Alternate FIFA World Cup - Argentina '78 (24 teams not 16)

(In Character) Tears and pride, that's all I can say on that day on the 15th July. Following the Semi final victory, the hype and build up to the final was insane as pretty much everyone I knew wanted to go to Wembley, even my Rugby mad loving fellow taxi driver who hated football was wanting to be part of it which does say a lot. As you know, ticket sales to the Scots was limited to 20 to 30,000 something, could quite remember the figures. Even with this limitation, the demand for tickets was high with the website crashing due to the high figures of a million, yes that's right, trying to get tickets. If that didn't show how hyped up was a country of 5 million was feeling then I don't know what is.

I tried to get tickets but sadly I couldn't get any, but my uncle and cousin managed though and would join a Caledonian cavalcade down the M6 motorway which the sight of an endless line of cars and buses cladded in Scotland flags became quite well documented in many YouTube videos if you remember them. Some were using planes and others used trains (A real life Planes, Trains and Automobile affair!) And when they all got to London, where were all the English support? I think they must've underestimated the Scots coming down in large numbers, but with it being a WC final in your arch rival's home patch, why not be part of history.

Speaking of the mass exodus from Scotland, there was one funny front page title from the Daily Record newspaper that had the Scotland badge on the front with the headline reading 'Your Chance To Become Legends' with a sub header in brackets saying 'And will the last person leaving Scotland turn the light off please!' Giving how many were leaving even without tickets, it seemed like a fair point. In my town of Kirkcaldy, there was this big screen in the Beveredge Park showing the game live and in every house had at least a Saltire flag flying with many wearing Scotland tops, surely they must've made a fortune with how much they sold. While it was sunny for the final, the weather in Scotland that day was drizzly and footage from many fanparks showed people with umbrellas and it was just typical after so many days of sunshine and on the biggest day of Scottish football, the heavens had to open up.

I instead went to a local pub in the town with my Dad with the outside all being deserted as everyone was tuning in to watch the game. It was built up as the greatest day in the history of British football, yet the tension was there in the final half hour before kick off as we knew whoever won this game would have bragging rights for all time.

I do remember Rod Stewart singing and being booed on the TV, however despite it being a hit, many in the pub I was in seemed to hate it too and I must say it is the only time in which both sides seemed to hate something. Then we get into the game itself and I will say that Scotland started the game very well, though the penalty incident had us sweating bricks and you can imagine how relived we were when the referee said no.

Then came the first goal, dear Lord what a moment! Scenes of utter madness in that pub followed with everyone getting soaked with drink and you can imagine similar scenes of celebrations across Scotland despite the bad weather. I and several others ran outside and you could hear cheering taking place with cars honking their horns too, I did think that if that was for now, God knows what would happen if we win this game?

I will say that my heart nearly went when Griffiths scored as I couldn't believe it, though my Dad fainted with shock and it was all a bit mental in both a good and bad sense. When half time did come around and the scoreline came up on the screen, pretty much everyone got out their phones and took a picture of the score reading England 0 - 1 Scotland, and when my Dad did recover, he asked me if this all for real. I really didn't know and could only hope it was all too good to be true...

Looking back in hindsight, I think many began to enjoy themselves a bit too much thinking that they had already won, but I was fearful of tempting fate knowing how well this England team could be. I don't remember much of the second half as England did perform better and the good noise in that pub grew more weary as each minute ticked by. Then came Kane's goal and the mood fell apart and one angry guy threw his half drunken glass of beer over at the large screen in anger in which he nearly got barred for damages. When full time happened, some were thinking that we could take the game to penalties and win, but momentum was with England throughout the second half and it was all going to end all badly for us. We were pretty bad in extra time and it was confirmed when Sterling scored and the atmosphere in that pub became like that of a morgue from then on and tears were shed, me included, as in the end, we lost the final.

I do remember the standing ovation the Scotland players as the fans in Wembley tried to raise their spirts up, but the thought of us winning it is a painful what if. Still, when the team returned at Glasgow airport they got a warm reception for such a brave run that sadly may never be repeated again. God knows if Strachen will stay on despite everyone wanting him to carry on for Euro 2020, and the bizarre calls of making him a Saint, which hopefully the experience from this WC will hopefully lead us on to doing one step better. Anyone else have memories of the game?

(Out of Character) and so it comes to an end...at least for now. Despite the result not being the one I hoped for, it was a good one and I did laugh at Rod Stewart getting booed haha! :p take it Euro 2020 will be like a Europe wide tournament like OTL which means Hampden park will be there and the final will be at Wembley. Maybe Scotland will get revenge there...?

Anyway, better get working on my TL now, hopefully it won't be long until we get another football TL from you soon! :)

Man, thank you very much for your tips and that In character, that were superb! your writings here and at "home nations" TL of yours are magnificent!...about your question, ITTL, Euro 2020 will be the same way ATL than in OTL, so, in ATL, a revenge is possible

Saludos!
 
Man, thank you very much for your tips and that In character, that were superb! your writings here and at "home nations" TL of yours are magnificent!...about your question, ITTL, Euro 2020 will be the same way ATL than in OTL, so, in ATL, a revenge is possible

Saludos!

