Austria and Algeria face each other this weekend with access to the round of 32 at stake, after both have lost to Argentina and beaten Jordan. A victory or a draw would directly classify the European team, which dominates the general ‘golaverage’, while the African team needs the victory to guarantee its continuity. What happens to the one that finishes third is a different matter, because, being the group that closes this first phase, Rangnick’s and Petkovic’s men will jump onto the Kansas grass knowing exactly what they need.
The police are trying to control the incidents that occurred in the stands.
And that necessarily brings the memory back to 1982, to the World Cup in Spain, when with both teams involved there was what has gone down in history as the ‘Gijón Scandal’. Algeria had fallen in the particular duel, but was second in its group with two wins and that defeat. However, the match between Germany and Austria in El Molinón still had to be played. If the first one didn’t win, it fell. If the second lost by three goals, they fell. Indeed, that June 25, after Hrubesch scored in the 10th minute and with a result that benefited both teams, the match turned into a masquerade: Each of them passed the ball until the end without any intention of creating danger and amid boos from the public.. In fact, there were Algeria fans showing banknotes in reference to the rigging, shouting ‘let them kiss!’ and incidents with security forces.
Hrubesch was the author of the only goal in Germany-Austria.
In fact, it was after that when FIFA decided that the last rounds would be played with a simultaneous schedule. With the intention of avoiding it, of course, but each format creates its own tricks: The new one of 48 participants and eight third places once again fuels doubts. But Algeria does not forget what Austria did then. And he seeks revenge… only to come across the reality that a draw is enough. It would be different, it is worth remembering that that day a team lost a match without putting too much effort into making it not like that, but it would not be aesthetic either. That ’82 World Cup, by the way, was almost won by Germany. He reached the final, but there he ran into Italy.