1978 FIFA World Cup Official Film

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BRASS BAND PLAYS

MUSIC DROWNS ANNOUNCER

The World Cup was back on the banks of the River Plate.

Nearly 50 years after the inaugural final in Uruguay,

it is the turn of Argentina to play host to the world

and to the game's latest heroes.

West Germany's Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

came from Bayern Munich.

Roberto Bettega from Juventus led Italy's challenge.

Strong on the ground, devastating in the air.

His attacking partner was young Paolo Rossi.

Holland looked to Rob Rensenbrink

to take on the leadership mantle of the absent Johan Cruyff.

Brazil, ever-present at the finals, relied on Roberto Rivelino,

a link with their victorious team of 1970.

Scotland had been led back to the finals once more

by Kenny Dalglish.

Graham Souness should create the openings for Dalglish to exploit

from midfield.

France were inspired by the young Michel Platini.

Argentina had brought home Mario Kempes to spearhead their attack.

Kempes was their only foreign-based player.

He would soon be joined in Europe by Osvaldo Ardiles,

whose skills took him to Tottenham.

Argentina had been a contentious choice as host nation.

A military junta, led by Jorge Videla,

seized power from Peron's widow.

His methods to combat urban terrorism

caused international controversy.

Staging a successful World Cup

became a matter of high-profile prestige.

New stadia were built and expensive refurbishing was undertaken.

Cosseting the world's media was equally important.

So, in record time, they built a new television centre,

the most extravagantly equipped in all of South America.

The irony was not lost on the people of Argentina.

Colour pictures were transmitted around the world

but, as yet,

they could only watch the World Cup finals in black and white.

The balloons went up at the end of an era.

This was the last time just 16 nations would contest

the World Cup finals.

Next time around, in Spain, there would be 24.

With hosts Argentina, title-holders West Germany

and 1974 runners-up Holland,

Italy, twice champions, added to the European challenge,

as were Austria, France, Hungary,

Poland, Scotland, Spain and Sweden.

The Americas sent triple champions Brazil, also Peru and Mexico.

Newcomers were Iran and Tunisia.

WHISTLE BLOWS

The River Plate Stadium staged the opening match.

West Germany kicked off the finals against Poland,

the 1974 winners against the country who had finished third.

West Germany were still managed by veteran Helmut Schon

but missed the leadership of skipper and sweeper Franz Beckenbauer.

He had been lured away to play for New York Cosmos

in the North American Soccer League.

Poland's captain was midfield general Kazimierz Deyna.

Later, he too would wander to the United States.

But in Argentina he remained the creative fulcrum of Poland's effort.

Leading the attack was 1974 top scorer, with seven goals,

Grzegorz Lato.

Goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski

had once been dismissed as a clown by the English

but they had long since discovered that he was more of a giant.

The Germans had lost the likes of Gerd Muller, Overath and Grabowski -

all had retired from the national team.

Poland missed the clever left winger Robert Gadocha.

The match was an untidy, uninspiring goalless draw.

The result was one big yawn for the capacity 75,000 crowd.

Cesar Luis Menotti had been manager of Argentina

for three years.

Menotti was a man with a mission.

Argentina's reputation had been marred in previous World Cups

and Menotti told the media he wanted to go back to the days

when Argentina were famed more for their skills than their scowls.

CAMERAS WHIR

HE SPEAKS SPANISH

Menotti's biggest gamble came just before the finals.

Diego Maradona, then just 17,

was one of the three players Menotti dropped from his squad.

Maradona's talent was not in doubt.

But Menotti decided he lacked the experience to cope with

the enormous pressure, which rained down with the ticker tape

on Argentina's favourite footballers

in the River Plate Stadium.

CHEERING

Hungary were the opponents who set the ball rolling.

Andras Torocsik was the Magyars' individualistic

but temperamental centre forward.

His darting runs embarrassed Argentina's defenders

and called up comparisons

with Hungary's great forwards of the 1950s.

Hungary drew first blood.

Zombori's shot was only parried and Csapo followed up to score.

For Argentina, it was the worst possible start to their campaign.

Menotti sat chain-smoking in his dugout.

The Hungarians celebrated in the silence which enveloped the stadium

but those celebrations lasted only a matter of minutes.

A free kick and Argentina equalised.

Hungarian goalkeeper Gujdar failed to hold the shot from Kempes

and Luque pounced to score.

CROWD: Argentina! Argentina! Argentina!

As the pace increased, so tempers grew shorter.

Gallego, a rock in Argentina's midfield,

was fouled, and that old spark threatened to catch light.

Perhaps that is what the Hungarians had hoped,

that good football would prove beyond a team in a bad temper.

Kempes was sent flying before Argentina decided to answer

foul with foul, trip with trip.

Ardiles, a master puppeteer in midfield,

was growing in confidence and understanding.

New partners were Luque and Kempes.

Slowly, these two big men were learning how they could best

exploit each other's pace and power.

Holding it all together was Daniel Passarella.

He was Menotti's captain and the iron man of Argentine football.

He was dangerous with free kicks and ferocious with penalties.

Many of Argentina's best moves began with Passarella.

Seven minutes remained on the clock when Argentina

snatched the winner.

Gujdar dived bravely at Luque's feet

but Daniel Bertoni finished it off.

Argentina were 2-1 ahead and the fans went wild.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Hungary went wild too,

not in ways approved by the laws of the game.

First, referee Garrido showed Torocsik the red expulsion card

after an incident with Galvan.

Then it was the turn of Nyilasi, who had bowled over Tarantini.

He too gets his marching orders.

The final whistle came just in time to prevent

any more trouble out on the pitch of the River Plate.

CHEERING

Argentina's heroes saluted the cheers as if

they'd won the World Cup itself rather than just their first match.

Top seaside resort Mar del Plata, 250 miles south of Buenos Aires,

played host to matches in Groups 1 and 3.

The stadium had been built in record time

but there were doubts about whether the pitch would last the pace.

Italy and France, two European nations whose greatest days

were thought to be behind them,

opened the group action.

The Italians in particular had been savaged by their own media.

The fans back home expected nothing of them.