Thanks, btw seeing as you are adding threadmarks and tweaks to wiki boxes and such, could perhaps Scotland can get to Euro 2004 and 2008? We did get to the play offs with the former and were cheated in the latter by the Italians. That certain game does bring up bad memories for me so some justice would be good for this ATL, plus we did have a good team as well.

Plus I must get on with my ATL's Euro '96 :)
 
Thanks, btw seeing as you are adding threadmarks and tweaks to wiki boxes and such, could perhaps Scotland can get to Euro 2004 and 2008? We did get to the play offs with the former and were cheated in the latter by the Italians. That certain game does bring up bad memories for me so some justice would be good for this ATL, plus we did have a good team as well.

Plus I must get on with my ATL's Euro '96 :)

Justice will be done my friend..
 
List of FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS
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I think the number of teams for Argentina 78 is wrong ^^
Also when are you making the jump to 48 teams ? 2026 ? Or beyond ?
 
I think the number of teams for Argentina 78 is wrong ^^
Also when are you making the jump to 48 teams ? 2026 ? Or beyond ?

Yes, you are right, in Argentina is 24 and and not 16...I'll fix it later

48 teams is kinda likely to happen for 2030 as a celebration for FIFA WORLD CUP Centennial
 
Well, with the rotation policy I mean a measure taken by FIFA a few years ago which prevents a Continent from organizing two World Cups with very little time difference
Example: If the 2018 World Cup was in England (Europe), Europe would have to wait two World Cups (2022 and 2026) to try again to organize a World Cup, and I wanted to know if this does not exist or what in this Timeline.
PD: Sorry for my English of Google Translator.
 
Well, with the rotation policy I mean a measure taken by FIFA a few years ago which prevents a Continent from organizing two World Cups with very little time difference
Example: If the 2018 World Cup was in England (Europe), Europe would have to wait two World Cups (2022 and 2026) to try again to organize a World Cup, and I wanted to know if this does not exist or what in this Timeline.
PD: Sorry for my English of Google Translator.


Your english it's OK, well don't worry, I'm not an english born speaker as well...in this ATL the policy of rotation was a little bit different, more likely to that 2007 end of that policy that FIFA marked.
 
Flashback - FIFA WORLD CUP West Germany 1974
Well, long time no see!...from now on, I will put some competitions not covered here but affected by butterflies, from 1968 onwards. My aim is to put from European Club's cup, to Libertadores, to some UEFA Euro and Copa America as well.

I planned to start with Mexico 70, but I did a proper resume some pages ago, so, to link with the 1st page of this timeline, the post will be about West Germany 1974

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The World Cup in West Germany 74 was the X FIFA WORLD CUP, and the first where the two Germans would play the cup. It was initially agreed by a vote by the FIFA Organising Committee that the four seeds, who had been the final four teams of the previous tournament, Brazil, Italy, Argentina and Yugoslavia, were first intented to be placed in separate groups, but after the non qualification of Yugoslavia, by goal average with Spain (1) , the place was for England (2), as the champion of 1966. Thus, in an initial controversy, eventually the seeds would be 4 world champions Brazil, England and Italy (as 1970 vice champions), along with the local West Germany.

It would be the last cup with 16 participants ... from 1978 it would rise to 24.

South Korea returned after the 1954 fiasco, although no one had any hope for an overcoming performance, after beating Australia in the AFC-OFC final, 2-1 (3) in the second leg in Seoul. And on the CONCACAF side, the surprise was the non-classification of Mexico, but Trinidad and Tobago (4). In the case of the UEFA-CONMEBOL play-off, between Chile and France (5) also had its controversies, given that French organizations pressured the government and the FFF not to play in the national stadium of Santiago de Chile. It was proposed to play in Buenos Aires or Montevideo, but finally the return was played in Santiago, with the overall result of 3-2 for the French.

In the case of Argentina, the process of Enrique Omar Sivori as manager (6) had good expectations to leave a great impression, prior to 1978. The '70s saw a blossoming of attacking football in Argentina, with some names like Kempes and Ardiles from Instituto de Córdoba, Norberto Alonso, Daniel Passarella, JJ Lopez, in River, and Miguel Angel Brindisi, René Houseman and Carlos Babington from Huracan, etc...far from the "animal" side that created an stigma in the 60s...and Sivori's idea was to be a manager 4 years later. There were an overpopulation of midfield No.10, all of them really good, but some years later all will be overshadowed by Diego Maradona

The presence of England and Scotland, encouraged things on the islands. Both teams were confident, maybe Scotland more ... although there were voices for the little renewal of players and tactics of Sir Alf Ramsey, who announced his retirement from the national team at the end of West Germany 74. Cautios and some old fashioned tactics (to be fair , all tactics will be outdated at Rinus Michels' hands), and he trusted still in some players from 1966 like GK Gordon Banks (7), although at that time, and previous WC matches, he alternated with Peter Shilton under the three posts. Also from 1966 there was still Martin Peters, who was the captain, with 31 years at the time. There were new values, such as Allan Clarke, Mick Channon or Kevin Keegan.

