The
European Invasion of the Americas of the Summer of 1977
In
the Summer of 1977, Argentina’s World Cup was one year away. Argentina as
hosts, were condemned to Friendly matches in preparations for their World Cup.
To
test themselves against worthy European Competition that they would surely be
facing, the Argentine Federation invited many European nations to play vs. the
national team that summer.
Argentina
under the control of a Junta led by General Videla was beset by political
problems and terrorism. There were questions about their ability to host the
event. The authorities wanted to showcase these friendlies to display to the
world, their competence and willingness to host the Main Event without any
problems.
The
European nations themselves were more than willing to partake on this
Trans-Atlantic journey to get acquainted with the climatic conditions and the
venues and the atmosphere they would be facing (provided they were lucky to
qualify).
The
teams in question were defending World Cup Champions West Germany, England,
Poland, France, Scotland, Yugoslavia and East Germany.
The
action was not only restricted in Argentina, most of these European nations
chose to tour the continent as a whole, for these months of May, June and July.
Just
about all of them arranged Friendlies vs. the continent’s powerhouse Brazil, as
well as other South American nations (not to mention local clubs) along the
way.
Argentina
Manager Luis César Menotti was very keen on this endeavor. He wanted the
National team to play many matches in a period of a month, to mirror World Cup
Finals conditions, where one would have to play a minimum of seven matches to
reach the Final. He also believed many friendlies were essential as a way of
team and group building.
Menotti
wanted to impose an attacking style of play for the National team. He wanted
the National Team to play like his Huracan squad of 1973 that had won the
title. Their (his) tactics consisted of Zonal defense and a short passing game.
He
was at odds with the tactics of Boca Juniors Manager Juan Carlos Lorenzo.
Though Boca Juniors were a successful side at the time, their style was the
antithesis of Menotti. Though successful, Lorenzo’s Boca were a physical,
defensive side.
Lorenzo
had predicted that Menotti’s Argentina would fail and not be able to defeat any
European side. According to Lorenzo, the game had changed in the past decade,
and teams had to be more athletic and faster to win. (One could say Lorenzo was
Menotti’s Bilardo of the next decade). In any case, Menotti’s desire seemed a
tall order at a time, when only a handful of Argentinean clubs played with
tactics resembling his.
Menotti
had recently been successful in making the Argentinean Federation to pass a law
forbidding potential National team players to be transferred to European Clubs
until at least the end of the World Cup. The law had been passed too late to
stop Norberto Alonso and Mario Kempes from joining Olympique Marseille and
Valencia respectively. Menotti repeatedly
stated that he would not call up any European based player; he did however
acknowledge that Kempes would be the hardest player to replace. Nevertheless,
as far as this 1977 summer was concerned, Kempes and all the other
foreign-based players were out of World Cup contention.
The
Argentina squad itself had a backbone of players, many of who would make the
Finals squad by the following summer.
The
squad included the eccentric goalkeeper Hugo Gatti, Captain Jorge Carrascosa,
Alberto Tarantini, Jorge Olguin, Daniel Passarella, Osvaldo Ardiles, Ricardo
Villa, Ricardo Bochini, Americo Gallego, Daniel Bertoni, Leopoldo Luque, René Houseman and Omar Larrosa.
Brazil
for their part were preparing for their final phase of World Cup qualification
to take place in July. The new Manager Claudio Coutinho had replaced Osvaldo
Brandao in March. He publicly looked forward to the matches to test with ‘the
best schools of European Football’. He considered Poland as the most dangerous
opponent and then West Germany and England. He felt France were still not at their
level yet. He wanted to try 4-3-3 that was employed by most Brazilian clubs.
His squad contained stars such as
goalkeeper Emerson Leao, Luis Pereira, Marinho, Edinho, Toninho Cerezo,
Zico, Paulo Cesar, Roberto Dinamite, as well as veteran Roberto Rivellino.
The
series of matches started on May 29th, with Argentina hosting Poland
at Buenos Aires. Argentina chose Boca Juniors’ ‘La Bombonera’ as its venue for
all their matches.
Jacek
Gmoch’s Poland squad were comfortably set to qualify for the World Cup and were
one of the finest teams in Europe at the time.
The
squad had many leftovers from the glorious 1974 squad, including Captain
Kazimierz Deyna, penalty stopping goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski, Władysław Żmuda,
Grzegorz Lato, Andrzej Szarmach and Henryk Kasperczak. The new rising star was
Zbigniew Boniek who in time would become an international star.
