1978 FIFA World Cup Group 3

Group 3 of the 1978 FIFA World Cup was one of four groups of nations competing at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, consisting of Brazil, Austria, Spain and Sweden.^[1]

In their first World Cup appearance since 1958, Austria retrieved some of their past glory, finishing ahead of a Zico and Rivellino-led Brazil. The Seleção clinched second place and faced South American rivals Argentina and Peru in the second round.

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Austria	3	2	0	1	3	2	+1	4	Advance to second round
2	Brazil	3	1	2	0	2	1	+1	4	Advance to second round
3	Spain	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	3
4	Sweden	3	0	1	2	1	3	−2	1

Source: FIFA

Matches

Austria vs Spain

3 June 1978

13:45 ART

Austria	2–1	Spain
Schachner 10' Krankl 76'	^{[Report 1]}	Dani 21'

Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires

Attendance: 40,841

Referee: Károly Palotai (Hungary)

Austria

Spain


GK	1	Friedrich Koncilia
DF	2	Robert Sara (c)
DF	3	Erich Obermayer
DF	4	Gerhard Breitenberger
DF	5	Bruno Pezzey
MF	7	Josef Hickersberger	67'
MF	8	Herbert Prohaska
MF	10	Willi Kreuz
MF	11	Kurt Jara
FW	9	Hans Krankl
FW	18	Walter Schachner	80'
Substitutions:
DF	15	Heribert Weber	67'
FW	19	Hans Pirkner	80'
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch


GK	13	Miguel Ángel
CB	17	Marcelino
CB	5	Migueli
CB	2	Toño
DM	18	Pirri (c)
RM	21	Isidoro San José
LM	11	Julio Cardeñosa	46'
AM	4	Juan Asensi
RF	7	Dani
CF	20	Rubén Cano
LF	19	Carles Rexach	60'
Substitutions:
MF	14	Eugenio Leal	46'
FW	9	Quini	60'
Manager:
László Kubala

Brazil vs Sweden

This match is remembered for Zico's disallowed goal during injury time of the second half. Welsh referee Clive Thomas whistled for full time while the ball was in the air after a corner kick, fractions of seconds before Zico's header.^[2]

3 June 1978

13:45 ART

Brazil	1–1	Sweden
Reinaldo 45'	^{[Report 2]}	Sjöberg 37'

Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata

Attendance: 32,569

Referee: Clive Thomas (Wales)

Brazil

Sweden


GK	1	Émerson Leão
RB	2	Toninho
CB	3	Oscar	87'
CB	4	Amaral
LB	6	Edinho
DM	17	Batista
CM	5	Toninho Cerezo		86'
CM	10	Rivellino (c)
AM	8	Zico
CF	18	Gil		66'
CF	9	Reinaldo
Substitutions:
DF	13	Nelinho		66'
MF	11	Dirceu		86'
Manager:
Cláudio Coutinho


GK	1	Ronnie Hellström
DF	2	Hasse Borg
DF	3	Roy Andersson
DF	4	Björn Nordqvist (c)
DF	5	Ingemar Erlandsson
MF	6	Staffan Tapper
MF	7	Anders Linderoth
MF	8	Bo Larsson
MF	9	Lennart Larsson	81'
FW	10	Thomas Sjöberg
FW	11	Benny Wendt
Substitutions:
FW	22	Ralf Edström	81'
Manager:
Georg Ericson

Austria vs Sweden

7 June 1978

13:45 ART

Austria	1–0	Sweden
Krankl 42' (pen.)	^{[Report 3]}

Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires

Attendance: 41,424

Referee: Charles Corver (Netherlands)

Austria

Sweden


GK	1	Friedrich Koncilia
DF	2	Robert Sara (c)
DF	3	Erich Obermayer
DF	4	Gerhard Breitenberger
DF	5	Bruno Pezzey
MF	7	Josef Hickersberger
MF	8	Herbert Prohaska
MF	10	Willi Kreuz
MF	11	Kurt Jara
FW	9	Hans Krankl
FW	12	Eddy Krieger	71'
Substitutions:
DF	15	Heribert Weber	71'
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch


GK	1	Ronnie Hellström
DF	2	Hasse Borg
DF	3	Roy Andersson
DF	4	Björn Nordqvist (c)
DF	5	Ingemar Erlandsson
MF	6	Staffan Tapper	36'
MF	7	Anders Linderoth	60'
MF	8	Bo Larsson
MF	9	Lennart Larsson
FW	10	Thomas Sjöberg
FW	11	Benny Wendt
Substitutions:
FW	16	Conny Torstensson	36'
FW	22	Ralf Edström	60'
Manager:
Georg Ericson

Brazil vs Spain

7 June 1978

13:45 ART

Brazil	0–0	Spain
	^{[Report 4]}

Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata

Attendance: 34,771

Referee: Sergio Gonella (Italy)

Brazil

Spain


GK	1	Émerson Leão (c)
RB	13	Nelinho	70'
CB	3	Oscar
CB	4	Amaral
LB	6	Edinho
DM	17	Batista
RM	2	Toninho
CM	5	Toninho Cerezo
CM	11	Dirceu
AM	8	Zico	84'
FW	9	Reinaldo
Substitutions:
FW	18	Gil	70'
FW	19	Jorge Mendonça	84'
Manager:
Cláudio Coutinho


