1978 FIFA World Cup Group A

Group A of the 1978 FIFA World Cup was one of two groups of nations competing for the De facto semifinals the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The group's first round of matches began on 14 June and its last matches were played on 21 June. All six group matches were played either at the Estadio Chateau Carreras in Córdoba, or the Estadio Monumental in the capital Buenos Aires. The group consisted of West Germany (the Defending Champions) as well as the Netherlands (the former runners up), Italy and Austria. The Netherlands advanced to the final match, and Italy advanced to the third place match.[1]

Qualified teams

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The winners of Group 1 and 3 and the runners-up of Group 2 and 4 qualified for Group A of the second round.

Group Winners
1   Italy
3   Austria
Group Runners-up
2   West Germany
4   Netherlands

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Netherlands 3 2 1 0 9 4 +5 5 Advance to final
2   Italy 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 3 Advance to third place play-off
3   West Germany 3 0 2 1 4 5 −1 2
4   Austria 3 1 0 2 4 8 −4 2
Source: FIFA

Matches

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Austria vs Netherlands

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After an unconvincing group stage performance the Netherlands knew they had to play better if they were to qualify for the finals, and took on surprise qualifiers Austria in their first game. They started well when an unmarked Ernie Brandts headed in Arie Haan's free kick. The Dutch then won a penalty kick after Gerhard Breitenberger fouled Wim Jansen and Rob Rensenbrink neatly scored. Rensenbrink then took advantage of some poor defending to provide assist for Johnny Rep to score on either side of half time. Austria which created several chances and were unlucky to score in the first half got one back in the eightieth minute when defender Erich Obermayer scored a brilliant lob over the Dutch goalkeeper for a goal. The Dutch weren't to be deterred as Rensenbrink provided yet another assist this time Willy van de Kerkhof to score just two minutes later.[2][3]

Austria  1–5  Netherlands
Obermayer   80' Report Brandts   6'
Rensenbrink   35' (pen.)
Rep   36', 53'
W. van de Kerkhof   82'


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
GK 1 Friedl Koncilia
DF 2 Robert Sara (c)
DF 3 Erich Obermayer
DF 4 Gerhard Breitenberger
DF 5 Bruno Pezzey
MF 7 Josef Hickersberger
MF 8 Herbert Prohaska
MF 11 Kurt Jara
MF 12 Eduard Krieger
FW 9 Hans Krankl
FW 10 Wilhelm Kreuz
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch
GK 1 Piet Schrijvers
DF 2 Jan Poortvliet
DF 5 Ruud Krol (c)
DF 7 Piet Wildschut
DF 22 Ernie Brandts   66'
MF 6 Wim Jansen
MF 9 Arie Haan
MF 10 René van de Kerkhof   60'
MF 11 Willy van de Kerkhof
FW 16 Johnny Rep
FW 12 Rob Rensenbrink
Substitutions:
MF 3 Dick Schoenaker   60'
DF 4 Adrie van Kraay   66'
Manager:
  Ernst Happel

Italy vs West Germany

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Italy  0–0  West Germany
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Italy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Germany
GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)
DF 2 Mauro Bellugi
DF 3 Antonio Cabrini
DF 5 Claudio Gentile
DF 8 Gaetano Scirea
MF 9 Giancarlo Antognoni   46'
MF 10 Romeo Benetti
MF 14 Marco Tardelli
MF 16 Franco Causio
CF 18 Roberto Bettega
CF 21 Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
MF 15 Renato Zaccarelli   46'
Manager:
Enzo Bearzot
GK 1 Sepp Maier
DF 2 Berti Vogts (c)
DF 3 Bernard Dietz
DF 4 Rolf Rüssmann
DF 5 Manfred Kaltz
DF 8 Herbert Zimmerman   53'
MF 6 Rainer Bonhof
MF 10 Heinz Flohe   68'
MF 17 Bernd Hoelzenbein
FW 9 Klaus Fischer
FW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Substitute:
DF 13 Harald Konopka   53'
MF 15 Erich Beer   68'
Manager:
Helmut Schoen

Netherlands vs West Germany

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This highly anticipated match was a repeat of the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final, with the Netherlands fielding six players who had played that day and West Germany four. The match official Ramón Barreto of Uruguay coincidentally had also been one of the linesmen at the 1974 final.

The 1974 final had started with the Dutch scoring within two minutes, and in this match there was another early goal, although it went the Germans' way. The Dutch goaltender Piet Schrijvers could only parry Rainer Bonhof's free kick right into the path of Rüdiger Abramczik, who headed home. The Netherlands equalized around the thirty-minute mark when Arie Haan let fly from 35 yards and into the top corner.[4]

Knowing a draw would be enough Netherlands refrained from taking chances in the second half. Against the run of play West Germany were awarded a soft free-kick, the Dutch were complaining with the referee and did not keep their concentration Erich Beer crossed for Dieter Müller to power in a header. The goal gave the Netherlands the momentum to score though and eight minutes from time René van de Kerkhof took a pass from his twin brother Willy, cut inside a defender and smashed home. There would be a few more chances as Johnny Rep hit the woodwork and Schrijvers was forced to save from Beer.

The match ended in bizarre fashion, with substitute Dick Nanninga shown a yellow card for an off the ball incident and then seconds later referee Barreto showing the same player a red card for apparently laughing at the decision to give him a card. It took five minutes to restore order on the field as the bewildered Nanninga was led off.