Poland
had arrived at Argentina just the day before the match. They were the better
team in the first half and scored first through Lato in the 32nd
minute.
Just
before halftime, Argentina was awarded a penalty kick, which was scored by
Daniel Bertoni, after a handball offense in the box.
Argentina
was missing René Houseman, who had been suspended
by his club Huracan for indiscipline. They gradually took control in the second
half, as fatigue caught up with the Polish. First Leopoldo Luque and then
midway through the second half Daniel Bertoni scored again for a convincing
(3-1) win.
 |
Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3008 (31-5-1977)
(Leopoldo Luque, May 29,
1977, Argentina 3-Poland 1) |
The
defending World Cup Champions West Germany was the next team to visit the hosts
at ‘La Bombonera’ on June 5th. West German Manager Helmut Schoen had
to contend with the loss of inspirational Captain Franz Beckenbauer to the
NASL’s New York Cosmos. Berti Vogts, ‘Der Terrier’, was the new Captain, with
veterans such as goalkeeper Sepp Maier, Rainer Bonhof and Bernd Holzenbein
leading a squad that included many new youngsters such as Manfred Kaltz,
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudiger Abramczik. They could no longer count upon
Gerd Muller to score goals at will, however, many had high hopes for his
namesake Dieter Muller and Klaus Fischer.
As
far as the match itself, the Germans (wearing green) dominated the hosts with
Fischer scoring twice and Holzenbein delivering the third, before Daniel
Passarella scored a consolation goal. The Germans were in total domination and
the crowd applauded them at the end and were praised by the Argentinean media
for their display.
 |
Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3009 (07-06-1977)
(June 5, 1977, Argentina
1-West Germany 3) |
Three
days later on June 8th, West Germany defeated a listless and
uninspired Uruguay (2-0) at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, with goals by
Heinz Flohe, early in the second half, and Dieter Muller at the death. Uruguay
had already been eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers, as a result they
were dejected and not much could have been expected of them.
On
the same day, Brazil hosted England at Rio’s Maracana Stadium. All was not well
in the English Camp. In the previous week they had been defeated twice at
Wembley to Wales and Scotland in the Home Championship. The Scotland match was
marred by the Scottish fans’ invasion of the pitch and the destruction of the
goalposts. The talking point had been star Kevin Keegan’s recent transfer from
Liverpool to SV Hamburg. World Cup qualification seemed bleak with Italy
seemingly in the driver’s seat. In fact for this match vs. Brazil, England
Manager Don Revie had to miss to go to Helsinki to watch the qualifier between
Finland and Italy. Of course, there was more to this trip for Revie, which
transpired later (that we shall get to), but Italy’s (3-0) win effectively
dashed England’s hopes. With Revie absent, Les Cocker was in charge to pick a
squad that in addition to Keegan, contained the likes of goalkeeper Ray
Clemence, Phil Neal, Trevor Cherry, Emlyn Hughes, Trevor Francis and Ray
Wilkins to name a few. The day before the match Trevor Brooking was sent home
due to injury.
England
played well defensively and kept Brazil at bay. Rivellino, though impressive in
this match, was unable to break the resilient English defense. Brazil mostly
controlled the second half, but Ray Clemence made many fine saves to keep the
match scoreless. Brazilian winger Gil was well guarded by Trevor Cherry and had
no impact. Gil’s frustration was apparent when he openly complained that
Coutinho was hampering him by playing him in the right wing. Brazil was whistled
off the park by their own fans at the end of the match. This was the first time
that England had not lost at Brazil.
Two
days later on June 10th, Poland continued its tour by playing at
Lima vs. Peru. They were fresher for that match and dominated the hosts from
the start. Szarmach and Deyna scored within the first twenty minutes to give
Poland a commanding lead. Luces pulled a goal back in the 62nd
minute, however, just a minute later the impressive Kasperczak scored Poland’s
third.
Two
days later, June 12th turned out to be the busiest day on the
continent as three matches were played. At LaPaz, Poland continued its fine
form by defeating the hosts (2-1) with goals by Lato and Kapka in the 90th
minute.
