11th CUP

1978

Argentina, also a champion

at home, in a Championship in which

Brazil was the only undefeated

In 1978, Brazilian football crossed

serious problems. But still

there were hopes of a good campaign

in the World Cup. The suffered qualifiers

against Colombia and Paraguay were

quickly forgotten. The World Cup would be there, in the

Argentina. And you could count, when less,

with the fans, a valuable reinforcement, in

dealing with Brazil. Technically,

mar del plata’s opponents also do not

Scared. The information was that the

Spain, Austria and Sweden also did not

were fine. And there went Brazil towards Mar del Plata,

bathed by the currents of Antarctica, icy and

wet, even in July, a month of

weather amenities in almost all of the

southern hemisphere. Nothing, however, worked. And

there was not even luck. Our team spent moments

difficult in the round of 16 and quarter-finals. In

semi-final, ended disqualified by the balance of goals. The

Brazil finished the World Cup of 78 in the singular position

of taking third place, being the only undefeated

of the league. Argentina – which had lost

a game for France – won the Netherlands

in the decision.

1978 – Location: Argentina

Champion: Argentina

BRAZIL QUALIFIERS

Colombia 0-0 Brazil (Bogotá)

Brazil:

Leo;

Zé Maria, Amaral, Beto Fuscão and Vladimir;

Givanildo (Caçapava), Zico, Rivelino;

Falcão, Gil (Valdomiro and Roberto

Brazil 6-0 Colombia (Rio)

Goals: Roberto (2), Zico, Marinho (2) and Rivelino

Brazil:

Leo;

Zé Maria, Luis Pereira, Carlos Alberto and Marinho (Edinho);

Toninho Cerezo, Rivelino, Gil (Joãozinho),

Roberto, Zico and Paulo Cesar.

Paraguay 0 x 1 Brazil (Asunción)

Goal: Insfran (against)

Brazil:

Leo;

Zé Maria (Marco Antonio), Luis Pereira, Carlos Alberto, Marinho,

Toninho Cerezo, Falcão, Gil, Rivelino, Roberto and Paulo Cesar

Brazil 1 x 1 Paraguay (Rio)

Goals: Roberto and Baez

Brazil:

Leo;

Marinho, Carlos Alberto, Edinho, Marco Antonio;

Toninho Cerezo (Chick), Hawk,

Valdomiro, Roberto, Rivelino and Paulo Cesar

FINALS

GROUP I (Argentina and Italy)

Argentina 2 x 1 Hungary

Italy 2 x 1 France

Argentina 2 x 1 France

Italy 3 x 1 Hungary

Italy 1-0 Argentina

France 3 x 1 Hungary

GROUP II (West Germany and Poland)

West Germany 0 x 0 Poland

Tunisia 3 x 1 Mexico

Poland 1 x 0 Tunisia

West Germany 6-0 Mexico

Poland 3 x 1 Mexico

West Germany 0-0 Tunisia

GROUP III (Brazil and Austria)

Brazil 1 x 1 Sweden

Goals: Sjolberg and Reinaldo

Brazil;

Leão, Toninho, Oscar, Amaral and Edinho

Batista, Toninho Cerezo (Dirceu) and Rivelino;

Gil (Nelinho), Reinaldo and Zico

Austria 2 x 1 Spain

Austria 1-0 Sweden

Brazil 0 x 0 Spain

Brazil:

Leo;

Nelinho (Gil), Oscar, Amaral and Edinho;

Batista, Toninho Cerezo, Toninho

Zico (Jorge Mendonça), Reinaldo and Dirceu.

Spain 1-0 Sweden

Brazil 1 x 0 Austria

Brazil:

Leo;

Toninho, Oscar, Amaral and Rodrigues Neto;

Toninho Cerezo (Chicão), Batista and Dirceu,

Gil, Roberto and Jorge Mendonça (Zico).

GROUP IV

Peru 3 x 1 Scotland

Netherlands 3-0 Iran

Scotland 1 x 1 Iran

Netherlands 0 x 0 Peru

Peru 4 x 1 Iran

Scotland 3 x 2 Netherlands

QUARTER-FINALS

GROUP A

Italy 0 x 0 West Germany

Netherlands 5 x 1 Austria

Italy 1-0 Austria

West Germany 2 x 2 Netherlands

Netherlands 2-0 Italy

Austria 3 x 2 West Germany

GROUP B

Argentina 2-0 Poland

Brazil 3-0 Peru

Goals: Dirceu (2) and Zico

Brazil:

Leo;

Toninho, Oscar, Amaral and Rodrigues Neto;

Batista, Toninho Cerezo (Chicão) and Dirceu;

Gil (Zico), Roberto and Jorge Mendonça.

Argentina 0 x 0 Brazil (Rosario, June 18, 1978)

Brazil:

Leo;

Toninho, Oscar, Amaral and Rodrigues Neto (Edinho);

Chicão, Batista and Dirceu;

Gil, Roberto and Jorge Mendonça (Zico).

Poland 1-0 Peru

Argentina 6-0 Peru

Brazil 3 x 1 Poland

Goals: Nelinho, Lato, Roberto (2)

Brazil:

Leo;

Nelinho, Oscar, Amaral and Toninho;

Batista, Toninho Cerezo (Rivelino and Dirceu;

Gil, Roberto and Zico (Jorge Mendonça)

DECISION OF THE 3RD. Place

Brazil 2 x 1 Italy (Buenos Aires, June 24, 1978)

Goals: Causio, Nelinho and Dirceu

Brazil:

Leo;

Nelinho, Oscar, Amaral and Rodrigues Neto;

Toninho Cerezo (Rivelino), Batista and Dirceu;

Gil (Reinaldo), Roberto and Jorge Mendonça.

FINAL

Argentina 3 x 1 Netherlands

Goals: Kempes, Portviet (normal time),

Kempes and Bertoni (overtime)

Argentina:

Fillol;

Olguin, Galvan, Passarela and Tarantini;

Gallego, Ardilles (Larrosa) and Kempes;

Bertoni, Luque and Ortiz (Houseman)

Netherlands:

Jongbloed;

Jansen (Surbier), Brants, Ktol and Poortviet;

Haan, Willy Van der Kherkof and Neskeens;

Rep (Nanninga), Renè Van der Kherkof and Resenbrink.

Judge: Sérgio Gonela (Italy)

Top scorer: Mario Kempes (6 goals)

Two games discussed in the 1978 World Cup: the Brazilian draw with Sweden (with a Zico goal cancelled out in the end) and the Dutch defeat in the final.

P.S.: Very varied lineups;

 Midfield with many heads of area, 2 right sides playing at the same time (Toninho and Nelinho) – in Fla it worked -;

Indefinition at left back, 3 players played there, there was a good specialist;

World Marmelada Day – Argentina match 6-0 Peru. Peruvian goalkeeper Quiroga, Argentine. They needed 6 and they did…;

According to the Coach, Brazil was Moral Champion, only undefeated, and the issue Argentina vs. Peru. Brazil should have played to beat Argentina, entered with 3 midfielders.

By Jucele

Julio Leal

2021