Argentina 1978
The 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina provided a complex tapestry of football and politics, ultimately remembered for the host nation's first World Cup victory. Amidst a backdrop of political unrest, the tournament saw Argentina triumph in a pulsating finale against the Netherlands. The event was marked by fervent home support, the iconic ticker-tape receptions at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, and the emergence of a young Argentine star, Mario Kempes, who finished as the tournament's top scorer. Controversy was not absent, with allegations of match-fixing in Argentina's favor against Peru, but the footballing spectacle, including the introduction of the adidas Tango ball and the Netherlands' continued excellence despite Johan Cruyff's absence, captured the global imagination.
Winners and awards
Mario Kempes
Paolo Rossi
DirceuMario Kempes
Teófilo CubillasAntonio CabriniKnockout stage
| Final | ||
|---|---|---|
| Argentina 3-1(a.e.t) Netherlands  1978-06-25, 15:00 | ||
| Third-place match | ||
| Brazil 2-1 Italy 1978-06-24, 15:00 | ||
second group stage
| Group A | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
2 Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
3  West Germany | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
4  Austria | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Group B | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Argentina | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
2 Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
3  Poland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
4 Peru | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
first group stage
| Group 1 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Italy | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
2 Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
3  France | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
4  Hungary | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Group 2 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Poland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
2 West Germany | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
3  Tunisia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
4  Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 0 |
| Group 4 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Peru | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
2 Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
3  Scotland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
4  Iran | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
Top scorers
Mario Kempes (6)Teófilo Cubillas (5)Rob Rensenbrink (5)Hans Krankl (4)Leopoldo Luque (4)Paolo Rossi (3)Johnny Rep (3) Dirceu (3)Roberto Dinamite (3)Ernie Brandts (3)