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THE UNTOLD GAME

In this World Cup year we look back to 1982 and the infamous ‘Disgrace of Gijon’
‘We will dedicate our seventh goal Schumacher save and fired home. his viewers to turn their televisions
to our wives, and the eighth to Algeria’s first World Cup goal. off and refused to speak until the
our dogs,’ announced the West That spurred West Germany into final whistle. Algeria cried foul,
Germany side as they went into life, and they reacted. On 67 and FIFA did nothing.
the 1982 World Cup. They had minutes Rummenigge equalised
won the competition eight years from close range. But the
previously, on home ground, and complacency set in immediately,
although hadn’t made the same and right from kick off Algeria
impact in Argentina, were hopeful passed around the European side
of adding a third World Cup to to restore their lead. This time
their tally back on European soil. they held on, and secured one of
Jupp Derwall’s side cruise through the biggest upsets in World Cup
qualifying unbeaten, scoring 33 history.
goals, and boasted some of the
starts of the age, chief among West Germany kicked it up a
them Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. gear in the second game of the Algeria’s Rabah Madjer
The group contained nothing to tournament, beating Chile 4-1 to
fear: Chile, who had claimed the go level on points with Algeria, Germany fans bombarded the
final South American qualification who lost a tighter than expected team hotel with water bombs
place, and a decent but lacking game (or perhaps not, after the out of shame. But Austria’s
Austria side. First up, though, first result) against Austria. The representative Hans Tschak
were first-time qualifiers and two European sides faced off wasn’t just unapologetic, he was
plucky upstarts from Africa. ‘If in the final game, while Algeria downright outrageous. ‘If 10,000
we don’t beat Algeria,’ quipped needed to beat Chile to keep ‘son’s of the desert’… want to
Derwall to the press, ‘we’ll take their hopes alive. trigger a scandal because of this
the next train home.’ The Africans did just that, is just shows they have too few
Algeria, though, were no untested surviving a scare in their final schools’ he said. ‘ Some Sheikh
minnows. The North African side game to win 3-2, but having to comes out of an oasis, is allowed
were well drilled and played a wait 24 hours for West Germany to get a sniff of World Cup air
quick passing game that was a and Austria to play. With the after 300 years, and thinks he’s
match for anybody. Earlier in 1982 benefit of hindsight, FIFA changed entitled to open his gob.’ It was
they had gone to the semi-finals this arrangement so that the final an embarrassing end to the group
of the African Nations Cup before group games are now played for all involved.
losing to eventual winners Ghana, together, but that didn’t help Algeria’s appeal was rejected,
but they had their sights set on Algeria. Somebody worked out without much explanation, but
the biggest stage of all. They went that a 1-0 West Germany win after the scandal at the 1978
into the World Cup hoping for would see both them and Austria World Cup, where Argentina
a good showing, and maybe to through, so that’s what they had won 6-0 in their final group
pick up a win in their final game ensured would happen. game because their rivals had
against Chile, which was expected The game had the atmosphere played earlier, they did take the
to be meaningless. of a dead-rubber, and it only got opportunity to change the format
It was unexpected, then, when worse as time went on. Horst slightly. For forty years since that
Algeria proved quite the match Hrubesch scored the goal that tournament, final group games
for the Germans in the first half of the West Germans needed on are played at the same time to
their opening game. Quite apart the tenth minute, and then both try to limit the advantage. West
from their pre-match predictions sides just… stopped. No more Germany went all the way to the
of eight goal victories, their crisp attacking, no more chances, just final, but Algeria will always have
passing of the African side had some very polite passing to see been robbed by the Disgrace of
them on the back foot, and West the game out. The spectacle got Gijon.
Germany had to hold on until the more farcical as time went on, Enjoy the game.
break to go in goalless. Derwall until the final whistle. Algeria were
got into his side at half time and out. Martyn Green, The Untold Game
demanded improvement, but It’s called the Scandal of Gijon Find more at TheUntoldGame.
it didn’t help. On 54 minutes in Algeria. For the final thirty co.uk or on social media @
Rabah Madjer reacted to a Harald minutes, one commentator told TheUntoldGame
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