Italy's team was a mixture of well-tried experience

and untested youth.

It looked an unhappy mixture as Italy kicked off

and France went ahead just 38 seconds later.

French goalkeeper Bertrand-Demanes

began the move with a quick clearance up the left.

Didier Six outpaced the defence

and Bernard Lacombe struck one of the fastest goals

in World Cup history.

Italy's fans could not believe it.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Back in 1934 and 1938,

it was Italy who championed the world.

Surely they deserved more respect than this.

Their suspect temperament was being tested to the limit.

Paolo Rossi, short on height but long in determination,

led the reply.

Italy pushed the French back into their own penalty box.

The ball bounced around the French goalmouth

like a pinball machine.

Eventually, the ball rebounded off Rossi's legs and into the net.

Italy were level, 1-1.

CHEERING

One day, Rossi and Michel Platini would be team-mates at Juventus.

Today, they had nothing in common except will to win.

Even that was not enough, as Platini found himself shadowed everywhere

by yet another Juventus mainstay

in Marco Tardelli.

In the 51st minute, Italy seized the lead.

Rossi was the creator and Zaccarelli was the scorer.

CHEERING

In the last five minutes, France staged one last surge

but there was no penalty when Platini was brought down.

France had let their superb start go to waste.

Italy, by opening their campaign with a 2-1 victory,

had surprised even themselves.

The early arrivals discuss the merits of the two teams.

INAUDIBLE

For the young, there is no discussion,

just the patient wait.

A slip-up by the flag-throwing display team

meant bad luck for someone.

But which side would that be?

The answer was not long in coming.

Inevitably, Rossi shot Italy into the lead.

CHEERING

One minute later in the 35th minute,

Bettega scored a second.

CHEERING

Bettega might have scored yet again.

This time, the crossbar got in the way.

Italy's manager, Enzo Bearzot,

had taken over the job three years earlier.

In his day, he had played once for Italy.

Ironically, that had also been against Hungary,

but a far superior Hungarian team to the one present in Argentina.

INAUDIBLE

As time went on, Italy found they could threaten the goal

almost at will.

Bettega was unlucky when another of his shots struck the bar.

Yet another effort from Bettega hit the bar rather than the net.

Eventually, it was Italy's best player,

veteran midfielder Romeo Benetti,

who scored the decisive third goal.

Italy had surprised even themselves.

Bellugi pulled down Csapo.

Uruguayan referee Ramon Barreto had no hesitation awarding a penalty.

INAUDIBLE

Andras Toth tucked the ball away.

Italy didn't mind. With two games played,

they were already in the second round.

Back in Buenos Aires and the River Plate Stadium,

it was snowing pieces of paper.

All Argentina, it seemed, had packed the cliffs of the stadium

to roar Menotti's men to a second victory

and the virtual guarantee of qualification for the second round.

France were set up as sacrificial victims.

Rene Houseman led the charge.

France were reeling as Kempes thrashed a drive against a post.

France were living dangerously in the most exciting clash

of the finals so far.

Did the French captain handle the ball?

CROWD WHISTLES

Gallego left referee Jean Dubach in no doubt about his view

of the incident.

He pursued Dubach across the pitch to the linesman and kept up

the verbal pressure all the way.

CROWD WHISTLES

His persistence paid off.

Dubach awarded the penalty for which the crowd had been baying.

Argentine skipper Passarella thundered the ball home.

CHEERING

Argentina 1-0 France.

Right on the stroke of half-time.

The second half and more bad luck for France.

Goalkeeper Bertrand-Demanes saved bravely from Luque

but crashed into the post and injured his back.

He had to be substituted by Dominique Baratelli.

Platini, only 21 but with the skill of a veteran,

looked for gaps to exploit.

In the 61st minute, his efforts were rewarded with this goal.

France kept up the pressure.

Platini was at the heart of their best moves

and he sent Didier Six clear

but the left winger shot wastefully wide.

It would prove a costly miss.

Quarter of an hour to go and Luque found time and space to turn

and smash the winning goal beyond Baratelli.

France, one of the finest teams on duty,

were already eliminated after only two games.

CROWD: Argentina! Argentina! Argentina!

Argentina's blue and white army intended to intimidate Italy,

just as they had intimidated France.

But Italy's players, brought up in a goldfish bowl of a league,

knew all about big-match pressure.

They, and manager Bearzot, also understood

the significance of this game.

Both teams had qualified for round two

but the winners tonight would stay in Buenos Aires.

The losers would have to travel up to Rosario.

In the opening minutes, Zoff was forced to a fine save from Kempes.

Zoff was furious with the lack of protection he had received

from his promising full back Antonio Cabrini.

Keeper Fillol was called into action, saving well from Bettega.

Skipper Passarella pushed forwards repeatedly

to help an Argentine attack badly missing the injured Luque.

The centre forward had dislocated an elbow

in Argentina's victory over France.

The game produced one brilliant goal.

Antognoni began the move, which tore at the heart of Argentina's defence.

Bettega exchanged passes with Rossi and shot past Fillol.

Menotti leapt from the dugout in fury. This was not

part of his plan.

Bettega tangles with Passarella...

INAUDIBLE

..but ends up Italy's match-winning hero.

When Israeli referee Abraham Klein blew the final whistle,

Italy had won the right to stay in Buenos Aires for the second round.

Menotti would have to take his team to Rosario.

He would also have to rethink tactics and team selection.

Rosario and the setting for Mexico and Tunisia,

two unfancied teams.

The stadium at Rosario was very different to the one

at River Plate.

There was no athletics track, no enormous moat.

Here, the fans are on top of the game.

BRASS BAND PLAYS

Tunisia kicked off against Mexico.

The Africans were appearing in the finals for the first time.

Tarak Dhiab was the driving force in midfield.

His talent took him to Egypt and to the Gulf states.

Six months before flying out to Argentina,

he had been acclaimed African footballer of the year.

Mexico's answer was Leonardo Cuellar,

a midfielder whose skills were reputed to be as remarkable

as his personal appearance.

Cuellar was now 26

but had played around 80 times for Mexico at all levels.

