München 74

league campaign, finishing just two places and three points off the drop zone. Roger Osborne was the matchwinner for Bobby Robson’s men, and was so overcome with emotion at scoring that he was substituted shortly after finding the back of the net.

Robson (who took over as national team manager in 1982) was not the only England boss to feature in Football 78, as Sir Alf Ramsey took his place as manager of Birmingham City. Shown in a plain white, round-necked jersey, Ramsey is described in his album biography as ‘caretaker manager’. The 1966 World Cup winner took over from Willie Bell in September 1977 and remained in change until February 1978. His brief spell was not without success, stabilising the team in mid-table and overseeing a famous 3–2 victory against Liverpool at Anfield.

Despite changing managers mid-way through the season – Ronnie Allen stepped down in December to be replaced by Ron Atkinson the following month – West Bromwich Albion finished sixth to claim the fourth and final UEFA Cup place. Although WBA lost their FA Cup semi-final to Ipswich at Highbury, defender John Wile’s bravery in staying on the pitch despite blood pouring out of his head remains an iconic image of the tie decades later.

West Ham United, Newcastle United and Leicester City were relegated from Division One, replaced by Bolton Wanderers, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur – the last of whom pipped Brighton and Hove Albion for promotion on goal difference.

In Scotland, Rangers won the treble under manager Jock Wallace, who nonetheless resigned a few weeks later. Wallace was replaced by legendary defender John Greig, who finished his playing career in style by lifting the Scottish Cup, thanks to a 2–1 win over Aberdeen at Hampden Park. Motherwell had earlier been defeated 2–0 in the League Cup final, while four straight wins to round off the campaign gave Rangers a twopoint cushion over Aberdeen for the league title.

Rangers weren’t the only side to change managers at the end of the season, St Mirren sacking Alex Ferguson (expect to see him turn up elsewhere!) while Billy McNeill left Aberdeen to return to Celtic, where he had enjoyed so much playing success.

All in all, Panini’s Football 78 instantly established the brand as the leading UK football collection, no doubt reputedly generating over 80 million packet sales. And with another successful album launch just around the corner for the 1978 World Cup, this was only the beginning for Panini and its love affair with the UK.

ARGENTINA 78

By the time host nation Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy Panini were celebrating their most successful tournament sticker album to date, as collecting frenzy took over the UK.

Fresh from the success of their debut domestic UK album, Football 78, the release of Argentina 78 (or World Cup 78 as it was known in the UK) marked a significant breakthrough for Panini, despite Scotland being the only home nation to reach the finals. The album’s success was in part due to Panini taking control of distribution, which included establishing an office in the UK.

Titled Argentina 78 around the world and World Cup 78 in the UK, each of the 16 qualifiers were represented in equal measure – 16 players, a team group and a sticker of their football governing body (though not in shiny foil, unlike the badges of Football 78).

The format of the tournament consisted of four groups of four teams with the top two qualifying for another group stage – the top side in each of those groups reaching the final.

Scotland were ushered off to Argentina serenaded by Rod Stewart, whose ‘Ole Ola’ collaboration with the squad reached number four in the UK singles chart. With players such as Archie Gemmill, Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish and Joe Jordan in their squad, there were high hopes for the Tartan Army.

Those ambitions rose further still when Jordan put Scotland ahead in their opening game with Peru. César Augusto Cueto equalised for the South Americans before Teófilo Cubillas, Peru’s greatest-ever player and star of three Panini World Cup albums, scored twice in the second half to complete a famous comeback.

Scotland’s campaign veered further off course when they could only draw 1–1 with World Cup newcomers Iran in their second match. That left them needing a three-goal margin of victory over 1974 finalists, the Netherlands, to finish above the Dutch. When Rob Rensenbrink scored a penalty the game looked over for Scotland. But Kenny Dalglish equalised on the stroke of half-time and then Archie Gemmill scored in the first minute of the second half from the penalty spot. When Gemmill

WORLD CUP 78 (UK) ALBUM FACTS

PAGES: 48 ALBUM PRICE: 15P NUMBER OF STICKERS: 400 PACKET COST: 5P FOR SIX STICKERS

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 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