Group A was one of two groups in the second group stage of the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals. It was the first time that this stage of the competition (equivalent to the quarter-finals) was played in a group format. Matches were played in three cities (Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen and Hanover) between 26 June and 3 July 1974. The group was composed of the winners of Groups 1 and 3 from the first group stage (East Germany and Netherlands), and the runners-up of Groups 2 and 4 (Brazil and Argentina).
The Netherlands won the group after winning all three of their matches to qualify for the final, while Brazil won their matches against East Germany and Argentina to finish in second place and qualify for the match for third place. East Germany and Argentina drew their match to finish level on one point, but East Germany's superior goal difference meant they finished the higher of the two.
Qualified teams The winners of Group 1 and 3 and the runners-up of Group 2 and 4 qualified for Group A of the second round.
Group Winners 1 3 Group Runners-up 2 4
Standings
Matches All times listed are local (CET)
Netherlands vs Argentina
GK 8 Jan JongbloedRB 20Wim Suurbier CB 2Arie HaanCB 17Wim RijsbergenLB 12Ruud KrolCM 13Johan Neeskens CM 6Wim JansenCM 3Willem van HanegemRW 16Johnny RepLW 15Rob RensenbrinkCF 14Johan Cruyff (c)Substitutions:CB 5 Rinus Israël Manager:Rinus Michels GK 1 Daniel CarnevaliRB 20Enrique Wolff CB 14Roberto Perfumo (c) CB 10Ramón HerediaLB 16Francisco SáMF 18Roberto TelchMF 4Agustín BalbuenaMF 17Carlos SqueoFW 11René Houseman FW 2 Rubén AyalaCF 22Héctor YazaldeSubstitutions:RB 9 Rubén Glaria FW 13Mario Kempes Manager:Vladislao Cap Assistant referees: Kurt Tschenscher (West Germany) Pavel Kazakov (Soviet Union)
Brazil vs East Germany
GK 1 LeãoRB 4Zé MariaCB 2Luís PereiraCB 3Marinho PeresLB 6 Marinho ChagasCM 17Carpegiani CM 10RivellinoAM 11CajuRW 13ValdomiroLW 21Dirceu CF 7Jairzinho Manager:Mário Zagallo GK 1 Jürgen CroySW 3 Bernd Bransch (c)RB 18Gerd KischeCB 4Konrad WeiseLB 12Siegmar WätzlichMF 17Erich Hamann MF 13Reinhard Lauck MF 14Jürgen SparwasserMF 2 Lothar KurbjuweitCF 11Joachim Streich CF 20Martin HoffmannSubstitutions:MF 16Harald Irmscher FW 8 Wolfram Löwe Manager:Georg Buschner Assistant referees: Doğan Babacan (Turkey) Tony Boskovic (Australia)
Argentina vs Brazil
GK 1 Daniel CarnevaliRB 9Rubén GlariaCB 5Ángel BargasCB 10Ramón HerediaLB 16Francisco Sá MF 17Carlos SqueoMF 4 Agustín BalbuenaMF 3 Carlos BabingtonMF 6 Miguel Ángel Brindisi (c) FW 2 Rubén AyalaFW 13Mario Kempes Substitutions:LB 7 Jorge Carrascosa FW 11René Houseman Manager:Vladislao Cap GK 1 LeãoRB 4Zé MariaCB 2Luís PereiraCB 3Marinho PeresLB 6 Marinho ChagasCM 17CarpegianiCM 10RivellinoAM 11CajuRW 13ValdomiroLW 21DirceuCF 7JairzinhoManager:Mário Zagallo Assistant referees: Youssou N'Diaye (Sénégal) Jack Taylor (England)
East Germany vs Netherlands
GK 1 Jürgen CroySW 3Bernd Bransch (c)RB 18Gerd KischeCB 4 Konrad WeiseLB 2Lothar KurbjuweitMF 13Reinhard Lauck MF 14Jürgen SparwasserMF 7 Jürgen PommerenkeMF 6 Rüdiger SchnuphaseCF 8Wolfram Löwe CF 20Martin HoffmannSubstitutions:CF 9 Peter Ducke MF 10Hans-Jürgen Kreische Manager:Georg Buschner GK 8 Jan JongbloedRB 20Wim SuurbierCB 2Arie HaanCB 17Wim RijsbergenLB 12Ruud KrolCM 13Johan NeeskensCM 6Wim JansenCM 3Willem van HanegemRW 16Johnny RepLW 15Rob RensenbrinkCF 14Johan Cruyff (c)Manager:Rinus Michels Assistant referees: Erich Linemayr (Austria) Omar Delgado Gómez (Colombia)
Argentina vs East Germany
GK 12Ubaldo FillolRB 20Enrique Wolff (c)CB 5Ángel Bargas CB 10Ramón HerediaLB 7Jorge CarrascosaDM 18Roberto TelchCM 6Miguel Ángel BrindisiCM 3Carlos BabingtonRW 11René HousemanLW 13Mario KempesCF 2Rubén AyalaManager:Vladislao Cap GK 1 Jürgen CroySW 3Bernd Bransch (c)RB 18Gerd KischeCB 4 Konrad WeiseLB 2Lothar KurbjuweitCM 6 Rüdiger SchnuphaseCM 7 Jürgen PommerenkeAM 14Jürgen Sparwasser RW 8Wolfram Löwe LW 20Martin HoffmannCF 11Joachim Streich Substitutions:LW 15Eberhard Vogel CF 9 Peter Ducke Manager:Georg Buschner Assistant referees: Mahmoud Mustafa Kamel (Egypt) Clive Thomas (Wales)
Netherlands vs Brazil
GK 8 Jan JongbloedRB 20Wim Suurbier CB 2Arie HaanCB 17Wim RijsbergenLB 12Ruud KrolCM 13Johan Neeskens CM 6Wim JansenCM 3Willem van HanegemRW 16Johnny Rep LW 15Rob Rensenbrink CF 14Johan Cruyff (c)Substitutions:MF 7 Theo de Jong DF 5 Rinus Israël Manager:Rinus Michels GK 1 LeãoRB 4Zé Maria CB 2Luís Pereira CB 3Marinho Peres LB 6 Marinho ChagasCM 17CarpegianiCM 10RivellinoAM 11Caju RW 13ValdomiroLW 21DirceuCF 7JairzinhoSubstitutions:CF 19Mirandinha Manager:Mário Zagallo Assistant referees: Bobby Davidson (Scotland) Govindasamy Suppiah (Singapore)
See also Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Brazil at the FIFA World Cup East Germany at the FIFA World Cup Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports