Miracle of Cordoba

As Córdoba 1978 ( in Austria only Córdoba or even miracle of Córdoba, in Germany disgrace of Córdoba or shame of Cordoba), the soccer match is called, which was on 21 June 1978 as support to the Football World Cup 1978 in Córdoba, Argentina. In the last match of the second round of the German national football team defeated the reigning world champion of the Austrian national team with 2:3. Both teams eliminated from the tournament.

Requirements

Standings before the game

In the 1978 World Cup was first played in four preliminary round groups of four teams, in which each played against each other. The two respective group best ( including Austria as group winners ahead of Brazil ) made it to the second final round in which re- group matches were contested. The German team had like four years earlier, again only a second group reached the second final round which they went to the hosts Argentina out of the way. There were now two groups of four teams each in turn. The two group winners contested the final, the runners-up the match for third place.

The German team was in the second final round after a 0-0 draw against Italy and a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands before the last game against Austria with 2:2 points and well balanced goal difference in third place. Austria had lost twice against the Netherlands with 1:5 and 0:1 against Italy, so there was no chance of progressing more.

Italy and the Netherlands, each with 3-1 points thus played its own power to the entry into the final. A draw of these teams would have Germany but with a clear victory ( at least four goals difference to equalize the good goal difference of Dutch or surpass ) can win against Austria still win the group. If there is no tie between Italy and the Netherlands would have come to Germany would have at least have a good chance to play for third place. A German victory would this allows in any case, and even a third draw could be enough if Italy loses ( what actually happened ). Until shortly before the end, with the score at 2-2, Germany was a tie in points and goal difference in second place ahead of Italy, as their goal for 2-2 was compared to 4:4 for the Germans.

Table situation after the game

Game

Rummenigge scored in the 19th minute the desired early opening goal for Germany. In the same time held game in Buenos Aires, it was until the 75th minute 1-1, while Germany 1-0 though was to the 59th -minute opener was still far from the drubbing necessary for a group victory. Within a few minutes you fell through an own goal from Vogts and a hit of Krankl but with 1:2 back. Hölzenbein could make the 2-2 tie in the 68th minute even before Arie Haan scored the winning goal for the Netherlands 2-1 in parallel play. In order for the DFB team had reached a place in the game for third place. Since the German team but by the 2:3 of the Austrians from Krankl lost their game, it missed the second group space and thus the small finals then but still.

Best group and finalist was thus the team from the Netherlands, Second and participants in the match for third place Italy. Germany was third on goal difference against Austria, but also different from how the group Last Austria.

Aftermath

Since the resignation was pre-determined, the Austrians had already booked the flight back to Europe, the German team left with just decided in the same plane. The game itself left behind in the personal relationship of the players involved - apart from minor teasing - no animosity.

In Germany we responded to the unexpected defeat ( " Shame" ) with a mixture of disbelief, disappointment and dismay, and not least with bitterness about the neighbors who were promoted that only killjoy. Nevertheless, the goal of Krankl was elected interim 2:1 to Goal of the Month in Germany.

In Austria, the victory was soon regarded as one of the greatest team sports achievements of the last decades ( "miracle" ), comparable with the maximum hardly comparable, since individual triumphs of skier Toni Sailer and Franz Klammer. The participating Austrian national team in Austria are identified as "heroes of Córdoba " - although we had been a week earlier also lost in Córdoba against the old and new vice-world champion Netherlands with 1:5.

In 2009 in Vienna Floridsdorf ( 21st district ) of Cordobaplatz was named in memory of the "Miracle of Cordoba". It is bordered to the Edi Finger Road.

Gijón 1982

Four years after the game in Córdoba met the two teams each other again, both in qualifying for the 1982 World Cup and during the World Cup 1982 World Cup itself In 1982 Germany and Austria played at the end of the preliminary round against each other. This game was later referred to as " non-aggression pact of Gijon". The German team had previously lost the opening game against Algeria, but both teams had the chance to continue their journey, as the previously scheduled game of the Algerian team was already finished winless against the Chileans. Even 11 minutes after the game a score was reached by 1-0 to Germany, the two teams enabled the next round. No team showed interest henceforth to risk their own retirement, only to the direct opponent to throw out of the tournament. Both teams played from that point on without any aggressiveness a purely defensive game despite two wins the World Cup from meant for the innocent Algerian team.

Preserved for posterity was the game of Cordoba in particular due to the spectacular radio broadcast of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation by its reporter Edi Finger sen. ( during the TV broadcast of Robert Seeger was commented ).

Game data

Representation in art

On 16 May 2008, exactly one month before the European Championship group match Austria - Germany, the performance artist Massimo Furlan staged in Gerhard Hanappi stadium in the district Hütteldorf the miracle of Cordoba. In this 90 -minute performance at the Vienna Festival Weeks before 3,000 spectators after he imitated the paths and gestures Hans Krankl during the game of 1978, accompanied by the original Reportageton.

The German - Austrian satirist duo Gernot & Niavarani parodied the game by it occurred as eternal yesterday's football commentators and the event so represented, as was the Anschluss of Austria to the German Reich in 1978, still current reality, and thus here " a tall German " team plays against a non-existent opponents and wins 5-0.

Literature and radio plays

• Michael Wassermair, Luke Wieselberg: 3-2 Austria - Germany. 20 years Córdoba. Döcker, Vienna 1998, ISBN 3-85115-260-3
• Ror Wolf: Cordoba in June 13:45 clock. Directed by Ror Wolf; Production:. Hessischer Rundfunk, 1979 ( Wh 7 June 2008 in OE1 )