He was expected to provide the passes,

which a new centre forward named Hugo Sanchez would turn into goals.

Handball. Jebali was penalised by Scottish referee John Gordon.

Arturo Vazquez Ayala stepped forward to convert the penalty

a minute short of the interval.

CHEERING

Tunisia had enjoyed most of the play

in the first half and continued equally confidently into the second.

Soon after the restart, Ali Kaabi equalised.

The goal had been long overdue.

CHEERING

Ghommidh converted a pass from Tarak to put Tunisia in the driving seat.

Full back Dhouib scored Tunisia's decisive third goal

to further separate the teams.

This was Africa's first ever victory in the World Cup finals.

Not only that but they were temporarily top of the group.

West Germany prepared for their match with Mexico.

Manager Helmut Schon made dramatic changes,

bringing in Dieter Muller, Rummenigge and Dietz.

One of the few Germans to escape criticism

was goalkeeper Sepp Maier.

His unorthodox style, like a jumpy crab,

was credited with distracting opponents.

Maier said merely that he liked to stay

literally on his toes.

Mexico stage a propaganda coup

by walking out with the Argentine flag.

It was a salute to the crowd,

to the host nation and an invitation for their support.

They would need all the help they could get.

West Germany began with more aggression

than their displays throughout the 90 minutes

of the opening game against Poland.

The change in personnel had brought a change in confidence and approach.

Germany dominated the midfield.

After 15 minutes, Dieter Muller opened the scoring.

This was the Germans' 101st goal in World Cup finals action

and was the start of a first-half avalanche.

Hans Muller scored number two, converting a pass from Flohe.

The result was already beyond doubt.

It was just a question of how many.

The goal from Rummenigge was the best of the match.

The Bayern winger ran 50 yards and held off a last-ditch challenge

long enough to slide the ball beyond Pilar Reyes.

The keeper is injured and stretchered off.

With 38 minutes gone, substitute Soto

took over between the posts.

He'd barely got his bearings before Rummenigge

turned the match into a personal triumph,

thanks to the aplomb with which he took his own second goal

of the afternoon.

Mexico had fallen apart.

Already the knives were being sharpened back home.

The Mexicans were saved by the woodwork twice over.

But players such as Cuellar had no doubt about the gap in class.

As manager Jose Antonio Roca said,

"We were beaten by a side who played like the world champions they are."

Flohe rubbed it in by scoring the Germans' sixth.

Suddenly the departure of Beckenbauer

didn't seem so important.

West Germany were learning to live without him.

CHEERING

Against Tunisia, the Germans needed a draw to qualify

but a victory to shore up their self-esteem.

Unfortunately, Tunisia's coach, Majid Chetali,

knew all about them.

He had studied coaching methods in Germany and he warned -

"The pressure on us is greater than on any other team.

"They play for a country. We are playing for a continent.

"The rest of the world has laughed at African football for long enough.

"Now the mockery is over."

After a lively start, Tunisia were pushed back in defence.

Goalkeeper Mokhtar Dhouib was kept busy

by the goal-hungry German forwards.

Several times it took a foul

to stop West Germany's advance on the African goal.

Fortunately for Naili, the defensive wall just about held firm.

Tunisia held out bravely and patiently for a goalless draw.

Sadly, it would not be enough.

Poland beat Mexico 3-1 in Rosario

and qualified for the second round along with West Germany.

Tunisia would go home beaten but far from disgraced.

Traditional excitement surrounded Brazil's first

appearance in the finals.

It was Sweden's Ronnie Hellstrom who stole the show

with his unorthodox style.

It was long considered a weakness for a goalkeeper to save regularly

with his legs, but to Hellstrom, that was a legitimate tactic.

Others would copy his style worldwide.

It was certainly one which worked for him and for Sweden.

Brazil were playing to more defensive instructions than

usual, but still dominated play.

Defender Amaral was narrowly off target.

Benny Wendt rattled the bar after escaping Brazil's centre backs.

Minutes later, Sjoberg popped Sweden ahead.

Cerezo, a long ball.

And Reinaldo pounced to score.

Ironically, amid this defensive chaos,

Sweden's veteran defender Bjorn Nordqvist was winning

his 109th cap, breaking Bobby Moore's long-standing world record.

Brazil had planned for a victory

and Hellstrom was kept under constant pressure.

Brazil forced what had to be the last corner of the match

and the South Americans' last chance.

Sweden keeper Hellstrom said later he was asking referee

Clive Thomas from Wales how long remained on the watch.

Thomas had indicated that the corner would be the last kick.

When the corner was taken and Zico headed into the net,

the Swedish goalkeeper did not react.

The trouble was he was the only other man in the stadium,

apart from the referee, who knew what had happened and why.

Referee Thomas insisted the game had finished before the ball

crossed the line.

The Brazilians protested in vain.

Thomas, who was only applying the letter of the law,

would never referee again at the World Cup finals.

Austria and Spain opened their Group 3 campaigns

in the Velez Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires.

This was probably the best pitch in Argentina.

It was surrounded by a crowd ready to give their Spanish cousins

all the support they could.

Spain responded by attacking with pace and skill.

Austria's veteran fullback, Robert Sara, headed off the goal line.

Austria went ahead with a superb goal from Walter Schachner,

a powerful right-winger who was then playing second division football

with Alpine Donawitz.

You might have thought that Krankl had scored himself.

Austria chased another goal.

Willy Kreuz cleverly played his way through the Spanish defence,

but hit his shot just too close to Miguel Angel.

That was a fine save from the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

Spain now began a period of relentless pressure.

Bruno Pezzey made a hash of a headed clearance and Dani equalised.

A corner to Spain.

Cano bundled the ball into the net but referee Palotai from Hungary

had no hesitation in disallowing the goal.

The next chance fell to midfielder Jose,

who wasted an open goal opportunity.

As time went on, both teams appeared more and more satisfied with a draw.

Then Miguel failed to clear and Hans Krankl show Austria back in front.

2-1 to Austria, was the final score.

An ideal opening on their first appearance at the World Cup finals

since Sweden in 1958.

World Cup survival was the name of the game

when two great soccer nations, Brazil and Spain,

faced each other across the treacherous pitch of Mar del Plata.

