The tournament started on December 30 – seemingly, to keep it within 1980. This was the only game played in that year,though. Uruguay vs Holland. In front of 65 000 enthusiastic supporters the hosts won 2-0.
Both goals were scored in the first half, the second by Victorino, pictured here.
On January 3, 1981 Uruguay met Italy. Curiously, the match was attended by 10 000 people less than the one against Holland – strange, since Uruguay is heavily populated by people with Italian roots. The other strange thing was that both teams played with their first kits – blue vs sky blue. Clash of colours, but never mind.
Scirea prepares to tackle Moreira. All in vain – Uruguay scored 2 goals in the second half, Italy – nil. Victorino again scored the 2nd Uruguayan goal. Uruguay took Mundialito most seriously, eager to win it in front of home crowd and quickly reached the final, after beating Holland and Italy.
The last match in Group A was mere protocol. It was attended by the smallest crowd of the tournament – 15 000.
It looks like gritty competitive match and probably was, but there was nothing to achieve. Ancelotti gave the lead to Italy in the 7th minute, Jan Peters equalized in the 15th minute, and that was that.
Team
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uruguay 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 4
Italy 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
Netherlands 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
Group B started on January 1 with real thrill: the reigning World champions vs fresh European champions. Argentina vs West Germany. 60 000 came to watch the clash.
Horst Hrubesch in the centre of the action. He scored first – in the 41st minute. West Germany went to the break leading 1-0. The top teams of the world promised drama and drama it was – in the second half things changed. But not before the end of the game – Argentina equalized in 84th minute. Kaltz scored own goal – so far the Germans, not Maradona and Kempes, were the scorers. Two minutes before the final whistle the Argentines scored at last – Ramon Diaz gave the lead to the World champions and this was the final result.
Three days later, when one of the finalists of Mundialito was already known, Argentina met Brazil. Again 60 000 attended, expecting high-class football.
Pride, old rivalry, tempers – a South American derby is always quite combustible and the match was not just football. Maradona in the middle of the action, no matter what kind of action. But he scored at last – in the 30th minute Argentina grabbed the lead and the result stayed in their favour to the end of the first half. The second half started and Brazil scored right away – Edevaldo equalized in the 47th minute and the game ended 1-1. The last group match was the most important, unlike the last game in Group A – so far Argentina was number 1 and West Germany eliminated, but…
Brazil destroyed West Germany 4-1. Traditionally, Brazil always prevailed over the Germans, but this time it was total annihilation.
Schumacher clears just before Tita reaches the ball – despite the result, the clash was fierce and, to a point, repeating Argentina – West Germany: the Germans scored first. Klaus Allofs hit the net in the 54th minute. Two years later Junior equalized. In the 61st minute Toninho Cerezo gave the lead to Brazil. Serginho Chulapa made it 3-1 in the 76th minute and in the 82nd minute Ze Sergio scored the 4th goal. Brazil finished on top of Group B.
Team
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Brazil 2 1 1 0 5 2 +3 3
Argentina 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 3
West Germany 2 0 0 2 2 6 −4 0