TOURNAMENT LEGACY

Argentina won their first World Cup title, defeating the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final. The tournament retained the two-group stage format from 1974, with the top two teams from the initial groups advancing to a second round (four teams per group), and the winners of the second-round groups contesting the final. Controversy surrounded Argentina's path to the final: their second-round match against Peru ended in a 6-0 victory, which allowed them to edge out Brazil on goal difference to reach the final. Mario Kempes was the tournament's standout, scoring 6 goals (including 2 in the final) to win the Golden Boot. The Netherlands, again led by Johan Cruyff (who did not play due to personal reasons) but still featuring a strong squad, reached their second consecutive final but lost once more. This was the first World Cup to be broadcast in more than 100 countries, and the mascot was 'Gauchito', a boy dressed as a traditional Argentine gaucho.