Buenos Aires, 1978: Don’t cry for me, Argentina
It was another eight years before the two teams would meet in international competition again, with the next encounter in Argentina in the second phase of the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
As reigning champions, Helmut Schön’s side had had an indifferent and somewhat bizarre start to the tournament: they had not conceded a goal in their three group matches against Poland, Mexico and Tunisia, but ended up finishing in second place after a 6-0 thrashing of Mexico was sandwiched by goalless draws against the Poles and Tunisians. Italy by contrast had won all three of their group games; after beating France and Hungary, they topped the group with a 1-0 win over hosts Argentina.
Rather than a straight knockout, the last eight were placed in two groups of four, as had been the case in 1974 – with Germany and Italy grouped alongside the Netherlands and Austria. It was the first – and so far only – example of where four European countries that bordered each other were ever drawn in the same group of a major international tournament.
Both opening games kicked off at the same time, and contrasted markedly. While the Dutch romped to a 5-1 victory over the Austrians, the Italians and Germans played out their second goalless draw in three World Cups. The likes of Klaus Fischer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge were unable to unlock the tight Italian defence, while the equally talented Italian offensive unit – containing a young Paolo Rossi – were just as unsuccessful against the German side that had gone over six hours without conceding a goal.
The remainder of the group fixtures however saw a complete change in fortunes for the Mannschaft. Having led the Dutch twice in their second fixture they had to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw, and knowing that a place in the final was nigh on impossible, they then went on to crash to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of neighbours Austria, one of the lowest points in the history of German football.
Germany would finish in third place in the group and miss out on the final two matches, while the Italians – who having finished second might otherwise have been semi-finalists – went straight on to the third-place play-off where they were beaten by Brazil.
FIFA World Cup Second Phase Group A, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, 14.06.1978
0-0 (0-0)
– / –
Germany FR: Maier – Vogts (c), Dietz – Bonhof, Kaltz, Rüssmann – Kh. Rummenigge, Flohe (68. Beer), K. Fischer, Zimmermann (53. Konopka), Hölzenbein
Italy: Zoff – Tardelli, Scirea, Bellugi, Cabrini – Gentile, Benetti, Antognoni (46. Zaccarelli) – Causio, Rossi, Bettega
Referee: Dušan Maksimović (Yugoslavia)
Assistants: Alfonso Gonzalez Archundia (Mexico), Miguel Comesaña (Argentina)
Yellow Cards: – / –
Red Cards: – / –
Attendance: 67,547