1978 FIFA World Cup – Argentina
The 1978 FIFA World Cup was played in Argentina, that was selected to host it in 1966. It was marked by controversy, internal politics and alleged interference and match-fixing by the authoritarian Argentine government, which was using the tournament as an opportunity for nationalist propaganda. Argentina had undergone a military coup two years before the cup. One Swedish player was even arrested for speaking to a person in Buenos Aires, but he was soon release as the Argentine military recognize its error.
He was at a cafe when he began talking to a man who happened to be a lawyer. The lawyer told him about the government’s persecution of dissidents. Two days later he was surrounded, arrested and only released after proving he was a member of the Swedish team.
Another controversy was regarding the time of the games (something that would repeat in 1982 and that FIFA changed from 1986 on). Argentina played all their group stage matches at night, so they always knew where they stood in the group.
Argentina was also accused of fixing the game against Peru, that they won 6-0. The Peruvians had qualified first during the first group stage and had conceded only 6 goals in 5 matches. And Argentina needed to win by at least a 4-goal difference in order to end the second group stage ahead of Brazil and advance to the final. This was never proven.
For the first time, more than 100 nations entered the competition. From the remaining 14 places (as 2 were reserved for the hosts and the defending champions), 8 to UEFA, 2 to CONMEBOL, 1 to AFC/OFC, 1 to CONCACAF and 1 to CAF. The last place was contested by the 9th from UEFA vs. the 3rd from CONMEBOL.
The Netherlands got the final again. Regular time ended with the game tied 1-1. In the extra time, Argentina scored twice and the Netherlands lost their second consecutive World Cup final, both for the host nation.
List of qualified teams: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, France, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, West Germany.
Champions: Argentina
2nd place: Netherlands
3rd place: Brazil
Top scorer player: Mario Kempes, Argentina – 6 goals
Top scorer team: Argentina, Netherlands – 15 goals
Total of goals: 102 goals
Average per match: 2.68
List of all the tournaments
- 1930 FIFA World Cup – Uruguay
- 1934 FIFA World Cup – Italy
- 1938 FIFA World Cup – France
- 1950 FIFA World Cup – Brazil
- 1954 FIFA World Cup – Switzerland
- 1958 FIFA World Cup – Sweden
- 1962 FIFA World Cup – Chile
- 1966 FIFA World Cup – England
- 1970 FIFA World Cup – Mexico
- 1974 FIFA World Cup – West Germany