Brazil
and West Germany tested one another at Maracana. The impressive West Germans
were unfazed and held their own against the hosts. They scored first early in
the second half through Fischer, however, with minutes remaining Rivellino,
celebrating his 100th cap, evened the score.
 |
Photo From : Fussball Magazin, Issue 6,
September October 1977
(Rudiger Abramczik and
Rodrigues Neto, June 12, 1977, Brazil 1-West Germany 1) |
Most
of the drama of the day occurred at ‘La Bombonera’ where Argentina hosted
England. The atmosphere was tense, even before the match started. The
Argentinean fans booed the English National Anthem. They chanted ‘Animals’, in
reference to Alf Ramsey’s insult from the 1966 World Cup. They also chanted
‘Pirates’, in reference to the Falkland Islands dispute (that would eventually
erupt into a war in 1982).
Argentina
was still missing the suspended Houseman, but also Hugo Gatti, Jorge Carrascosa
and Ricardo Villa.
England
scored within two minutes when Stuart Pearson scored from Mick Channon’s near
post cross. In the 15th minute, Brian Greenhoff fouled Daniel
Bertoni near the edge of the box and Bertoni himself scored from the free kick.
Otherwise, the match was a cautious defensive affair. Kevin Keegan rarely
threatened and had no impact.
With
ten minutes remaining, Trevor Cherry fouled Bertoni. When Bertoni got up he
punched Terry and knocked some teeth out.
The
pair, who had been booked before, were immediately sent off. The Argentinean
Federation suspended Bertoni for four matches and also exonerated Cherry.
 |
Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3010 (14-6-1977)
(Daniel Bertoni scoring from a free kick, June 12,
1977, Argentina 1-England 1)
|
On
June 14th, West Germany continued its tour with a layover at Mexico.
The somewhat tired Germans fell behind twice in the first half. They gradually
got back in the game in the second half and Klaus Fischer scored twice to tie
up the match.
England
wrapped its tour the next day, June 15th, with a scoreless tie vs.
the dispirited Uruguay squad at Montevideo. The scoreless draw was a
continuation of England’s defensive tactics that many critics decried. Revie’s
4-4-2 tactics were roundly criticized and blamed for the unimpressive
performances.
Both
teams were booed off the field at the end. This match turned out to be the only
match that Revie named an unchanged side.
On
the same day, Scotland made their debut on the tour at Santiago vs. Chile.
Chile had also been eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers and had arranged a
team with little preparation. It was no surprise that they were defeated (4-2)
with Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari (twice) and Asa Hartford scoring. Scotland was
coming off a victory in the Home Championship and had appointed Alistair Mc
Leod as Manager just the previous month.
Three
Days later, on June 18th, Scotland lined up vs. Argentina.
Incidentally the Argentinean fans did not boo the same National Anthem that
they had booed vs. England.
Just
like the match vs. England, it was a tight match with many fouls and the result
was one-all tie. Both sides scored their goals through penalty kicks. With less
than 13 minutes remaining Scotland were awarded their penalty kick from which
Donald Masson scored. Three minutes later Argentina were awarded a penalty kick
of their own and Daniel Passarella scored. And just like the match vs. England
two players were sent off. In the 56th minute, Argentina’s Vicente
Pernia punched Scotland’s Willie Johnston in retaliation after a foul. Both
players were sent off.
Menotti,
in uncharacteristic fashion, defended the violent tactics of his players.
 |
Photo From : World Soccer, August 1977
(June 18, 1977,
Argentina 1-Scotland 1) |
The
following day, June 19th, Poland ended its tour by playing Brazil at
São Paulo. Zico and Roberto Dinamite were left out of the lineup, replaced by
Paulo Isidoro and Reinaldo. Brazil was excellent for most of the match and
deservedly scored through Paulo Isidoro and Reinaldo in the first half.
Rivellino scored Brazil’s third from a penalty kick in the second half. Poland
got back into the game towards the end and scored a consolation goal from
Boniek.
 |
Photo From : Onze, Issue 27, March 1978
(Andrzej Szarmach and
Toninho Cerezo, June 19, 1977, Brazil 3-Poland 1) |
A
few days later, on June 23rd, Scotland finished its own tour by
visiting Brazil at Maracana. They held out bravely against Brazil before
succumbing to a Zico free kick with twenty minutes remaining. Rivellino scored
Brazil’s second five minutes later.
On
June 26th, France and Yugoslavia made their first appearances.