But the attraction would be Scotland ... and Billy Bremner would forever enter the gallery of the heroes of the World Cups, with his decisive goal to Brazil (8) ... although many criticize that actually Bremner alone only had to push the ball ... in any case he was the right man at the right time. Scotland would be first in his group after beating Spain 2-1, who passed without pity or glory for the Cup.

England finished 2nd in its round robin group, behind Holland. The South Korean rookies were thrashed but at least they scored two goals, and one surprisingly to the Clockwood Orange. Uruguay had the syndrome of its time, they were nil when leaving the American continent, and only its abrupt game prevailed, despite its very good names as the defender Pablo Forlán (Diego Forlán's dad), the defender Julio Montero (father of Paolo Montero ... a well known butcher from the '90s), Ricardo Pavoni, partner of Bochini and Bertoni, in Independiente, owners of the South American continent in the' 70s and the star of Peñarol, Fernando Morena ...

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One of the most famous goals of the story of FIFA WORLD CUP - Billy Bremner to Brazil

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Cover taken from "El Gráfico", entitled "Urgent: you have to loose the fear" (9)

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Houseman put 1-0 to Argentina, at 2nd half, Norberto Alonso would put 2-0 by a free kick, and Italy would discount at minute 89 thanks to a header by Fabio Capello

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Kempes vs France, 1974

(1) One more goal of the Iberians against Greece in either of the two matches, gave them the classification

(2) Which given the butterfly effects, shared group Northern Ireland, and Portugal and not with Wales and Poland ... in this ATL Poland and Wales share group with Bulgaria ;)

(3)it came 2-2 after Australia tied it while 2-0 down

(4) In ATL for goal average and the final round was not played in Port Au Prince, so haitians didn't have some advantages, specially from referees

(5)In ATL France defeated the Republic of Ireland at home so in the match against the USSR, the french team went out to look for it with another impetus ... the result France vs USSR? ... well, I do not remember :biggrin:

(6) As I already told, the priority process of Argentina National Teams began earlier, since in ATL the country is more orderly, so instead of starting in 1975, it started years before... here Sivori - of tactical ideas more in line with what was happening in Europe, but not to compare with Dutch "total football", didn't resign in March 1974 because Independiente and River do not give the players he called and the AFA disregarded, so he was not reeplaced by a“triumvirate” of managers (Vladislao Cap, Jose Varacka and toe other whom I can't remember his name) who fought all the time between them, intrigued with the players and armed the tactical approaches to the back and surprise not for good to the players, like Bargas (current Nantes player) that he played as a defender, as in the previous tour, and ended up playing Midfield in the first match against Poland, or defenders like Roberto Perfumo, a veteran of 1966 but who had not been called before and was close to retirement.
Sivori would be nourished by young players, as in OTL, and those that the clubs did not give him, such as Alonso and "Mostaza" Merlo from River Plate, or Brindisi, Houseman and Babington, champions with Huracan in 1973 - led by manager Cesar Luis Menotti - (in this case, those last three they went in OTL to the world cup), and the pair of Independiente Ricardo Bochini, and Daniel Bertoni (the idea drawn for the World Cup '74 by Sivori that did not capture). OTL were also left out, with Sivori outside, Marcelo Trobbiani and Alberto Tarantini from Boca Juniors, paradoxically both would be world champions in 1986 and 1978)

(7) Banks didn't have in ATL his accident in 1972)

(8) we all know he missed it

(9) If you watch the goals Argentina received against Poland, all were childish, nervous and uncoordinated mistakes made by the defenses, due the improvisation quote in (6). Against Italy, in OTL Argentina was superior but Perfumo made an own goal, and ended 1-1, here Perfumo was not playing for the team, and the team had a different order.
 
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In second round, Group A, was all for the dutch....Argentina lost 1-0 but if Netherlands would have made 4-0 against Argentinians, it would be fine...this match and the final result will cost the position to manager Sivori, despite against East Germany, Argentina played well and had misfortune, won 1-0 but didn't play for the 3rd match due goal average. (1)

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In Group B, the thing was a competition between West Germany and Poland...the scots fought hard and had the usual misfortune, specially when Dennis Law crashed a ball against the post with Tomaszewski totally surrendered, it would have been 2-2. On the other hand, England was an absolute disappointment. Sir Alf Ramsey didn't deserve a final chapter like that, and eventually Alf Ramsey couldn't resign...the FA sacked him. It was an scandal for the most succesful manager of England. Alan Ball described the treatment of Ramsey as "the most incredible thing that ever happened in English football" (2)

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Gunter Netzer leading the way...

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Frank Worthington and Jim horton clashing in West Germany 1974

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Joe Jordan opening the score against England...

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(1) The referees were different from the ones that they were in OTL and Bertoni and Bochini didn't play in 1974 although they deserved to be there.

(2) He said that but when Ramsey was sacked after failing to qualify in 1973
 
Scotland get the good run they deserved in 1974, if only they could carry it on for WC '78! :biggrin:

Always great to see an update on TTL! :)
 
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