FIFA World Cup - Argentina 1978

Extra time in the 1978 World Cup Final. Amidst a series of Argentine attacks that had begun to resemble cavalry charges, Mario Kempes slalomed through the Netherlands defence for 2-1. But the goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed blocked the shot. The ball ricocheted off Kempes, arced into the air and for a moment the watching world held its breath...

Argentina were awarded the tournament in 1964 but by the time 1978 came round the country was ruled by a ferocious military junta that had disappeared 30,000 of its own citizens and were desperate for the World Cup victory that would lend a legitimacy to their regime. As such, the 1978 World Cup became the most politicised sporting event since the Berlin Olympics of 1936.

The on-field architecture designed for the tournament were goalnets supported by fancy L's and posts with distinctive black bands round the base. For the second successive tournament they were newly installed and uniform across all 6 stadia .



On a carpet of bogroll and shredded newspaper the generals got their victory but at what price to the game? The new world champions stood accused of gamesmanship, intimidation and bribery.

For the future of football, the world held its breath.

Brazil 1989 - Copa America Special

Brazil hosted and won the 1989 Copa America.

2015 champions Chile lost to beaten 2015 finalists Argentina in their 5 team group, so didn't qualify for the semi finals.

Matches were played in four stadia. Goal nets were suspended via three differing methods.

Estadio Fonte Nova



Estadio Do Arruda



Estadio Serra Dourada



Estadio do Maracana

101 Great Goals - Gerry Francis

Though 101 Great Goals is primarily concerned with the aesthetic added to a great goal by the ball striking the net, it may also from time to time consider a great goal, the aesthetics of which have been soured by the on-field architecture.

Gerry Francis' superb goal on the opening day of the 1975/76 season against Liverpool heralded the arrival of an exciting QPR side and was as much a statement of intent as Roberto Bettega's similar goal at the 1978 World Cup. 

But the similarities of the goals ends when the ball hits the net.

The L-supports at el Monumental afforded Bettega's goal maximum ball retention and, with the ball dead in the net, the Argentine crowd and the watching audience at home are given time to reflect on a great goal, a great Italian performance and the host nation Argentina facing defeat.

When the stanchions at the old Loftus Road, notoriously planted mere inches behind the goal line, deflect Gerry Francis' shot immediately back into the field of play, they deny Gerry Francis and QPR (and Liverpool) that same moment of reflection. Yes, it was still a great goal, but could QPR maintain their challenge? Or would they, like the ball flashing in and out of the goal, be a flash in the pan?


)


Despite losing this opening game of the season Liverpool won the 1975/76 league title.

QPR finished second.

101 Great Goals - Roberto Bettega

Even after you set aside all the externals surrounding this game - with the Italians successfully facing down the Junta, the rabid River Plate crowd and an admittedly still misfiring Albiceleste - this is still an amazing goal.



It's all there...

The 1-2 with Paolo Rossi...

The drill of a shot into the bottom corner...

Maximum ball retention by the World Cup '78 L-supports TM

101 Great Goals - Nelinho

I've often compared the aesthetics of scoring into the tightly sprung box nets of 2013 to kicking a ball against a wall in training. Goal nets are not meant to repel the ball. At their best - and the L-supports at Argentina 1978 are right up there with the best - they complement the shot they're receiving, so the goal event is shot + affect on net.

As can be seen in Nelinho's bending classic from the tournament's 3rd place play off. I've always loved this goal for the way the netting continues the bend of the shot, until the ball is traveling back in the direction it came from.

101 Great Goals - Teófilo Cubillas

spec·tac·u·lar  (spk-tky-lr)

adj.

Of the nature of a spectacle; impressive or sensational.

n.

Something that is spectacular, as:

a. A single dramatic production of unusual length or lavishness.

b. An elaborate display.

Though watched at the time through the gaps in my fingers, no-one could argue Teofilo Cubillas' first goal against Scotland on 3 June 1978 wasn't impressive, sensational or an elaborate display.

But it's worth breaking the goal down to discover what exactly made this such a spectacular goal.

It wasn't the work Cubillas put in to carve out the opportunity; in the commentary, Arthur Montford accurately describes it as "almost a free shot."

And it certainly wasn't Alan Rough's feeble, if unsighted, attempt to make a save.

I've always thought what made Cubillas strike so spectacular and a Great Goal was the Hotshot Hamish-style performance by the wonderfully designed L-supported goal nets.

WC 2014 Venues - Arena Fonte Nova

If it's roof doesn't collapse meantime, Arena Fonte Nova will host 6 matches at the World Cup and suspend the inevitable box nets in the style of Argentina's Boca Juniors, as witnessed at the stadium's recent inauguration.




The new stadium replaces the old Estadio Fonte Nova which had a history of unique on-field architecture, as per it's A-frames of the 1980's and 90's.



Please sign our petition and have the unique re-installed at Fonte Nova.