Yugoslavia faced Brazil at Belo Horizonte and almost won with Ivica Surjak
particularly impressive. Yugoslavia was better in the first half, with Brazil
gradually asserting themselves in the second half but unable to break the
Yugoslav defense. Claudio Coutinho
described this as Brazil’s hardest match of the tour. Brazil was predictably
whistled off the field at the end.
Michel
Hidalgo’s rejuvenated France squad was led by skipper Henri Michel and Libero
Marius Tresor. Nancy’s Michel Platini and other youngsters such as Patrick Battiston,
Maxime Bossis and Didier Six represented the new generation.
Many
French managers, most notably Saint Etienne’s Robert Herbin, had been opposed
to this grueling tour at the end of the season. Herbin was particularly
concerned about his players Christian Lopez and Dominique Bathenay, who were
exhausted.
However,
Hidalgo insisted it was necessary and an opportunity not to be missed for the
experience and the preparations of the national team.
Against
the hosts Argentina, France was in better shape and pressed Argentina. The French were the better side in the first
half, in the second half, Ricardo Villa and Houseman pressed the French harder
but to no avail. Though the match ended scoreless, France had looked better.
The French camp was surprised as they expected a stiffer test. Platini
described the Argentina squad as too static and lacking the quality of surprise
to worry most European teams.
Argentinean
Press tried in vain to make Hidalgo give reasons why Argentina were playing
poorly, however, Hidalgo limited his responses on his own squad.
 |
Photo From : Mondial, Old Series, Issue 6,
July 1977
(Olivier Rouyer between
Jorge Carrascosa and Daniel Killer, June 26, 1977, Argentina 0-France 0) |
The
most exciting match of the tour was four days later at Maracana when Brazil
took on France.
Before
the match Hidalgo had stated that France had come in all modesty to learn from
this tour, while Coutinho emphasized that Brazil had to earn back its colors
and pride.
Brazil
started the match in strong fashion, especially Cerezo. Not surprisingly, given
their domination, Edinho scored Brazil’s first goal in the 30th
minute. However, after the goal Brazil appeared to take their foot off the
pedal. Hidalgo had remarked this and urged his team to attack as he sensed
Brazil were tiring. However, Brazil scored again early in the second half
through Roberto Dinamite and Hidalgo’s plan seemed to have backfired. Undeterred
he urged his squad to continue attacking. In the next minute, Didier Six scored
a spectacular effort from long range to give France some hope (some time later,
Didier Six admitted he had used his hand to control the ball).
The
goal spurred France on and they continued attacking. With five minutes left,
Olivier Rouyer took a corner, which was headed in by Marius Tresor. The
Brazilian public was taken by France’s audacity and applauded Tresor. At the
end of the match, the public even chanted ‘França, França’.
The
overjoyed Hidalgo was very emotional with these chants and described this match
as France’s best since the 1958 World Cup.
 |
Photo From : Mondial, Old Series, Issue 6,
July 1977
(Paulo Isidoro and Omar
Sahnoun, June 30, 1977, Brazil 2-France 2) |
A
few days later on July 3rd, a tired France concluded its tour with a
loss (1-3) against Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro.
On
the same day, Argentina hosted Yugoslavia in another tight affair and only won
with a penalty kick by Passarella in the first half.
 |
Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3013 (05-7-1977)
(Ruben Galvan, July 3,
1977, Argentina 1-Yugoslavia 0) |
On
July 12th, the series of Friendlies ended when Argentina hosted East
Germany (in its only match of the
tour). Argentina ended the summer on a positive note with a much-improved
performance in defense and won (2-0) with goals by Houseman and Carrascosa.
 |
Photo From : EL GRAFICO Nº 3015 (19-7-1977)
(Oscar Ortiz, July 3, 1977, Argentina 2-East
Germany 0)
|
So
what were the lessons learned? The Argentinean public was disappointed with its
team. The press in particular was opposed to Menotti’s tactics and the violent
fouls in the England and Scotland matches. During all their matches played at
‘La Bombonera’, the public chanted for the appointment of Juan Carlos Lorenzo
of the successful Boca team. As far as the World Cup Finals, the Argentinean
Federation chose to select River Plate’s Stadium (El Monumental) as its venue
for home matches.
Even
though, Menotti had vowed he would not select foreign-based players, the
squad’s limitations forced him to make a concession on that principle. He
stated he would have to call up at least a few of the foreign-based players
with Mario Kempes on the top of the list.