Netherlands  2–2  West Germany
Haan   27'
R. van de Kerkhof   82'
Report Abramczik   3'
D. Müller   70'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Germany
GK 1 Piet Schrijvers
DF 2 Jan Poortvliet
DF 5 Ruud Krol (c)
DF 7 Piet Wildschut   79'
DF 22 Ernie Brandts
MF 6 Wim Jansen
MF 9 Arie Haan
MF 10 René van de Kerkhof
MF 11 Willy van de Kerkhof   6'
FW 16 Johnny Rep
FW 12 Rob Rensenbrink
Substitutions:
FW 18 Dick Nanninga   87'   88'   79'
Manager:
  Ernst Happel
GK 1 Sepp Maier   84'
DF 2 Berti Vogts (c)
DF 3 Bernard Dietz
DF 4 Rolf Rüssmann
DF 5 Manfred Kaltz
MF 6 Rainer Bonhof
MF 15 Erich Beer
MF 17 Bernd Hölzenbein
FW 7 Rüdiger Abramczik
FW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
FW 14 Dieter Müller
Manager:
Helmut Schön

Italy vs Austria

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Italy  1–0  Austria
Rossi   13' Report
Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 66,695
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Italy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria
GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)
DF 2 Mauro Bellugi   46'
DF 3 Antonio Cabrini
DF 5 Claudio Gentile
DF 8 Gaetano Scirea
MF 10 Romeo Benetti
MF 14 Marco Tardelli
MF 15 Renato Zaccarelli
MF 16 Franco Causio
CF 18 Roberto Bettega   72'
CF 21 Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
DF 4 Antonello Cuccureddu   46'
FW 19 Francesco Graziani   72'
Manager:
Enzo Bearzot
GK 1 Friedl Koncilia
DF 2 Robert Sara (c)
DF 3 Erich Obermayer
DF 5 Bruno Pezzey
DF 14 Heinrich Strasser
MF 7 Josef Hickersberger
MF 8 Herbert Prohaska
MF 12 Eduard Krieger
FW 9 Hans Krankl
FW 10 Wilhelm Kreuz
FW 18 Walter Schachner   63'
Substitutes:
FW 19 Hans Pirkner   63'
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch

Austria vs West Germany

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Austria  3–2  West Germany
Vogts   59' (o.g.)
Krankl   66', 87'
Report Rummenigge   19'
Hölzenbein   68'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Germany
GK 1 Friedl Koncilia
DF 2 Robert Sara (c)   85'
DF 3 Erich Obermayer
DF 5 Bruno Pezzey
DF 14 Heinrich Strasser
MF 7 Josef Hickersberger
MF 8 Herbert Prohaska   69'
MF 12 Eduard Krieger
FW 9 Hans Krankl
FW 10 Wilhelm Kreuz
FW 18 Walter Schachner   71'
Substitutes:
FW 17 Franz Oberacher   71'
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch
GK 1 Sepp Maier
DF 2 Berti Vogts (c)
DF 3 Bernard Dietz
DF 4 Rolf Rüssmann
DF 5 Manfred Kaltz
MF 6 Rainer Bonhof
MF 15 Erich Beer   45'
MF 17 Bernd Hölzenbein
FW 7 Rüdiger Abramczik   69'
FW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
FW 14 Dieter Müller   60'
Substitute:
MF 20 Hansi Müller   45'
FW 9 Klaus Fischer   60'
Manager:
Helmut Schön

Italy vs Netherlands

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This match was a semifinal in all but name with the winner being assured a place in the final, although the Netherlands could advance with a draw and a Germany draw or loss. Italy started the positive and scored when Ernie Brandts in an attempt to stop Roberto Bettega only succeeded in putting the ball into his own net. The goal would have consequences for the Netherlands as Piet Schrijvers was injured on the play and had to be stretchered off for Jan Jongbloed. Italy dominated the remainder of the first half. In a physical match Johnny Rep was cautioned for fouling Romeo Benetti, who was later to pick up a yellow card himself for fouling Rensenbrink, meaning the Italian defender would miss the final should Italy reach it. Early in the second half Arie Haan was cautioned for a challenge on Marco Tardelli who later also picked up a yellow card meaning he too would miss Italy's next match. Some felt that Antonio Cabrini's challenge on Haan many felt warranted a red card, not just a yellow. Shortly after half time Brandts, who had earlier scored an own goal, blasted home a shot to equalize. Then fourteen minutes from time Haan hit an audacious shot 30 yards out that went off Zoff's left post and into the net.[5]

Italy  1–2  Netherlands
Brandts   19' (o.g.) Report Brandts   49'
Haan   76'
Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 67,433
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Italy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)
DF 3 Antonio Cabrini   65'
DF 4 Antonello Cuccureddu
DF 5 Claudio Gentile
DF 8 Gaetano Scirea
MF 10 Romeo Benetti   40'   77'
MF 14 Marco Tardelli   70'
MF 15 Renato Zaccarelli
MF 16 Franco Causio   46'
CF 18 Roberto Bettega
CF 21 Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
MF 17 Claudio Sala   46'
FW 19 Francesco Graziani   77'
Manager:
Enzo Bearzot
GK 1 Piet Schrijvers   21'
DF 2 Jan Poortvliet
DF 5 Ruud Krol (c)
DF 6 Wim Jansen
DF 22 Ernie Brandts
MF 13 Johan Neeskens
MF 9 Arie Haan   50'
MF 10 René van de Kerkhof
MF 11 Willy van de Kerkhof
FW 16 Johnny Rep   35'   65'
FW 12 Rob Rensenbrink
Substitutions:
GK 8 Jan Jongbloed   21'
DF 4 Adrie van Kraay   65'
Manager:
  Ernst Happel

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "World Cup Guide - 1978 Argentina". worldcupbrazil.net. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Austria - Netherlands Match Report". Planet World Cup. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  3. ^ "World Cup History: Argentina 1978". Sportal. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Holland 1978 v West Germany". Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Holland 1978 v Italy". Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.