1974 FIFA World Cup Group A

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 third-place play-off. 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  East Germany
3  Netherlands
Group Runners-up
2  Brazil
4  Argentina

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Netherlands 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 6 Advance to final
2  Brazil 3 2 0 1 3 3 0 4 Advance to third place play-off
3  East Germany 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
4  Argentina 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Source: FIFA

Matches

All times listed are local (CET)

Netherlands vs Argentina

Netherlands 4–0 Argentina
Cruyff 11', 90'
Krol 25'
Rep 73'
Report
Attendance: 56,548
Netherlands
Argentina
GK 8 Jan Jongbloed
DF 6 Wim Jansen
DF 12 Ruud Krol
DF 17 Wim Rijsbergen
DF 20 Wim Suurbier  58'  84'
MF 2 Arie Haan
MF 3 Willem van Hanegem
MF 13 Johan Neeskens  22'
FW 14 Johan Cruyff (c)
FW 15 Rob Rensenbrink
FW 16 Johnny Rep
Substitutions:
DF 5 Rinus Israël  84'
Manager:
Rinus Michels
GK 1 Daniel Carnevali
DF 10 Ramón Heredia
DF 14 Roberto Perfumo (c)  35'
DF 16 Francisco Sá
MF 20 Enrique Wolff  46'
MF 11 René Houseman  46'
MF 17 Carlos Squeo
FW 18 Roberto Telch
FW 2 Rubén Ayala
FW 4 Agustín Balbuena
FW 22 Héctor Yazalde
Substitutions:
DF 9 Rubén Glaria  46'
FW 13 Mario Kempes  46'
Manager:
Vladislao Cap


Assistant referees:
Kurt Tschenscher (West Germany)
Pavel Kazakov (Soviet Union)

Brazil vs East Germany

Brazil 1–0 East Germany
Rivellino 60' Report
Attendance: 59,863
Referee: Clive Thomas (Wales)
Brazil
East Germany
GK 1 Leão
DF 2 Luís Pereira
DF 3 Marinho Peres
DF 4 Zé Maria
DF 6 Marinho Chagas
MF 10 Rivellino
MF 11 Caju
MF 17 Carpegiani  28'
MF 7 Jairzinho  27'
FW 13 Valdomiro
FW 21 Dirceu  75'
Manager:
Mário Zagallo
GK 1 Jürgen Croy
DF 3 Bernd Bransch (c)
DF 4 Konrad Weise
DF 12 Siegmar Wätzlich
DF 18 Gerd Kische
MF 2 Lothar Kurbjuweit
MF 13 Reinhard Lauck  64'
MF 17 Erich Hamann  11'  46'
FW 11 Joachim Streich  84'
FW 14 Jürgen Sparwasser
FW 20 Martin Hoffmann
Substitutions:
MF 16 Harald Irmscher  46'
FW 8 Wolfram Löwe  64'
Manager:
Georg Buschner


Assistant referees:
Doğan Babacan (Turkey)
Tony Boskovic (Australia)

Argentina vs Brazil

Argentina 1–2 Brazil
Brindisi 35' Report Rivellino 32'
Jairzinho 49'
Attendance: 39,400
Referee: Vital Loraux (Belgium)
Argentina
Brazil
GK 1 Daniel Carnevali
DF 5 Ángel Bargas
DF 9 Rubén Glaria
DF 10 Ramón Heredia
DF 16 Francisco Sá  46'
MF 3 Carlos Babington
MF 6 Miguel Ángel Brindisi (c)
MF 17 Carlos Squeo
FW 2 Rubén Ayala
FW 4 Agustín Balbuena
FW 13 Mario Kempes  46'
Substitutions:
DF 7 Jorge Carrascosa  46'
MF 11 René Houseman  72'  46'
Manager:
Vladislao Cap
GK 1 Leão
DF 2 Luís Pereira
DF 3 Marinho Peres
DF 4 Zé Maria
DF 6 Marinho Chagas
MF 10 Rivellino
MF 11 Caju
MF 17 Carpegiani
FW 7 Jairzinho
FW 13 Valdomiro
FW 21 Dirceu
Manager:
Mário Zagallo


