain 3 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
4.Sweden 1 3 0 1 2 1 3 -2
Match results
Austria - Spain2 - 1
Sweden - Brazil1 - 1
Austria - Sweden1 - 0
Brazil - Spain0 - 0
Spain - Sweden1 - 0
Brazil - Austria1 - 0

Group 4

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Peru 5 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5
2.Netherlands 3 3 1 1 1 5 3 +2
3.Scotland 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 -1
4.Iran 1 3 0 1 2 2 8 -6
Match results
Netherlands - Iran3 - 0
Peru - Scotland3 - 1
Scotland - Iran1 - 1
Netherlands - Peru0 - 0
Peru - Iran4 - 1
Scotland - Netherlands3 - 2

Second round

Qualified for the next round

Group A

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Netherlands 5 3 2 1 0 9 4 +5
2.Italy 3 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
3.Germany 2 3 0 2 1 4 5 -1
4.Austria 2 3 1 0 2 4 8 -4
Match results
Germany - Italy0 - 0
Netherlands - Austria5 - 1
Italy - Austria1 - 0
Germany - Netherlands2 - 2
Netherlands - Italy2 - 1
Austria - Germany3 - 2

Group B

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Argentina 5 3 2 1 0 8 0 +8
2.Brazil 5 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5
3.Poland 2 3 1 0 2 2 5 -3
4.Peru 0 3 0 0 3 0 10 -10
Match results
Argentina - Poland2 - 0
Brazil - Peru3 - 0
Argentina - Brazil0 - 0
Poland - Peru1 - 0
Brazil - Poland3 - 1
Argentina - Peru6 - 0

Knockout stage

Third place

Brazil - Italy2 - 1

Final

Argentina3
Netherlands1

After extra time

Top Scorers

Rank Player Goals Penalties Goals/match
1 Mario Kempes 6 0 0.86
2 Teófilo Cubillas 5 2 0.83
2 Rob Rensenbrink 5 4 0.71
4 Leopoldo Luque 4 0 0.80
4 Hans Krankl 4 1 0.67
6 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 3 0 0.60
6 Roberto Dinamite 3 0 0.60
6 Johnny Rep 3 0 0.50
6 Dirceu 3 0 0.43
6 Paolo Rossi 3 0 0.43
11 Archie Gemmill 2 1 0.67
11 Nelinho 2 0 0.50
11 Dieter Müller 2 0 0.50
11 Heinz Flohe 2 0 0.50
11 Ernie Brandts 2 0 0.50
11 Zbigniew Boniek 2 0 0.33
11 Daniel Bertoni 2 0 0.33
11 Grzegorz Lato 2 0 0.33
11 Arie Haan 2 0 0.33
11 Roberto Bettega 2 0 0.29
21 András Tóth 1 1 1.00
21 Dani 1 0 1.00
21 Dominique Rocheteau 1 0 0.50
21 Iraj Danayfar 1 0 0.50
21 Christian Lopez 1 0 0.50
21 Marc Berdoll 1 0 0.50
21 Bernard Lacombe 1 0 0.50
21 Károly Csapó 1 0 0.33
21 Walter Schachner 1 0 0.33
21 Michel Platini 1 0 0.33
21 Reinaldo 1 0 0.33
21 Thomas Sjoberg 1 0 0.33
21 Kenny Dalglish 1 0 0.33
21 Bernd Hölzenbein 1 0 0.33
21 Joe Jordan 1 0 0.33
21 Arturo Vázquez Ayala 1 1 0.33
21 Sándor Zombori 1 0 0.33
21 Víctor Rangel 1 0 0.33
21 Rüdiger Abramczik 1 0 0.33
21 Mokhtar Douieb 1 0 0.33
21 Juan Manuel Asensi 1 0 0.33
21 Nejib Ghommidh 1 0 0.33
21 Ali Kaabi 1 0 0.33
21 Dick Nanninga 1 0 0.33
21 Hassan Rowshan 1 0 0.33
21 Hansi Müller 1 0 0.25
21 Renato Zaccarelli 1 0 0.20
21 José Velásquez 1 0 0.20
21 Andrzej Szarmach 1 0 0.20
21 Zico 1 1 0.17
21 René Houseman 1 0 0.17
21 Romeo Benetti 1 0 0.17
21 César Cueto 1 0 0.17
21 Kazimierz Deyna 1 0 0.17
21 Erich Obermayer 1 0 0.17
21 René Van De Kerkhof 1 0 0.14
21 Franco Causio 1 0 0.14
21 Daniel Passarella 1 1 0.14
21 Willy Van De Kerkhof 1 0 0.14
21 Alberto Tarantini 1 0 0.14