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

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

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

Austria vs Netherlands

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
GK1Friedl Koncilia
DF2Robert Sara (c)
DF3Erich Obermayer
DF4Gerhard Breitenberger
DF5Bruno Pezzey
MF7Josef Hickersberger
MF8Herbert Prohaska
MF11Kurt Jara
MF12Eduard Krieger
FW9Hans Krankl
FW10Wilhelm Kreuz
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch
GK1Piet Schrijvers
DF2Jan Poortvliet
DF5Ruud Krol (c)
DF7Piet Wildschut
DF22Ernie Brandts 66'
MF6Wim Jansen
MF9Arie Haan
MF10René van de Kerkhof 60'
MF11Willy van de Kerkhof
FW16Johnny Rep
FW12Rob Rensenbrink
Substitutions:
MF3Dick Schoenaker 60'
DF4Adrie van Kraay 66'
Manager:
Ernst Happel

Italy vs West Germany

Italy 0–0 West Germany
Report
GK1Dino Zoff (c)
DF2Mauro Bellugi
DF3Antonio Cabrini
DF5Claudio Gentile
DF8Gaetano Scirea
MF9Giancarlo Antognoni 46'
MF10Romeo Benetti
MF14Marco Tardelli
MF16Franco Causio
CF18Roberto Bettega
CF21Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
MF15Renato Zaccarelli 46'
Manager:
Enzo Bearzot
GK1Sepp Maier
DF2Berti Vogts (c)
DF3Bernard Dietz
DF4Rolf Rüssmann
DF5Manfred Kaltz
DF8Herbert Zimmerman 53'
MF6Rainer Bonhof
MF10Heinz Flohe 68'
MF17Bernd Hoelzenbein
FW9Klaus Fischer
FW11Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Substitute:
DF13Harald Konopka 53'
MF15Erich Beer 68'
Manager:
Helmut Schoen

Netherlands vs West Germany

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 has started with the Dutch scoring within a two minutes, and in this game there was another early goal although it went the German's 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 end of the game ended in bizarre fashion, with substitute Dick Nanninga shown a yellow card for an off the ball incident and then seconds later referee Barreto showed 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'
GK1Piet Schrijvers
DF2Jan Poortvliet
DF5Ruud Krol (c)
DF7Piet Wildschut 79'
DF22Ernie Brandts
MF6Wim Jansen
MF9Arie Haan
MF10René van de Kerkhof
MF11Willy van de Kerkhof 6'
FW16Johnny Rep
FW12Rob Rensenbrink
Substitutions:
FW18Dick Nanninga 87'  88' 79'
Manager:
Ernst Happel
GK1Sepp Maier 84'
DF2Berti Vogts (c)
DF3Bernard Dietz
DF4Rolf Rüssmann
DF5Manfred Kaltz
MF6Rainer Bonhof
MF15Erich Beer
MF17Bernd Hölzenbein
FW7Rüdiger Abramczik
FW11Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
FW14Dieter Müller
Manager:
Helmut Schön

Italy vs Austria

Italy 1–0 Austria
Rossi  13' Report
Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 66,695
GK1Dino Zoff (c)
DF2Mauro Bellugi 46'
DF3Antonio Cabrini
DF5Claudio Gentile
DF8Gaetano Scirea
MF10Romeo Benetti
MF14Marco Tardelli
MF15Renato Zaccarelli
MF16Franco Causio
CF18Roberto Bettega 72'
CF21Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
MF4Antonello Cuccureddu 46'
FW19Francesco Graziani 72'
Manager:
Enzo Bearzot
GK1Friedl Koncilia
DF2Robert Sara (c)
DF3Erich Obermayer
DF5Bruno Pezzey
DF14Heinrich Strasser
MF7Josef Hickersberger
MF8Herbert Prohaska
MF12Eduard Krieger
FW9Hans Krankl
FW10Wilhelm Kreuz
FW18Walter Schachner 63'
Substitutes:
FW19Hans Pirkner 63'
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch

Austria vs West Germany

Austria 3–2 West Germany
Vogts  59' (o.g.)
Krankl  66', 87'
Report Rummenigge  19'
Hölzenbein  68'
GK1Friedl Koncilia
DF2Robert Sara (c) 85'
DF3Erich Obermayer
DF5Bruno Pezzey
DF14Heinrich Strasser
MF7Josef Hickersberger
MF8Herbert Prohaska 69'
MF12Eduard Krieger
FW9Hans Krankl
FW10Wilhelm Kreuz
FW18Walter Schachner 71'
Substitutes:
FW17Franz Oberacher 71'
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch
GK1Sepp Maier
DF2Berti Vogts (c)
DF3Bernard Dietz
DF4Rolf Rüssmann
DF5Manfred Kaltz
MF6Rainer Bonhof
MF15Erich Beer 45'
MF17Bernd Hölzenbein
FW7Rüdiger Abramczik 69'
FW11Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
FW14Dieter Müller 60'
Substitute:
MF20Hansi Müller 45'
FW9Klaus Fischer 60'
Manager:
Helmut Schön

Italy vs Netherlands

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 match 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 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
Referee: Angel Franco Martínez (Spain)
GK1Dino Zoff (c)
DF3Antonio Cabrini 65'
DF4Antonello Cuccureddu
DF5Claudio Gentile
DF8Gaetano Scirea
MF10Romeo Benetti 40' 77'
MF14Marco Tardelli 70'
MF15Renato Zaccarelli
MF16Franco Causio 46'
CF18Roberto Bettega
CF21Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
MF17Claudio Sala 46'
FW19Francesco Graziani 72'
Manager:
Enzo Bearzot
GK1Piet Schrijvers 21'
DF2Jan Poortvliet
DF5Ruud Krol (c)
DF6Wim Jansen
DF22Ernie Brandts
MF13Johan Neeskens
MF9Arie Haan 50'
MF10René van de Kerkhof
MF11Willy van de Kerkhof
FW16Johnny Rep 35' 65'
FW12Rob Rensenbrink
Substitutions:
GK8Jan Jongbloed 21'
DF4Adrie van Kraay 65'
Manager:
Ernst Happel

References

  1. "World Cup Guide - 1978 Argentina". worldcupbrazil.net. 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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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