Assistant referees:
Youssou N'Diaye (Sénégal)
Jack Taylor (England)

East Germany vs Netherlands

East Germany 0–2 Netherlands
Report Neeskens 7'
Rensenbrink 59'
East Germany
Netherlands
GK 1 Jürgen Croy
DF 2 Lothar Kurbjuweit
DF 3 Bernd Bransch (c)
DF 4 Konrad Weise
DF 18 Gerd Kische
MF 6 Rüdiger Schnuphase
MF 7 Jürgen Pommerenke
MF 13 Reinhard Lauck  64'
FW 8 Wolfram Löwe  54'
FW 14 Jürgen Sparwasser
FW 20 Martin Hoffmann
Substitutions:
FW 9 Peter Ducke  54'
FW 10 Hans-Jürgen Kreische  64'
Manager:
Georg Buschner
GK 8 Jan Jongbloed
DF 6 Wim Jansen
DF 12 Ruud Krol
DF 17 Wim Rijsbergen
DF 20 Wim Suurbier
MF 2 Arie Haan
MF 3 Willem van Hanegem
MF 13 Johan Neeskens
FW 14 Johan Cruyff (c)
FW 15 Rob Rensenbrink
FW 16 Johnny Rep
Manager:
Rinus Michels


Assistant referees:
Erich Linemayr (Austria)
Omar Delgado Gómez (Colombia)

Argentina vs East Germany

Argentina 1–1 East Germany
Houseman 20' Report Streich 14'
Attendance: 54,254
Referee: Jack Taylor (England)
Argentina
East Germany
GK 12 Ubaldo Fillol
DF 5 Ángel Bargas  68'
DF 7 Jorge Carrascosa
DF 10 Ramón Heredia
DF 20 Enrique Wolff (c)
MF 6 Miguel Ángel Brindisi
MF 11 René Houseman
MF 18 Roberto Telch
FW 2 Rubén Ayala
FW 3 Carlos Babington
FW 13 Mario Kempes
Manager:
Vladislao Cap
GK 1 Jürgen Croy
DF 2 Lothar Kurbjuweit
DF 3 Bernd Bransch (c)
DF 4 Konrad Weise
DF 18 Gerd Kische
MF 6 Rüdiger Schnuphase
MF 7 Jürgen Pommerenke
MF 8 Wolfram Löwe  65'
MF 11 Joachim Streich  80'
FW 14 Jürgen Sparwasser  23'
FW 20 Martin Hoffmann
Substitutions:
FW 15 Eberhard Vogel  65'
FW 9 Peter Ducke  80'
Manager:
Georg Buschner


Assistant referees:
Mahmoud Mustafa Kamel (Egypt)
Clive Thomas (Wales)

Netherlands vs Brazil

Netherlands 2–0 Brazil
Neeskens 50'
Cruyff 65'
Report
Netherlands
Brazil
GK 8 Jan Jongbloed
DF 6 Wim Jansen
DF 12 Ruud Krol
DF 17 Wim Rijsbergen
DF 20 Wim Suurbier  29'
MF 2 Arie Haan
MF 3 Willem van Hanegem
MF 13 Johan Neeskens  85'
FW 14 Johan Cruyff (c)
FW 15 Rob Rensenbrink  67'
FW 16 Johnny Rep  69'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Theo de Jong  67'
DF 5 Rinus Israel  85'
Manager:
Rinus Michels
GK 1 Leão
DF 2 Luís Pereira  29'  84'
DF 3 Marinho Peres  44'
DF 4 Zé Maria  37'
DF 6 Marinho Chagas
MF 10 Rivellino
MF 11 Caju  61'
MF 17 Carpegiani
MF 7 Jairzinho
MF 13 Valdomiro
FW 21 Dirceu
Substitutions:
FW 19 Mirandinha  61'
Manager:
Mário Zagallo


Assistant referees:
Bobby Davidson (Scotland)
Govindasamy Suppiah (Singapore)

See also

References