Rumours that Brazil had sacked manager Coutinho proved unfounded,

but after the opening disappointment against Sweden,

his future was certainly in doubt.

Rivelino was missing because of an old ankle injury.

Goalkeeper Leao took on the captain's armband.

Coutinho said the Brazilians were handicapped more than

the Europeans by their heavy, spongy pitch, because the ability to

change pace was central to the South American game.

His players tried their best.

A long cross from the right produced chaos at the heart

of the Spanish defence but no-one could take advantage.

The closest Brazil came to a goal was when Spain's sweeper Olmo

headed against his own crossbar under pressure from Zico.

But the best chance of all fell to Spain.

Santillana headed down Uria's cross

and presented Cardenosa with a wide open goal.

Somehow Amaral cleared it on the line.

That miss would blight the rest of Cardenosa's career.

As the game went on, the pitch grew worse.

Great players on both sides were reduced to slipping

and sliding through the drizzle.

A goalless draw was fair on the day,

but for Brazil, 9/4 favourites, the odds were clearly lengthening.

Austria's fans were entertained with a lively

game against Sweden in Velez Sarsfield.

There were a string of chances at both ends.

Kreuz was Austria's most dangerous forward.

A diving header produced an equally outstanding save from Hellstrom.

Kreuz escaped the Swedish defence

when his delicate lob flew just to high.

Krankl threatened next, but Sweden managed to clear.

Sweden hit back.

Now it was Larsson's turn to see a header scrambled

out of the goalmouth.

Koncilia made an energetic save.

A penalty decided the issue.

A foul on Krankl, who then converted.

Austria were virtually guaranteed a place in the second round.

A triumph in itself for manager Helmut Senekowitsch.

Back in Mar del Plata, Brazil faced humiliation.

They had to beat Austria, unranked before the finals,

to secure their own place in the second round.

The organisers staged a sparkling farewell display for the crowd.

Brazil's fans, known as the Torcida, hoped the colourful adios

wasn't a bad omen for the outcome of the match.

Coutinho was still manager of Brazil but it was known that Heleno Nunes,

head of the delegation,

had insisted on a five-man committee vetting his team selection.

Whoever was responsible, Brazil made four changes.

Nelinho was injured, but Reinaldo, Edinho and, remarkably,

Zico had all been dropped.

The new strikers were Mendonca and Roberto.

Gil was back on the wing.

Coutinho later justified the changes on the grounds that these

both possessed the physical strength necessary to combat

the dreaded Mar del Plata pitch, as they bore down on Koncilia's goal.

Koncilia was forced to make a brave save from Mendonca.

Then he gave Obermayer a ticking off for letting the Brazilian through.

The pressure was obvious from the way Brazil's defenders

and midfielders through themselves into tackle after tackle.

This was hardly classical Brazilian football.

Just on half-time, Roberto blasted one home.

The Austrian's deflection leaving Koncilia beaten.

The Brazilian fans were delighted and relieved.

Six minutes from the end, Zico appeared as substitute

and nearly scored.

His centre glanced off the crossbar.

In the closing minutes, Kreuz wasted Austria's best chance,

shooting straight at Leao.

Brazil knew they were almost there completely closing down the game.

They were not concerned about scoring themselves, more about

keeping Austria out and hanging on to those two all-important points.

At the final whistle, two exhausted sets of players exchanged shirts.

They could afford to smile.

Both Brazil and Austria were through to the second round.

Back in Buenos Aires, Spain's 1-0 win over Sweden meant nothing.

Spain and Sweden were on their way home.

Iran, the surprise qualifiers,

was a team that existed under royal patronage

and reaching the finals was a source of immense national pride.

But facing Holland, even without Johan Cruyff,

was a tough challenge in the Mendoza Stadium.

Iran bravely made the initial running

and had keeper Jan Jongbloed scrambling all round his goal.

Holland hardly looked like the World Cup runners-up of 1974, as

Iran's positive football very nearly produced a shock opening goal.

Eventually, Holland got their act together.

After Willy van de Kerkhof was brought down, it was the new hero,

Rob Rensenbrink, who struck home the penalty.

A corner, and Rensenbrink headed a second. Suddenly, Iran fell apart.

Johnny Rep, hero of 1974, took on their defence single-handed.

Past one man, past another and another.

Another penalty.

Rensenbrink scored again from the spot to complete his hat-trick.

Iran, after such a bright start, were revealed for what they were.

Rank outsiders, badly short of experience in the game's top class.

They were lucky in the shadow of the Andes to escape with only

a three-goal beating.

Cordoba claimed to be home to the prettiest girls in Argentina

and the city staged an appropriately picturesque

welcome for the fans, players and officials of Scotland and Peru.

Scotland had flown to Argentina on a wave of surrealist over-optimism.

Manager Ally MacLeod had given the Scots back their international pride

but in stoking fires of nationalism,

he'd also stoked up the fires of over-confidence.

With half the world apparently expecting Peru to concede

the points without a struggle, Scotland kicked off.

Signs were good as goalkeeper Ramon Quiroga failed to hold a shot from

Bruce Rioch and Joe Jordan struck the opening blow for Ally's

blue and white army.

Scotland had never progressed beyond the first round.

Surely this was to be their year?

Three minutes before half-time, Peru's new hero, Cesar Cueto,

exchanged passes with the veteran Cubillas and equalised.

On the hour, Rioch,

powering forward was brought down by Peru's Hector Chumpitaz.

But when Masson's kick was saved by Quiroga, Scotland

lost their momentum.

Quiroga, a naturalised Peruvian who had been born in Argentina,

grew swiftly in confidence.

Now he dealt with whatever Scotland threw at him.

With 72 minutes gone, Oblitas set off to attack Scotland's goal

and was then brought down by Kennedy.

Cubillas thundering his shot beyond the wall and the goalkeeper.

Peru had their noses in front.

Scotland suddenly knew this was not to be their day.

Instead, this was a day of triumph for Cubillas,

whose second goal sent Peru in as 3-1 winners.

A great day for Peru. A sad day for Scotland.