Copa Libertadores - C.A. Penarol

Club Atletico Penarol play at Estadio Centenario in Montivideo, Uruguay. The Centenario played host to the very first World Cup final in 1930, which was played between two fine A-frames.




Today, the A-frames are long gone but the spirit of 1930 lives on at the Centenario, courtesy of the stanchions which support the box-nets.

Argentina - Boca Juniors

Back when el Pibe D'Oro was their el Diez, the nets were suspended at La Bombonera by big sloping A-frames.


More recently Boca are one of a number of Argentine clubs to embrace the global box net, albeit with a twist. Not for them the cable ties and stanchions of your usual box net set-up.

Instead, the nets hang from an elongated L-support as below.


So, are they box nets or L-supports?

You choose.

Argentina - Atletico de Rafaela

Like many sides in the Argentine Primera Division, La Crema are to be congratulated for sticking with their L-supports.

However, if prizes were being handed out for the worst ball retention seen anywhere, would any other club or stadium even get a look in?

Brazil 2014: It's Not Over Yet

In the New Year the History of Goal Nets will begin focusing on our campaign to have FIFA install Brazilian-style L-supports for the games of the Brazil World Cup finals in 2014.

We don't doubt the scale of our task. Of the 12 host stadia, five are being upgraded, five are being rebuilt and two are brand new. We expect all will celebrate their revamped, state of the art status by installing state of the art boxnets and, if unchecked, you won't be able to differentiate a game from the 2014 finals with the finals of 2010 (or 2006, or 2002, or 1998).

But it's not over yet. We take heart that the goals in the Selecao's last home game of 2012 were scored into Brazilian L-supports, at Atletico GO.




We believe that with hard work we can ensure the goals at the 2014 finals are also scored into L-supports.

If you haven't already done so, please sign our Petition.

The History of Goal Nets wishes you and yours the very best for Christmas and the New Year.

Cue Grace.

Brazil - Atlético Clube Goianiense

AC Goianiense - or Atlético-GO as they're more popularly known - sport a pair of classic L-supports for their sparsely attended matches at the Estádio Serra Dourada.

 Join the 1,112 fanatics who turned up to watch the recent 3-2 victory over Figueirense.

 

In a game of three penalties, you may be reminded of a famous game of two penalties and one of the World Cup's most famous goals, all scored into goal nets identical to those at Atlético...

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Why is it important for the goalnet to retain the ball when a goal is scored? #3

Two more similar goals for you to compare.





Would England's exclusion from the 1974 World Cup - where Holland's second goal against Argentina rebounded out as if hitting a trampoline - have seemed so final if the ball hadn't been retained in the old Wembley net?

Why is it important for the goalnet to retain the ball when a goal is scored?

Compare these two goals. First, Gerry Francis' excellent goal against Liverpool.



Then Roberto Bettega's against Argentina at the '78 World Cup.



Did you enjoy the Bettega strike more because the goalnet retained the ball after the goal was scored?

Brazil - SC Internacional

While Inter shoot into distinct, over-large red and white L-supports -



The goalnets at Estádio Beira-Rio when Brazil hosted Peru in WC 2010 qualifying were so timelessly Latin American, they wouldn't look out of place at WC 1978 in Argentina.


Notice the goalnets retain the ball at each of the three goals scored.

Goalnets and Aesthetics #4 - Two free kicks

Compare Koeman's dink into the stanchions versus England -


with Juan Roman Riquelme's chip-shot versus Bolivia, where the goalnets at Monumental are stretched so taut, JRR might've been shooting into goals painted on a wall.



Which do you prefer?

Oxford Utd

Freed from the shackles of their old Manor Ground - where admittedly they had fantastic square stanchions, (then rather ordinary Continental D's ) - at Kassam Stadium in season 09/10, Oxford installed a masterclass set of Continental D's;



Might they remind you of a couple of Scotland games at the World Cup? First, versus Holland in Mendoza, Argentina


And versus Brazil in Seville, Spain


(they're not Continental D supports, but they look just as marvellous)

World Cups - Argentina 1978

Extra time in the 1978 World Cup Final. Amidst a series of Argentine attacks that had begun to resemble cavalry charges, Mario Kempes slalomed through the Netherlands defence for 2-1. But the goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed blocked the shot. The ball ricocheted off Kempes, arced into the air and for a moment the watching world held its breath...

Argentina were awarded the tournament in 1964 but by the time 1978 came round the country was ruled by a ferocious military junta that had disappeared 30,000 of its own citizens and were desperate for the World Cup victory that would lend a legitimacy to their regime. As such, the 1978 World Cup became the most politicised sporting event since the Berlin Olympics of 1936.

The on-field architecture designed for the tournament were goalnets supported by fancy L's and posts with distinctive black bands round the base. For the second successive tournament they were newly installed and uniform across all 6 stadia .



On a carpet of bogroll and shredded newspaper the generals got their victory but at what price to the game? The new world champions stood accused of gamesmanship, intimidation and bribery. For the future of football the world held its breath.