Brazil at the World Cups: 1978, unbeaten and moral winners | OneFootball

Brazil beat Peru 3-0 in the second roundCredits: CBF Archive

The World Cup hosted by Argentina in 1978 marked the first major achievement of their South American neighbors. Brazil, however, did not lose a single match and was harmed by an unusual format. They finished in third place, but with almost universal recognition that they could have gone further in the competition. The coach of the Seleção, Cláudio Coutinho, perfectly summed up the feeling of Brazilian fans at the end of the World Cup: “We were the moral champions.”

Brazil’s national team made its debut on June 3 with a 1-1 draw against Sweden at Estádio Mundial-78 in Mar del Plata, in a match marked by refereeing controversy. Reinaldo scored for the team, which would find the net again through Zico in the final minute of the match. But Welsh referee Clive Thomas disallowed the play with a justification that convinced no one: he blew for full time before the ball, struck by Nelinho from a corner kick, reached Zico’s head. Thomas ended up being suspended by FIFA.

Four days later, against Spain, there was another draw. This time it was 0-0, at the same venue, in front of more than 37,000 fans. The third match, again in Mar del Plata and for the third time against a European team, brought the Seleção’s first victory in that World Cup: 1-0 over Austria, with a goal by Roberto Dinamite. Despite the result, Brazil finished second in Group 3, behind the Austrians themselves.

The second round, made up of eight teams, was divided into two groups, in which the participants played one another. The winners of each group advanced to the title match.

Brazil was placed in a group with Argentina, Poland, and Peru. In the first match, at Estádio Parque General San Martin in Mendoza, the Seleção played well and beat Peru 3-0, with goals from Dirceu, twice, and Zico.

The most anticipated match up to that point was the one between Brazil and Argentina, effectively the decider for first place in the group. At Estádio Gigante Arroyto Cardviola in Rosario, with nearly 40,000 people in the stadium supporting the home team, the two rivals played to a scoreless draw, which kept Brazil on top of the group on goal difference.

Brazil vs. Argentina: the decisive match to determine the finalistsCredits: CBF Archive

But because the final round of the second stage was not played on the same day, Brazil faced Poland on the eve of Argentina vs. Peru. The Seleção won 3-1 in Mendoza, with goals from Nelinho and Roberto Dinamite (2). All that remained was to hope that Argentina would not rout the already-eliminated Peruvian team the following day.

That is not what happened. Peru was easily beaten by the hosts 6-0. Brazil was therefore out of the final and would once again play for third place.

The opponent would be Italy, at the Monumental de Núñez in Buenos Aires. Coming from behind, Brazil won 2-1, with goals from Nelinho—an absolute screamer, it should be said—and Dirceu. The Seleção left the World Cup with heads held high, unbeaten, with a worthy campaign that honored the tradition of the three-time champions’ shirt.

See Brazil’s squad for the 1978 World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Carlos Gallo (Ponte Preta), Emerson Leão (Palmeiras), and Waldir Peres (São Paulo);

Defenders: Abel Braga (Vasco), Amaral (Guarani), Edinho (Fluminense), Nelinho (Cruzeiro), Oscar (Ponte Preta), Polozzi (Ponte Preta), Rodrigues Neto (Botafogo), and Toninho Baiano (Flamengo);

Midfielders: Batista (Internacional), Chicão (São Paulo), Dirceu (Vasco), Jorge Mendonça (Palmeiras), Rivellino (Fluminense), Toninho Cerezo (Atlético-MG), and Zico (Flamengo);

Forwards: Gil (Botafogo), Reinaldo (Atlético-MG), Roberto Dinamite (Vasco), Zé Sérgio (São Paulo).

Coach: Cláudio Coutinho.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.