To make matters even worse,

winger Willie Johnston failed a dope test after the game.

Traces of a banned drug in a cold cure brought him suspension,

an early flight home and meant the end of his international career.

The bitter irony, of course,

was that Scotland had lost the match anyway.

The Peruvians were delighted.

Back in 1970, they had cheered Cubillas

and Chumpitaz into the quarter-finals in Mexico.

They expected history to repeat itself.

Scotland walked out to face Iran in a very different

frame of mind from the one in which they launched their campaign.

Their confidence had been punctured.

Incredibly, Scotland did not even score their one goal.

That came courtesy of a luckless Iran defender just before half-time.

Scotland tried to capitalise on that gift in the second half

but Iran had learned quickly after their defeat by Holland.

They would tough it out.

Jordan was one target.

Buchan took a blow in the face and had to be substituted.

Then, worst of all, Danaeifard eluded Archie Gemmill and equalised.

Not until the last 15 minutes could Scotland put their game together.

Substitute Forsyth thought he had scored,

but referee N'Diaye from Senegal believed he had seen some pushing.

No goal. It was not Scotland's day.

The referee was again under pressure in the closing stages.

Hartford went tumbling

but the referee ruled the offence only one of obstruction.

An indirect free-kick was really of no use to Scotland whatsoever.

Manager MacLeod admitted it was a poor performance.

They badly missed tour absentees Danny McGrain and Gordon McQueen.

MacLeod rang the changes again for the all-important meeting

with Holland in Mendoza.

Scotland had to win by three clear goals to qualify.

Rioch was recalled and Liverpool's Graeme Souness was

brought in for his first match of the finals.

Holland included Johan Neeskens, one of their 1974 survivors,

despite concern over his fitness.

Souness quickly exerted his influence on his team-mates.

His early cross was headed against the bar by Rioch.

Scotland attacked again. A free-kick was blocked.

Gemmill tried to find a way through the Dutch defence

and Neeskens was injured trying to stop him.

Austrian referee Erich Linemayr stopped the action

so Neeskens could be carried off.

Despite having to reorganise, Holland took control.

Kennedy was ruled to have brought down Rep.

Linemayr awarded a penalty. This was not just any old penalty either.

Rensenbrink's conversion was the 1,000th goal in the history

of the World Cup finals.

Scotland, of course, did not appreciate the point.

Rough, in Scotland's goal, took a battering from Rep,

as Holland sought to increase their lead.

But Scotland's team at least possessed the right balance.

They would not be intimidated and they were ready to fight back.

As time passed, so Gemmill's perseverance in midfield

provoked some desperate measures among the Dutch defenders.

Midway through the first half,

Kenny Dalglish forces the ball into the net.

The goal was disallowed.

But Scotland could not be denied.

One minute before the interval, Souness lobbed the defence.

Jordan headed square

and Dalglish fired the equaliser.

At long last, Scotland had something to celebrate.

Souness dominated the midfield.

His absence from the earlier matches grew more and more perplexing.

Inevitably, Souness was the man fouled,

as the Dutch retreated in disarray.

Gemmill converted the penalty

and set the stage for a dramatic last half hour.

Gemmill was now rivalling Souness for star billing.

In the 68th minute,

he wriggled through the left flank of the Dutch defence to score

what was later acclaimed as the finest goal of the finals.

Holland retaliated. Rep, a fine solo goal.

Holland had scraped into the second round.

Unlucky Scotland were out

but at least they could fly home with their heads high.

The popular image of South American soccer is of a game played

lazily under the beating sun,

but there was nothing popular about the rain

cascading down on Buenos Aires for the start of the second round.

Eight teams were left in the competition.

Group A - West Germany, Italy, Holland and Austria. All European.

Group B was largely South American.

Only Poland disturbed the line-up of Argentina, Brazil and Peru.

The band played, welcoming West Germany

and Italy to resume their historic World Cup rivalry.

The Germans kicked off.

As defending title holders, they had not looked particularly

impressive, but then, they always had a reputation as slow starters.

They played with a caution which matched the reputation

the Italians have long possessed.

Klaus Fischer was a lone striker

swimming in a sea of Italian defenders.

The Germans were playing with a sweeper

and disciplined man-to-man marking.

The first opening fell to Italy but was wasted by Bettega.

He knew at once that it might prove a costly miss.

Goalkeeper Maier could afford to smile.

Even Maier, however, was guilty of the occasional slip.

He was lucky to have Mani Kaltz sweeping up behind him

and clearing the danger.

Italy, encouraged, kept on probing.

Maier was again forced into action and made a fine save.

At the other end, the Germans forced a rare corner.

Zewe, having had so little to do, fumbled the ball.

Holzenbein from outside the box.

Zewe does well.

But still has more to do.

Maier, in the German goal, set a World Cup record in this game.

Gordon Banks in 1966 had kept a clean sheet for 438 minutes,

nearly four matches.

Maier overtook him with some fine stops.

Italy did not make it easy for Maier.

Another fine save from the man who claimed to prefer tennis soccer.

In the 55th minute, Italy came within a whisker of going ahead.

Young full-back Antonio Cabrini shot against the woodwork,

Bettega attacked the rebound

and Kaltz, according to the Italians at least, handled as he cleared.

Yugoslav referee waved away Italian protests.

Italy's own defending was not always orthodox.

While Zoff caught the ball, Mauro Bellugi's elbow

caught Fischer full in the face. A painful blow.

Fischer ended up losing a tooth.

No goals for anyone, but one point apiece.

Italian manager Enzo Bearzot felt he had nothing to celebrate.

One man at least was pleased to see Argentina lining up in Rosario.

Mario Kempes, Argentina's most dangerous attacker,

who had first made his name playing locally

for the Rosario Central club.

Kempes had been their top scorer - he was also top scorer

in the leagues of Argentina and Spain

and now intended to become top scorer at the World Cup.

Ardiles was once more the master of midfield

as the crowd urged Argentina forward.

The first chance fell to winger Daniel Bertoni,

but he fired wastefully wide.

Bertoni was in the thick of the action, his pace troubled the Poles.

The culprit, Wladyslaw Zmuda, tried to apologise.

