When Algeria and Austria meet in their last group game in Kansas City on Saturday, it will not only be key to both countries’ hopes of progressing at the World Cup but will also revive memories of one of the tournament’s darkest moments.
The only previous time the sides shared a group, Austria were accused of conniving with West Germany to ensure both teams advanced in the tournament and Algeria were eliminated.
The game was later dubbed the “Disgrace of Gijon” after the Spanish city where the 1982 World Cup proved an eventful debut for the North Africans, who upset West Germany in their first match with a shock 2-1 victory.
There were 24 teams in the tournament for the first time in 1982, divided into six groups of four with the top two advancing to a second round of group matches.
Algeria lost their second group game to Austria and beat Chile 3-2, leaving them with four points from their three games at a time when two points were awarded for a win.
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The group concluded 24 hours later in Gijon with Austria playing neighbours West Germany and a 1-0 win for the Germans would send both sides through.
West Germany went ahead after 10 minutes through Horst Hrubesch, after which both teams passed the ball around with no intention of adding to the score and contrived a result that squeezed Algeria out on goal difference.
“Even though we had somewhat expected it, we were all angry, outraged and stunned,” said Rabah Madjer, Algeria’s former African Footballer of the Year.
“That two major football nations could agree to eliminate a small country like Algeria, playing in its first World Cup and just emerging on the international stage, was shocking.”
German sports magazine Kicker described the proceedings as “after about 20 minutes, the attacking intensity faded”.
French daily L’Equipe said there should have been 22 red cards shown to the players of both sides.
Spanish spectators waved white scarves in a traditional sign of disapproval while on Austrian television, commentator Robert Seeger told his viewers: “Turn it off!”
Change of rules
A direct result of the “Disgrace of Gijon” was FIFA changing the rule to ensure the final matches in World Cup group stages are played simultaneously to prevent teams having advance knowledge of what they require to advance and the possibility of manufacturing the outcome of games.
But the expansion this year to a 48-team tournament, and with it the return for the first time since 1994 of some third-place sides progressing to the knockout stage, has opened the door to questions over the sporting integrity of the competition once more.
Four points is almost certain to be enough to go through at least as one of the eight best third-placed sides from the 12 groups.
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Australia and Paraguay face off on Thursday locked on three points after both beat Turkey and lost to co-hosts the United States. A stalemate in Santa Clara near San Francisco would allow both to progress.
“I think you’re cheating the game in a way if you’re looking to just call a truce with 10 minutes to go. That doesn’t seem right in my opinion,” said Australia defender Jason Geria. “We could both progress with a point, that’s evident, but I don’t think it’s in us to just concede or just take the foot off the gas.”
Egypt’s meeting with Iran in Seattle on Friday is another where both could benefit from just a point.
Iran have overcome huge challenges due to the conflict between Tehran and the USA to remain unbeaten in their opening two games. A third draw would likely be enough to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in Iran’s history as at least one of the best third-placed sides.
Another change to FIFA’s rules for this World Cup already means the third group game will be a dead rubber for far more nations.
For the first time head-to-head records instead of goal difference is being used as the tiebreaker for countries level on points. This means the USA, Germany and Argentina are already guaranteed to win their groups, while Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama know they are out.
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And there is a further discrepancy in that teams playing in the final groups to finish will have a far better idea of what is required to be one of the best third-placed sides.
With three points from their opening two games, Scotland faced Brazil in Miami on Wednesday not knowing if a narrow defeat would be enough to progress from the group stages for the first time. By contrast, Algeria and Austria will know exactly what is needed when the final group games kick off on Saturday.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters)
