Arriving as defending champions, West Germany carried the weight of their 1974 triumph into 1978. Under Helmut Schön, they set out to do what so few ever manage win it twice in a row.
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| 2 |
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 3 |
| 4 |
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 2 |
Reaching the second group stage was an achievement for West Germany, who found the competition at that level fierce and unforgiving. With 10 goals in 6 games, they carried a consistent attacking threat throughout.
Arriving as defending champions, West Germany experienced an inconsistent group stage, and the mixed results were not enough to go through. Their campaign featured a 0-0 draw with Poland, a commanding 6-0 victory over Mexico, a 0-0 draw with Tunisia, a 0-0 draw with Italy, a 2-2 draw with Netherlands, and a narrow 2-3 loss to Austria. Despite competing with determination in the second the opening round, West Germany's journey ended before the final.
1won4drawn1lost
10scored5conceded
Kept 4 clean sheets 4 draws in 6 matches.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge led West Germany's attack with 3 goals at the 1978 World Cup.
vs Mexico
group stage
4 scored before half-time 3 goals in 23 minutes.
The tactical mind behind West Germany's 1978 campaign. In charge for 4 consecutive World Cups 25 World Cup matches managed in total.
Helmut Schön's team employed a defensive-minded approach, often relying on their goalkeeper to make key saves and neutralizing opponents' attacks. This strategy proved effective in some matches but ultimately hindered the team's ability to secure crucial victories.
