World Cup 1978

The World Cup 1978 was played in Argentina (1–25 June). 16 teams played 38 matches and scored 102 goals — 2.68 per match; 1,546,151 spectators attended.

Argentina won the title, beating Netherlands in the final (1–3 (a.e.t.)) at River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, referee Sergio Gonella.

Also in the last four: Brazil and Italy.

Top scorers: Rob Rensenbrink and Teófilo Cubillas with 5 goals.

Player of the tournament: Mario Kempes (Argentina); best young player: Antonio Cabrini.

ArgentinaHosts

38Matches

102Goals

2.68Goals per match

1,546,151Attendance

Knockout matches

Final

Date	Match	Score	Venue
25 June 1978	Netherlands – Argentina	1–3 (a.e.t.)	River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires

Third-place match

Date	Match	Score	Venue
24 June 1978	Brazil – Italy	2–1	River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires

Groups and tables

Group 1

#	Team	P	W	L	GF–GA	Pts
1	Italy	3	3	0	6–2	6
2	Argentina	3	2	1	4–3	4
3	France	3	1	2	5–5	2
4	Hungary	3	0	3	3–8	0

Results (6)

2 June 1978 — Argentina 2–1 Hungary
2 June 1978 — Italy 2–1 France
6 June 1978 — Argentina 2–1 France
6 June 1978 — Italy 3–1 Hungary
10 June 1978 — Argentina 0–1 Italy
10 June 1978 — France 3–1 Hungary

Group 2

#	Team	P	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

Results (6)

1 June 1978 — West Germany 0–0 Poland
2 June 1978 — Tunisia 3–1 Mexico
6 June 1978 — Poland 1–0 Tunisia
6 June 1978 — West Germany 6–0 Mexico
10 June 1978 — Poland 3–1 Mexico
10 June 1978 — West Germany 0–0 Tunisia

Group 3

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF–GA	Pts
1	Austria	3	2	0	1	3–2	4
2	Brazil	3	1	2	0	2–1	4
3	Spain	3	1	1	1	2–2	3
4	Sweden	3	0	1	2	1–3	1

Results (6)

3 June 1978 — Austria 2–1 Spain
3 June 1978 — Brazil 1–1 Sweden
7 June 1978 — Austria 1–0 Sweden
7 June 1978 — Brazil 0–0 Spain
11 June 1978 — Spain 1–0 Sweden
11 June 1978 — Brazil 1–0 Austria

Group 4

#	Team	P	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

Results (6)

3 June 1978 — Peru 3–1 Scotland
3 June 1978 — Netherlands 3–0 Iran
7 June 1978 — Scotland 1–1 Iran
7 June 1978 — Netherlands 0–0 Peru
11 June 1978 — Peru 4–1 Iran
11 June 1978 — Scotland 3–2 Netherlands

Group A

#	Team	P	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

Results (6)

14 June 1978 — Italy 0–0 West Germany
14 June 1978 — Austria 1–5 Netherlands
18 June 1978 — Italy 1–0 Austria
18 June 1978 — Netherlands 2–2 West Germany
21 June 1978 — Italy 1–2 Netherlands
21 June 1978 — Austria 3–2 West Germany

Group B

#	Team	P	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

Results (6)

14 June 1978 — Argentina 2–0 Poland
14 June 1978 — Peru 0–3 Brazil
18 June 1978 — Argentina 0–0 Brazil
18 June 1978 — Peru 0–1 Poland
21 June 1978 — Argentina 6–0 Peru
21 June 1978 — Poland 1–3 Brazil

Top scorers

Player	Team	Goals
Rob Rensenbrink	Netherlands	5
Teófilo Cubillas	Peru	5
Mario Kempes	Argentina	4
Dirceu	Brazil	3
Johnny Rep	Netherlands	3
Paolo Rossi	Italy	3
Roberto Dinamite	Brazil	3
Archie Gemmill	Scotland	2
Arie Haan	Netherlands	2
Daniel Bertoni	Argentina	2
Dieter Müller	West Germany	2
Ernie Brandts	Netherlands	2
Grzegorz Lato	Poland	2
Heinz Flohe	West Germany	2
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	West Germany	2

Stadiums

Venue	Matches
Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires	7
Estadio Chateau Carreras, Córdoba	6
Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, Mendoza	6
Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario	6
Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires	3
Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata	3
Estadio José María Minella, Mar del Plata	3
River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires	2
Chateau Carreras, Córdoba	1
Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, Córdoba	1

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