The 1978 Argentina World Cup

Argentina 1978
Between Doubts and Joy

The 1978 World Cup took place in Argentina, showcasing a tactical display where the reigning champion, West Germany, left without much shine.

This World Cup is remembered for the political manipulation of the tournament by the military junta that governed Argentina, the suspicious 6-0 defeat of Peru—something everyone knew wouldn’t happen elsewhere—that allowed the hosts to advance to the final against the Netherlands, and the spectacular rain of blue and white paper that fans used to cover the stadium.

Participating Teams: 16

West Germany
Austria
Scotland
Spain
France
Netherlands
Hungary
Italy
Poland
Sweden
Argentina
Brazil
Mexico
Peru
Tunisia
Iran

The Doubt

The home team, led by Cesar Menotti, delayed the match against Peru to maneuver the outcome with the Brazil-Poland result (3-1). Knowing the result, the Argentinians understood they needed to beat Peru by a four-goal margin, a goal they surpassed with a 6-0 result, yet leaving a sea of doubts.

Countless doubts and manipulations were experienced in this World Cup, which many prefer not to remember.

The Suspicious Absence of Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff, the legendary Dutch footballer, generated controversy around his absence in the Cup. At that time, Cruyff was one of the world’s best players and had led the Netherlands to the final in the 1974 World Cup, so his decision not to participate in the 1978 tournament raised speculations and rumors.

One of the most widespread rumors was that Cruyff decided not to attend the World Cup due to concerns over Argentina's political situation.
A more alarming rumor was that Cruyff and his family had been victims of a kidnapping attempt in 1977 at their home in Barcelona. Cruyff confirmed this years later in a 2008 interview, mentioning that his family had indeed gone through a traumatic attempted kidnapping, which made him rethink his priorities.

His absence caused great disappointment in the Netherlands and the football world, as fans had hoped to see their team compete once again with Cruyff.

The Final

The final took place on June 25 at River Plate Stadium between the Netherlands and Argentina. It was a very exhausting match. At 38 minutes, Mario Kempes opened the scoring, putting Argentina ahead. Later, the Dutch player Nanninga equalized in the 84th minute, and the post denied Rensenbrink’s shot. In extra time, Kempes scored again, and Bertoni sealed Argentina's victory with a 3-1 win. It was Argentina's first World Cup and the end of the Dutch dream, closing a glorious cycle without winning the title.

Key Figures

Mario Alberto Kempes from Argentina, top scorer with six goals, considered the best player of the tournament
Ubaldo Fillol from Argentina, the best goalkeeper of the World Cup