Reflections on 1978 World Cup

1. Football
English Language II
Task Stage 1
Student: Daniel Frazón

2. Why is football so
popular?
It gathers the attention of thousands of
supporters.
Everyone seems to be able to take an active role
in it and enjoy its beauty.

3. Cultural value
Football is an asset for any country.
It is a source of national pride.
It allows many countries to make a
name for themselves.
Our country seemed to come to a
standstill when our national team played
in the last World Cup a few months ago
in Brazil.

4. Cultural value
Deserted streets: no one wants to miss the national team’s matches

5. A democratic government was overthrown.
It is one of the most horrific
bloodbaths in our history.
When thinking about traumatic
periods such as this one…
...how can we citizens put our
feelings into words?
The 1976 Argentinian Dictatorship

6. Within this totalitarian regime, the
1978 World Cup took place.

7. Two sides of the same coin

8. “Mundial de fútbol 1978. La película oficial”
 merely descriptive;
 gives a detailed account of the matches;
 underscores top players;
 provides technical nuances of the game;
 football seen as a source of national
pride and reputation: e.g. African teams
managed to stand out and make a name
for themselves;
 footballers seen as iconic idols, saviors
of the country’s reputation

9.  football used as political propaganda to
conceal the mass killings from the general
public;
 football mania vs. the prisoners’ relatives,
who were still desperately looking for the
beloved ones;
 footballers oblivious to mass killings;
 footballers who now feel ashamed for
having unwittingly helped (in some way or
another) to make the regime legitimate;
 most prisoners did not want Argentina to
win, because they felt everyone was actually
losing and surrendering to the military
power.
“El mundial 78 – La historia paralela”

10. Reflections from the articles:
Did Argentina cheat?
Many footballers and even the coach César
Luis Menotti feel ashamed because, back then,
they were oblivious to all the manipulation
taking place.
Other players try to draw comfort from their
talent and outstanding sport achievement: 'With
what I know now, I can't say I'm proud of my
victory. But I didn't realise; most of us didn't.
We just played football.' (Leopoldo Luque).

11. So why are sport events
so important and useful
for dictators?

12. They keep the young people busy and
contented.
They keep the younger and naturally
insurgent elements of the community from
thinking too much about internal political
conditions and lack of employment.

13. Sport is used as political propaganda: the
national honor is at stake, and a victory calls
for a day of rejoicing, for country-wide
celebrations.
Sport in the lands of the dictator has for its
end "the making of men capable of defense
of the Fatherland." Sport becomes just one
branch of army training.

14. Links to the articles used:
• «The Dictators Discover Sport»
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/69645/john
-r-tunis/the-dictators-discover-sport
• «Un Mundial y 30.000 desaparecidos»
http://www.diariopopular.com.ar/notas/160795-
un-mundial-y-30000-desaparecidos
• «We fixed it! Peru senator claims 1978 World
Cup game against Argentina was rigged»
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-
2098970/Argentina-cheated-World-Cup-1978-
says-Peru-senator.html