GK	13	Miguel Ángel
RWB	3	Francisco Uría		79'
CB	5	Migueli		51'
CB	16	Antonio Olmo
LB	17	Marcelino
DM	21	Isidoro San José
CM	14	Eugenio Leal	60'
CM	11	Julio Cardeñosa
CM	4	Juan Asensi (c)
CF	10	Santillana
FW	8	Juanito
Substitutions:
DF	6	Antonio Biosca		51'
MF	12	Antonio Guzmán		79'
Manager:
László Kubala

Spain vs Sweden

11 June 1978

13:45 ART

Spain	1–0	Sweden
Asensi 75'	^{[Report 5]}

Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires

Attendance: 42,132

Referee: Ferdinand Biwersi (West Germany)

Spain

Sweden


GK	13	Miguel Ángel
RB	17	Marcelino
CB	6	Antonio Biosca
CB	16	Antonio Olmo	46'
LB	3	Francisco Uría
CM	21	Isidoro San José
CM	14	Eugenio Leal
CM	11	Julio Cardeñosa
AM	4	Juan Asensi (c)
CF	8	Juanito
CF	10	Santillana
Substitutions:
MF	18	Pirri	46'
Manager:
László Kubala


GK	1	Ronnie Hellström
DF	2	Hasse Borg	39'
DF	3	Roy Andersson
DF	4	Björn Nordqvist (c)
DF	5	Ingemar Erlandsson
MF	8	Bo Larsson
MF	9	Lennart Larsson
MF	18	Olle Nordin
FW	10	Thomas Sjöberg		67'
FW	15	Torbjörn Nilsson
FW	22	Ralf Edström		60'
Substitutions:
FW	11	Benny Wendt		60'
FW	7	Anders Linderoth		67'
Manager:
Georg Ericson

Brazil vs Austria

11 June 1978

13:45 ART

Brazil	1–0	Austria
Dinamite 40'	^{[Report 6]}

Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata

Attendance: 35,221

Referee: Robert Wurtz (France)

Brazil

Austria


GK	1	Émerson Leão (c)
RB	2	Toninho
CB	3	Oscar
CB	4	Amaral
LB	16	Rodrigues Neto
CM	5	Toninho Cerezo	71'
CM	17	Batista
RW	18	Gil
AM	11	Dirceu
LW	19	Jorge Mendonça	84'
CF	20	Roberto Dinamite
Substitutions:
MF	21	Chicão	71'
MF	8	Zico	84'
Manager:
Cláudio Coutinho


GK	1	Friedrich Koncilia
DF	2	Robert Sara (c)
DF	3	Erich Obermayer
DF	4	Gerhard Breitenberger
DF	5	Bruno Pezzey
MF	7	Josef Hickersberger	61'
MF	8	Herbert Prohaska
MF	10	Willi Kreuz
MF	11	Kurt Jara
FW	9	Hans Krankl
FW	12	Eddy Krieger	84'
Substitutions:
DF	15	Heribert Weber	61'
MF	13	Günther Happich	84'
Manager:
Helmut Senekowitsch

References

↑ "World Cup 1978 finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
↑

Reports

↑
- "Austria vs Spain | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Austria v Spain". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
↑
- "Sweden vs Brazil | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Sweden v Brazil". FIFA. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
↑
- "Austria vs Sweden | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Austria v Sweden". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
↑
- "Brazil vs Spain | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Brazil v Spain". FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
↑
- "Spain vs Sweden | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Spain v Sweden". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
↑
- "Brazil vs Austria | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Brazil v Austria". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[1] "World Cup 1978 finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 April 2026.

[3] ↑

[2] 
"Austria vs Spain | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Austria v Spain". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBcw] "Austria vs Spain | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBdQ] "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Austria v Spain". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[4] 
"Sweden vs Brazil | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Sweden v Brazil". FIFA. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBeM] "Sweden vs Brazil | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBes] "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Sweden v Brazil". FIFA. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[5] 
"Austria vs Sweden | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Austria v Sweden". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBfo] "Austria vs Sweden | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBgI] "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Austria v Sweden". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[6] 
"Brazil vs Spain | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Brazil v Spain". FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBhE] "Brazil vs Spain | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBhk] "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Brazil v Spain". FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[7] 
"Spain vs Sweden | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Spain v Sweden". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBig] "Spain vs Sweden | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBjA] "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Spain v Sweden". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[8] 
"Brazil vs Austria | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Brazil v Austria". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBj8] "Brazil vs Austria | Group Matches | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwBkc] "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina – Matches – Brazil v Austria". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[1]

[Report 1]

[2]

[Report 2]

[Report 3]

[Report 4]

[Report 5]

[Report 6]

1978 FIFA World Cup Group 3

Contents

Standings

Matches

Austria vs Spain

Brazil vs Sweden

Austria vs Sweden

Brazil vs Spain

Spain vs Sweden

Brazil vs Austria

See also

References

Reports