WORLD CUP 78 (UK) ALBUM FACTS
1978 WORLD CUP
PAGES: 48
Winners: ARGENTINA
ALBUM PRICE: 15P NUMBER OF STICKERS: 400
Runners-up: NETHERLANDS
PACKET COST: 5P FOR SIX STICKERS
Third: BRAZIL Fourth: ITALY then conjured up one of the goals of the tournament the Scots were just one goal from achieving a miracle. But Johnny Rep put an end to the dream when he reduced the deficit to one. Cubillas scored a hat-trick in Peru’s last group match – a 4–1 win over Iran – to earn the South Americans top spot in Group 4. There was plenty of drama in Group 3 when Brazil’s Zico had a goal disallowed in injury time during their 1–1 draw with Sweden. Welsh referee Clive Thomas blew for full-time with the ball already on its way into the penalty area from a corner kick, a moment before it reached the head of the Brazil forward. Hans Krankl was Austria’s kingpin as they won their first two matches to top their group, while Brazil edged Spain out of second thanks to a win over the Austrians in the final round of group fixtures. Holders West Germany and Poland (who finished third in 1974) contested the opening match of the tournament – a goalless draw
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in Buenos Aires. The other two sides in Group 2 met the following day with Tunisia becoming the first African team to win a match in the World Cup finals. West Germany inflicted further pain on the Mexicans with a 6–0 win before playing out a 0–0 draw against Tunisia to secure qualification alongside Poland, for whom Zbigniew Boniek was another break-out star. Hosts Argentina were in a strong Group 1 alongside Italy and France, with Hungary proving to be the whipping boys, losing all three matches. Paolo Rossi burst onto the World Cup scene for Italy with a goal in the 2–1 win against France. Károly Csapó shocked Argentina by putting Hungary ahead in their opening game, but Leopoldo Luque – retaining his drooping moustache from World Cup 74 – and Daniel Bertoni retrieved the game. World Cup debutant Michel Platini scored for France in their second game against Argentina, but the hosts scored either side of half time to guarantee their
path to the second group stage, with Italy. Italy’s Roberto Bettega scored the only goal of the game to decide which team finished top when they met Argentina in front of 71,000 fans in Buenos Aires. Brazil finally found their shooting boots in the second group phase during a 3–0 win over Peru. Mario Kempes also found his range with two goals against Poland. When Argentina and Brazil then drew 0–0 it became likely that top spot – and a place in the World Cup final – would be decided on goals scored. Brazil’s 3–1 win over Poland left Argentina needing to beat Peru by four goals. They achieved their aim by the 50th minute – with another two for Kempes – in a 6–0 rout. The Netherlands turned on the style in Group A to clinch a place in the final alongside the home nation. A 5–1 win over Austria – two more for Rep – set the tone. Arie Haan’s long-range effort was the highlight of a 2–2 draw with West Germany. He did the same again, from even further out, in what was essentially a final-
decider with a swerving effort past Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff – the winning goal in a 2–1 win. In the final, Kempes put Argentina ahead in the first half before a header by Dirk Nanninga put the Dutch level. Rensenbrink nearly won the game in the closing stages, but his shot hit the post as the game went to extra time. Kempes added a second in the added 30 minutes and then Bertoni made sure of Argentina’s first World Cup.
Golden Boot: MARIO KEMPES (6)
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