Group 1 of the 1978 FIFA World Cup was one of four groups of nations competing at the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The group's first round of matches began on 2 June and its last matches were played on 10 June. All six group matches were played either at Estadio José María Minella in Mar del Plata, or Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The group consisted of Argentina (the host of the tournament) as well as Italy, France and Hungary.

Standings

Matches

Italy vs France

The first game in Group 1 pitted Italy against France. Italy were favored to win but had been victims of plenty of dull and unexciting performances leading up, while a rejuvenated French team were making their first appearance since the 1966 world cup. The first goal came with under a minute as goalkeeper Bertrand-Demanes passed the ball to Didier Six who ran down the entire length of the pitch before delivering a good cross that Bernard Lacombe headed past Dino Zoff to score the first goal of the tournament. Italy controlled the rest of the match and equalized halfway through the first half when after the ball pinged around the area it glanced off the unsuspecting Paolo Rossi and into the goal. It would be the first of 9 goals Rossi would score at the finals. Shortly after the beginning of the second-half substitute Renato Zaccarelli's shot went in. The Italians saw out the rest of the match, which saw little chances except for Maxime Bossis's shot that flew just wide of Zoff's post. Despite it being an unremarkable match it featured the emergence of two teams that would dazzle the world four years later at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)SW 8 Gaetano ScireaRB 5 Claudio GentileCB 2 Mauro BellugiLB 3 Antonio CabriniMF 10 Romeo BenettiMF 14 Marco Tardelli MF 9 Giancarlo Antognoni RW 16 Franco CausioCF 21 Paolo RossiCF 18 Roberto BettegaSubstitutions:MF 15 Renato Zaccarelli Manager:Enzo Bearzot GK 21 Jean-Paul Bertrand-DemanesSW 8 Marius Tresor (c)RB 4 Gerard JanvionCB 7 Patrice RioLB 3 Maxime BossisCM 11 Henri Michel CM 10 Jean-Marc GuillouAM 15 Michel Platini RW 16 Christian DalgerLW 19 Didier Six CF 17 Bernard Lacombe Substitutions:CF 14 Marc Berdoll LW 20 Olivier Rouyer Manager:Michel Hidalgo

Argentina vs Hungary

GK 5 Ubaldo FillolRB 15 Jorge OlguínCB 7 Luis GalvánCB 19Daniel Passarella (c) LB 20Alberto TarantiniDM 6 Américo Gallego CM 2 Osvaldo ArdilesCM 21 José Daniel Valencia RW 9René Houseman LW 10Mario KempesCF 14Leopoldo LuqueSubstitutions:RW 4 Daniel Bertoni CM 1 Norberto Alonso Manager:César Luis Menotti GK 1 Sándor GujdárSW 3 István KocsisRB 2 Péter Török CB 6 Zoltán Kereki (c)LB 4 József TóthCM 13 Károly CsapóCM 10 Sándor PintérCM 5 Sándor ZomboriAM 8 Tibor Nyilasi CF 9 András Törőcsik CF 18 László NagySubstitutions:RB 12 Győző Martos Manager:Lajos Baróti

Italy vs Hungary Italy once again had an uncertain start against Hungary in their second group game and appeared nervy early on, and Hungary had several good chances to score. But just after the half-hour mark Paolo Rossi made it two goals in two games by firing home after a shot had deflected into his path. Just a minute later Roberto Bettega took advantage of some poor defending to make it two goals in two minutes. Midway through the second half Romeo Benetti fired in a superb shot and Italy had the victory all but secure. It could have been so much more as the Italians hit the crossbar a total of three times in the game. Late on Hungary won a penalty kick, which was dispatched by substitute András Tóth but it was just consolation as Hungary were eliminated and Italy confirmed their spot in the second round.

GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)SW 8 Gaetano ScireaRB 5 Claudio GentileCB 2 Mauro BellugiLB 3 Antonio Cabrini MF 10 Romeo BenettiMF 14 Marco TardelliMF 9 Giancarlo AntognoniRW 16 Franco CausioCF 21 Paolo RossiCF 18 Roberto Bettega Substitutions:DF 4 Antonello Cuccureddu CF 19 Francesco Graziani Manager:Enzo Bearzot GK 21 Ferenc MészárosSW 3 István KocsisRB 12 Győző Martos CB 6 Zoltán Kereki (c)LB 4 József TóthCM 13 Károly CsapóCM 10 Sándor PintérCM 5 Sándor Zombori RW 17 László PusztaiLW 18 László Nagy CF 7 László Fazekas Substitutions:MF 16 István Halász FW 19 András Tóth Manager:Lajos Baróti

Argentina vs France

GK 5 Ubaldo FillolRB 15 Jorge OlguínCB 7 Luis GalvánCB 19Daniel Passarella (c)LB 20Alberto TarantiniDM 6 Américo Gallego CM 2 Osvaldo ArdilesAM 10Mario KempesCF 14Leopoldo LuqueWF 9 René HousemanWF 21 José Daniel Valencia Substitutions:AM 1 Norberto Alonso WF 16 Oscar Ortiz Manager:César Luis Menotti GK 21 Jean-Paul Bertrand-Demanes SW 8 Marius Tresor (c)RB 2 Patrick BattistonCB 6 Christian LopezLB 3 Maxime BossisCM 11 Henri MichelCM 9 Dominique BathenayAM 15 Michel PlatiniRW 18 Dominique RocheteauLW 19 Didier Six CF 17 Bernard LacombeSubstitutions:GK 1 Dominique Baratelli Manager:Michel Hidalgo

France vs Hungary Both teams arrived for the match with white shirts and France was forced to borrow green-striped shirts from local club Kimberley de Mar del Plata.

GK 22 Dominique DropsySW 8 Marius Tresor (c)RB 4 Gerard JanvionCB 6 Christian LopezLB 5 François BracciCM 13 Jean PetitCM 9 Dominique BathenayAM 12 Claude Papi RW 18 Dominique Rocheteau LW 20 Olivier RouyerCF 14 Marc BerdollSubstitutions:AM 15 Michel Platini LW 19 Didier Six Manager:Michel Hidalgo GK 1 Sándor GujdárSW 14 László BálintRB 12 Győző MartosCB 6 Zoltán Kereki (c)LB 4 József TóthCM 8 Tibor NyilasiCM 10 Sándor PintérCM 5 Sándor ZomboriRW 17 László PusztaiLW 18 László Nagy CF 9 András TörőcsikSubstitutions:MF 13 Károly Csapó Manager:Lajos Baróti

Argentina vs Italy

GK 5 Ubaldo FillolRB 15 Jorge OlguínCB 7 Luis GalvánCB 19Daniel Passarella (c)LB 20Alberto TarantiniDM 6 Américo Gallego CM 2 Osvaldo ArdilesCM 21 José Daniel ValenciaRW 4Daniel BertoniLW 16 Oscar Ortiz CF 10Mario KempesSubstitutions:RW 9 René Houseman Manager:César Luis Menotti GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)SW 8 Gaetano ScireaRB 5 Claudio GentileCB 2 Mauro Bellugi LB 3 Antonio CabriniCM 10 Romeo Benetti CM 14 Marco TardelliCM 9 Giancarlo Antognoni RW 16 Franco CausioCF 21 Paolo RossiCF 18 Roberto BettegaSubstitutions:DF 4 Antonello Cuccureddu CM 15 Renato Zaccarelli Manager:Enzo Bearzot

See also Argentina at the FIFA World Cup France at the FIFA World Cup Hungary at the FIFA World Cup Italy at the FIFA World Cup

Notes

References

Match reports