Bertoni was having none of it.

Poland had their moments.

Young forward Boniek had a header well saved by Fillol.

Foolishly, Boniek followed up with a foul on the goalie.

Argentina were furious.

Predictably, Boniek soon found himself

on the receiving end, from Gallego.

And again.

Boniek was certainly being repaid.

After 16 minutes, Kempes' powerful header beat Tomaszewski.

That goal earned Kempes comparisons with old-time greats

such as England's Tommy Lawton and Hungary's Sandor Kocsis.

It took Poland 20 minutes to hit back.

They forced Argentina into conceding a free kick just outside

the penalty area. Deyna's perfect kick eludes Fillol.

Lato heads and the diving Kempes punched the ball off the goal-line.

Penalty.

Captain Deyna takes the kick.

It's a poor effort.

Poland try again.

Boniek's powerful drive is saved by the alert Fillol.

Kempes tried to reassert Argentina's superiority.

But Boniek would not give up.

He sliced a path through Argentina's defence

only for Lato to shoot wide. Boniek should have taken the shot himself.

At the other end, Tomaszewski was bravely defying

both Argentina's players, as well as the fans,

trying to intimidate and upset him.

Now it was Fillol's turn to save the day.

Argentina, back on the attack.

Kempes found Houseman and this time Tomaszewski saved with his feet.

It may look odd but as Sweden's Hellstrom proved,

it can be highly effective.

Poland forced a free kick.

The flying Fillol tipped the ball to safety.

In the 70th minute, Ardiles finds Kempes.

2-0.

That had been Argentina's most impressive display.

Disciplined, resilient and consistent.

With those two goals from Kempes, the fans were solidly behind them.

No-one in Rosario had any doubt,

Argentina were on course for their first World Cup.

Brazil were happy to be drawn against Peru.

They had beaten them twice in the previous 12 months.

Brazil were favourites to complete the hat-trick

despite the absence of Rivelino and Zico.

Peru started brightly and nearly scored in the opening minutes.

Almost immediately, Brazil force a free kick.

Dirceu's shot swerved wickedly past helpless Quiroga.

15 minutes gone, Brazil one up.

Half an hour into the game.

Again Dirceu.

2-0.

This was more like the old Brazil.

They might even have increased their lead,

only the talent of Quiroga and their own poor finishing

denied Brazil a high-scoring victory.

Later they would have cause to regret their generosity.

Any faint hopes Peru may have harboured of a comeback

were dashed after Duarte's foul on Roberto in the penalty box.

Substitute Zico wasted no time converting the penalty.

A last effort from Peru. Skipper Leao saves well.

Manager Coutinho had survived another hurdle.

Brazil then had to travel back across from Mendoza to Rosario.

They found a paper snowstorm awaiting them

before the start of their showdown with hosts Argentina.

The Brazilians were once again without Rivelino.

But they were at least secure in the knowledge that Argentina

had not beaten them for eight years.

The pressure of the occasion proved too much for both teams.

Argentina conceded the first free kick after just ten seconds.

The first three minutes saw six fouls committed.

The first 12 minutes saw 14 fouls recorded and at that stage,

not one yellow card from the tolerant Hungarian referee.

On one of those rare occasions where football broke through,

Leao saved well.

Fillol was equally alert.

He had gained his place originally because of a row between Menotti

and the veteran goalkeeper Hugo Orlando Gatti.

Now, however, Fillol was Argentina's top keeper on merit.

Coutinho, a former paratrooper,

was still handing out Brazil's orders.

Whatever they were, the same grumpy pattern was to be seen

in the second half exchanges.

Luque was having a tough time on and off the pitch.

He had missed Argentina's last two games, partly through injury

but also to recover from the shock of the death of his brother,

killed when his lorry burst into flames after a crash.

What little football there was tended to come from Brazil.

Full-back Rodrigues Neto was one of the few players cool enough to

contribute a few creative moments.

With Luque restored to Argentina's attack,

Kempes was playing much further back. The fans grew impatient.

They wanted a repeat of his two-goal exploits against Poland.

Argentina's prospects of snatching victory vanished

when Ardiles twisted an ankle and had to be carried off.

He was substituted by Ricardo Villa.

The goalless draw suited Argentina.

Holland had not extended themselves so far, but against Austria,

they had to use all their talents.

At the players' insistence, Happel had restored

the powerful yet skilled Arie Haan to the Dutch midfield.

The move was to prove decisive and not only against Austria.

Haan, a free kick - Koncilia saves well.

Haan, again, and defender Ernie Brandts is there, 1-0.

Austria could not get to grips with the Dutch attack.

A foul on van der Kerkhof

and Rensenbrink converted his fourth penalty of the finals.

Almost straight from the restart,

Johnny Rep chipped goal number three.

Holland scored again, through Rep - a beautifully-worked goal.

No wonder the Austrian fans were looking gloomy.

Once and only once were they to be heard -

when defender Obermayer beat keeper Piet Schrijvers

to score a scrappy consolation goal.

Krankl was clearly under no illusions

about the possibility of an Austrian comeback.

Breitenberger did manage to extend Schrijvers on one further occasion.

But Holland were soon back on top.

Rensenbrink turned creator with a cross

which Willy van der Kerkhof pushed past Koncilia.

Holland were easy winners. The margin, 5-1.

Austria had little time to recover before travelling down

to Buenos Aires to face Italy.

They brought back Strasser in defence and Schachner in attack.

It was going to be an uphill struggle.

Italy looked to Paolo Rossi to upset Austria

just as Rensenbrink and Rep had done for Holland.

The Italians were not at their best,

but Rossi's close control and scoring flair would prove decisive.

After only 13 minutes, Rossi outpaced Strasser

and struck what proved to be the only goal.

Italy might have scored again, with Marco Tardelli.

This time, Koncilia saved well.

Into the second half and Austria found Dino Zoff as well protected

as ever in the Italian goal.

Koncilia could not say the same.

Austria were lucky not to concede more goals.

Only his courage and Italy's erratic finishing saved Austria

from another five-goal debacle.

One last flourish for Austria but the shot sailed over the bar.

