Hosts: Argentina
Winners: Argentina
Competing teams: 16
Where were England? Back home for the second time in succession
With Argentina a country at war, following a military coup two years earlier, there were fears the 11th finals would be disrupted by violence and protests.
In the end the tournament passed off peacefully, although there was still unease about the publicity the competition had handed to the country’s military junta.
On the pitch the tournament was again split into two group stages, before a final match, and hosts Argentina got off to a fine start winning their first two matches. Despite defeat to Italy in their final group stage, Cesar Menotti’s side joined the Azzuri in the next phase.
Reigning champions West Germany scored a 6-0 win over Mexico in Group B, but had to settle for second spot behind an ever-improving Poland, while Brazil and Austria were the qualifiers from Group C.
Scotland and their confident manager Ally McLeod went into the tournament full of hope but once again failed to get past the opening group stage, a 3-1 defeat to Peru, followed by a 1-1 draw with Iran ending their dreams.
They did however score a famous win over Holland in their final game, which included Archie Gemmill’s glorious goal.
And despite not having the inspirational Johann Cruyff in their side, the Dutch were unstoppable in the second group stage as they claimed a place in the final.
All the drama and suspicion came in the second group where Brazil looked odds-on to make their fourth final only to see Argentina beat a compliant Peru by the four clear goals they needed in their final game to nick top spot.
The final in Buenos Aires was played in a frenzied atmosphere with the pitch covered in ticker tape thrown from the crowd when the players emerged.
Mario Kempes opened the scoring on 38 minutes, but Dick Nanninga’s equaliser took the game into extra time.
However, another goal from Kempes, his sixth of the tournament, and Daniel Bertoni handed the Argentines their first World Cup triumph.
Did you know? Tunisia’s 3-1 group stage win over Mexico was the first time an African nation had won a game at the finals.