Given
Menotti’s preaching of beautiful, attacking Football, it was ironic how violent
they were in some of these matches. This carried over into the World Cup the
following year, with the shameful display that led to the sending offs of
Andras Torocsik and Tibor Nylasi, as well as the physical battle with Brazil,
not to mention the gamesmanship used in the Final concerning Dutchman Rene van
der Kerkhof’s plaster cast on his arm (Leaving out the 6-0 Peru win and all the
conspiracy theories surrounding it).
It’s
also strange, given Menotti’s image of a free and open thinker, that his
training camps were like Army barracks. This may have led to the exclusion of
Hugo Gatti. His refusal to join a training camp in February 1978 to recuperate
from an injury sealed his fate and Ubaldo Fillol replaced him. These training
camps were also too much for Captain Jorge Carrascosa who left the squad on his
own accord. The reason that he gave was that ‘His Parents had earned the right
to see their son’, not to mention his wife was due to give birth during the
Finals. There were also reports that both players were at odds with the
Federation over bonus payments.
As
far as Brazil, the general analysis was that they lacked a genuine center
forward. Though Rivellino was impressive that summer, by the following year he
would be a spent force. By the time of the World Cup, Claudio Coutinho, much
like Mario Zagallo with the 1974 team, was attempting to ‘Europeanize’ the
team’s tactics. Coutinho would sadly be killed in 1981 in a scuba diving
accident.
Of
all the team on tour, West Germany was the most impressive. Klaus Fischer
received much praise, as did Holzenbein and Abramczik. The duo of Manfred Kaltz
and Rolf Russman seemed to have been able replacements for Beckenbauer and
Georg Schwarzenbeck. However, by the time of the World Cup, the loss of
Beckenbauer would be sorely felt and in contrast to this tour the Germans ended
up having a poor World Cup.
Poland
in general lived up to their reputation with Henryk Kasperczak as the pick of
the bunch.
Scotland
gave a positive impression on this tour, with goalkeeper Alan Rough voted by
the Scottish press as their best player.
By
the time of the World Cup, a false sense of security and confidence had set in.
They entered the World Cup as an outside bet, however were shellacked by Peru
and were unable to defeat Iran. The unlucky Willie Johnston, who was punched and
sent off in this tour, had an even worse World Cup, when he failed a dope test
and was suspended.
France
gave a good impression, though they were still years sway from being a great
side.
England
ended up having an eventful summer especially off the field. At the beginning
of the tour, Don Revie was supposedly away supervising World Cup qualifying
group opponents Finland and Italy. However it was discovered by ‘Daily Mail’
that he was in fact negotiating with officials from the United Arab Emirates.
Revie was banned for breach of contract and in his place Ron Greenwood was
appointed.
For
a (Non-World Cup) summer, an entire continent was witness to a feast of
football, where lessons were learned (perhaps).
In
a way this comprehensive tour was a precursor to mini tournaments that World
Cup hosts usually hold a year ahead of the Tournament as a dress rehearsal
(These days the Confederations Cup fills that role).
The
Sequence of Matches:
May
29, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 3-Poland 1
June
5, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-West Germany 3
June
8, 1977- Montevideo, (Estadio Centenario)-Uruguay 0-West Germany 2
June
8, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 0-England 0
June
10, 1977- Lima, (Estadio Nacional)-Peru 1-Poland 3
June
12, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-England 1
June
12, 1977- La Paz, (Estadio Libertador S.Bolivar)-Bolivia 1-Poland 2
June
12, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 1-West Germany 1
June
14, 1977- Mexico City, (Estadio Azteca)-Mexico 2-West Germany 2
June
15, 1977- Montevideo, (Estadio Centenario)-Uruguay 0-England 0
June
15, 1977- Santiago, (Estadio Nacional)-Chile 2-Scotland 4
June
18, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-Scotland 1
June
19, 1977- São Paulo, (Estadio Morumbi)-Brazil 3-Poland 1
June
23, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 2-Scotland 0
June
26, 1977- Belo Horizonte, (Estádio Mineirão)-Brazil 0-Yugoslavia 0
June
26, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 0-France 0
June
30, 1977- Rio de Janeiro, (Estádio do Maracanã)-Brazil 2-France 2
July
3, 1977- Belo Horizonte, (Estádio Mineirão)- Atlético Mineiro- (Brazil)
3-France 1
July
3, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina 1-Yugoslavia 0
July 12, 1977- Buenos Aires, (La Bombonera)-Argentina
2-East Germany 0
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