Italy, with three points out of a possible four,

were now poised to reach out for a place in the final.

Holland and West Germany met in Cordoba.

This is one of the most fascinating matches of the tournament,

a repeat of the 1974 final.

Although Beckenbauer and Cruyff, the two greatest personalities

of that match, were missing, nine of the players had returned.

For Germany, Maier in goal,

Vogts, a future national manager, in defence.

Bonhof and Holzenbein in midfield.

For Holland, Krol in defence, Jansen and Haan in midfield,

Rep and Rensenbrink up front.

In 1974, Holland had taken an early lead. This time it was the Germans.

Schrijvers failed to hold Bonhof's free kick

and Abramczik headed home.

Holland were stung into retaliatory action.

They threw most everybody forward.

In the 27th minute, the Dutchmen equalised.

Haan thundered home a 25-yard drive

whose ferocity said everything about the football rivalry

between the nations.

At the other end,

Schrijvers proved happier than Maier in the face of long-range shooting.

Rensenbrink was having a quiet time.

Well policed for once by his old foe Vogts.

In the second-half a free kick by Bohnof produced panic

in the Dutch ranks, leaving Schrijvers somewhat confused.

20 minutes from time, Beer crosses

and Dieter Muller heads past Schrijvers.

West Germany are back in the lead.

A free kick from Krol crashes against an upright.

The German defence soaked up the pressure like blotting paper

as the Dutch attacks poured down on Maier's goal.

Rep curses his luck as his own effort ricochets off the crossbar.

Seven minutes from time and Rene van der Kerkhof rounds Kaltz

and swerves his shot beyond the hands of both Maier

and defender Russmann.

Holland had not beaten West Germany for 32 years.

But this 2-2 draw was at least a moral victory.

The last day's matches in Group A were crucial.

The Germans surprisingly lost 3-2 to Austria.

The victory came too late for the Austrians

but much more significantly,

it knocked the Germans out of the competition.

But here in Buenos Aires,

both Holland and Italy started their showdown level with three points.

Holland had the better goal difference.

For this virtual semifinal, Italy had to win.

Holland need only the draw.

Holland got off to a disastrous start.

Brandts, lunging after Bettega,

puts through his own goal, at the same time injuring his goalkeeper.

Schrijvers' gashed knee put him out of the match.

But worse still, out of the tournament.

Fortunately, Holland were able to substitute

with the experienced Jongbloed, a finalist in 1974.

Italy tried to capitalise on their advantages.

There was only one team in it. The Dutch midfield was invisible.

Krol and Brandts had to be everywhere in defence,

sweeping up, holding the team together, keeping the dream alive.

Only occasionally were Holland seen on the attack,

giving Italy an easy time.

The tackling grew tougher.

Italy's hard man Romeo Benetti

was booked for a foul on Rensenbrink,

It was his second yellow card of the tournament.

Bearzot was furious.

He realised that though Italy might yet reach the final,

an automatic suspension meant that Benetti would not.

Five minutes into the second half,

Brandts made amends for his earlier blunders with a wonderful equaliser.

Holland were back on terms.

Confidence flowed back through the Dutch team. They powered forward.

Zoff was suddenly under pressure.

So was Bearzot. He could see defeat around the corner.

The decisive strike came from Haan.

Zoff was beaten by yet another remarkable long-range shot.

Holland, 2-1 winners, were in their second successive final.

Meanwhile, back in Group B, controversy was raging.

The last two matches in the group

were not being played simultaneously.

Brazil had to complete their match against Poland

before Argentina kicked off against Peru.

With the teams level on points,

Argentina would have the advantage of knowing exactly how many goals

they would need to reach the final.

The Poles still had a glimmer of hope.

Victory over Brazil, coupled with defeat for Argentina,

would put them in the final.

Likewise, Brazil need to beat Poland by the widest possible margin

to set Argentina a difficult target.

Brazil immediately took the game to the Poles.

As manager Coutinho had admitted,

they had no alternative. It was all or nothing.

In the 13th minute, Brazil were awarded a free kick.

Nelinho strikes the ball with ferocious power.

First strike then, to Brazil.

Poland went chasing an equaliser and gave Leao some anxious moments.

One minute before half-time, Poland equalised.

Boniek was the creator, Lato the scorer.

Poland continued to press after the interval.

They almost took the lead when Deyna's shot brushed the post.

In the 58th minute, Brazil regained the lead.

Mendonca's shot bounced off a post

and Roberto smashed home Brazil's second goal.

Poland suddenly looked tired.

Brazil were refreshed

and they ripped open the Polish defence time and again.

Incredibly, the Poles were saved by the woodwork three times.

Eventually, Roberto did get the ball in the net.

Brazil ran out 3-1 winners.

Whether it would be enough to see them into the final

was another matter entirely.

Menotti now knew exactly what he had to do.

Victory over Peru by four clear goals would put them

into the World Cup Final for the first time since 1930.

Peru had no intention of helping their hosts.

After only two minutes, Munante cut in but shot against the post.

That was to be Peru's first and final flourish.

From that point on, it was Argentina all the way.

The breakthrough took 21 minutes.

Kempes. Who else?

1-0 to Argentina.

After sustained Argentine pressure,

Bertoni saw his corner headed home by left back Alberto Tarantini.

2-0.

Peruvian goalkeeper Quiroga was now reduced

to playing Argentina virtually on his own,

challenging Kempes in and out of his penalty box.

At the other end, Fillol the goalkeeper was a mere spectator.

At half-time, it was still 2-0. Argentina were halfway there.

After the break, Peru summoned up a brief attacking gesture,

but Argentina were soon back in command.

A free kick, and an exchange of passes with Bertoni,

and Kempes is there to make it 3-0.

Only one more goal and they're through.

The Argentine fans can barely contain their euphoria.

And it came in the 54th minute.

Kempes headed across and Luque dived in to score at the near post.

4-0.

Peru's defenders claimed offside. It was not given.

Now it's just a matter of how many more Argentina might score.

Kempes certainly wanted more goals.

In the 68th minute, Houseman collected number five

from a cross by Ortiz.

Then Luque made it 6-0.

Argentina's win coincided with the opening

of the musical Evita in London.

The only ones crying in Argentina, though, carried Brazilian passports.

For players such as the battle-scarred Luque,

this was the greatest night of their lives.

For Menotti, it was the living proof

that Argentina's traditional passion and skill

could still beat the world.

For the fans, it was another excuse

to bring the streets of the nation to a standstill.

On behalf of all the winners and losers,

a tribute to the goalkeeper's silent friend -

his woodwork.

Italy and Brazil had stood within 90 minutes of a place in the final.

Instead, they had to settle for a contest for the third place.

For Italy, this was much more

than they dared to hope for at the start of the competition.

For Brazil, it was far less.

Italy made the better start and were unlucky when Causio hit the bar.

Leao tried to keep things calm,

then he saves a dangerous free kick.

Brazil's first attack found Zoff in confident form.

Oscar clumsily deals with Zoff...

..to the displeasure of his own officials on the bench.

After 38 minutes, Italy took the lead.

Rossi crossed from the right

and Causio was unmarked as he headed home.

It was the goal which heralded a seven-minute spell in which

Italy might have scored twice more.

Rossi goes clear.

Once again, his shot finds the woodwork.

Two jaded teams ended the first half scuffling untidily for possession.

The best entertainment of a grey afternoon

was provided by a kid's ball-juggling display at half-time.

Brazil looked a different team after the interval.

They appeared much more relaxed and confident.

Brazil, keeping up the pressure, equalised.

Nelinho with a superb, long swirling cross-shot

proved much too hot for Zoff to handle.

Bowing not merely to sentiment, but to common sense,

Brazil brought veteran Roberto Rivelino into the fray

for his last World Cup tie.

He would exert a decisive influence.

Rivelino's delicate touches in midfield

transformed a drab match into an occasion.

Here was a player worth watching on his own.

And worth fouling.

Italy's last chance followed a free kick.

Causio chipped the ball into the danger zone,

but Bettega's header was denied by the bar.

Brazil breathed a sigh of relief.

Rivelino's cross was chested down

by Mendonca, who then stepped aside

so Dirceu could do the rest.

Zoff never had a chance.

It all stemmed from the genius of Rivelino.

A great goal.

The bronze medal went to Brazil.

Their fans back home would see third place as failure.

They expect victory every time.

Manager Coutinho knew effigies of him

had been burned in the streets of Rio.

He would inevitably be replaced as national manager.

Tragically, one year later, just as he was rebuilding his reputation

and popularity, he was killed in a skindiving accident.

This was Buenos Aires on June 25th, 1978 -

the day of the World Cup Final,

Argentina against Holland.

In prospect, more than a football match -

rather, a national festival, a holiday,

the party to end all parties.

That is the power of football.

A simple game which spread around the globe

in the second half of the 19th century

to embrace all the peoples of the world.

From Buenos Aires to Berlin, from Rosario to Rochdale,

from Mendoza to Moscow.

This particular street party was in honour of Argentina.

Only a bare handful would concede Holland a credit

for anything more than a subsidiary, subservient role in the drama.

This was to be Argentina's day.

In the stadium itself,

Holland were first of the gladiators to make their entry.

Just when Argentina were being congratulated

on turning over a new leaf,

Menotti's men let themselves down badly.

First, they kept Holland waiting

a full, unforgivable five minutes before they emerged

to another tumultuous, mind-jarring reception.

Then they made an unjustified protest

about the protective cast on Rene van de Kerkhof's damaged wrist.

It was unworthy of the day, unworthy of the occasion.

Holland always knew they were going to be up against it.

Now they found that the match itself had begun

long before the actual kickoff.

The game was as much psychological as physical.

Argentina saluted their fans one last time.

Now let battle commence.

Argentina were the first to attack

with a shot from Passarella.

A header from Rep flies just inches wide.

A defensive mistake gave Rep another opening.

This time, Fillol saves the day for Argentina.

In the 38th minute, Argentina gave their fans what they wanted.

Kempes, the nation's favourite son, blustered through the Dutch defence.

Holland, patient under provocation, decided to fight fire with fire.

Bertoni took the brunt

as the tackling suddenly grew more aggressive.

Weak Italian referee Sergio Gonella

was himself weighed down by the occasion.

As tempers frayed, so physical violence

began to undermine the football.

But if that suited anyone, then it suited Argentina.

After all, they were one goal ahead.

At half-time, the Dutch pulled themselves together.

They had started to understand the nature of the challenge.

They started to play THEIR football.

Not the slick technical total football of 1974 -

it would take a more aggressive, physical,

direct style to break down Argentina's possessive patterns.

Nine minutes from time, Haan beat the offside trap

and sent Rene van de Kerkhof winging down the right.

He centred for Dick Nanninga

to head the equaliser.

Fillol for once was all over the place.

With one minute remaining, Holland came agonizingly close.

Rensenbrink stabbed the ball against the post.

Cruel luck denied Holland almost certain victory.

And now, they must do it all again in extra time.

Menotti summoned his men.

They had to play for the team, keep their shape, keep their discipline.

Holland set extra time under way.

Two hours ago, few people dreamed they would even get this far.

They'd come within an inch of the cup.

Now they had to force tired battered legs to start all over again.

Jongbloed saves well.

Argentina, however, boasted the man of the tournament in Mario Kempes.

He dominated the length and breadth of the pitch.

His long legs eating up the turf.

Kempes gave Argentina back the lead.

He rode three tackles before playing a reverse pass off the goalkeeper.

It was heart stopping.

2-1 to Argentina.

Menotti knew that he was almost there.

His odyssey from Buenos Aires to Rosario and back

had very nearly reached a triumphant conclusion.

The pitch was a mess of ticker tape as Kempes demanded the ball

one last time for one final assault on Holland's goal.

In the end, it was Bertoni who bundled the ball over the line.

Holland protested in vain that a hand had helped the ball on its way.

But time was running out.

Protests were ignored. The referee gave the goal.

3-1 to Argentina.

WHISTLE BLOWS

MUSIC: "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" by the Flaming Lips

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah-yeah