[4][5][6] Argentina arrived at the World Cup with the title of South American champion in tow, after the achievement obtained a year earlier in Peru.

Many of the Argentinian football figures of that time, such as Amadeo Carrizo, Ángel Labruna (both members of River's La Maquina), Omar Corbatta, José Ramos Delgado (who later played alongside Pelé in Santos) and José Sanfilippo (historic goalscorer of San Lorenzo de Almagro) took place in the final squad that traveled to Sweden in search of the first world conquest of the Argentinian team and after 24 years of absence from the biggest event.

After the dispute of the first two matches, Argentina arrived with 2 points as a result of a defeat against West Germany by 3-1 and a victory against the British team by the same score.

The Europeans quickly took control of the match and in the 8th minute defender Milan Dvořák scored the first goal with a shot from outside the area.

The defeat, considered humiliating, brought immediate consequences and others that decisively influenced the subsequent development of Argentinian football.

Criticism began to fall on the president of the AFA, Raúl Colombo, and the coaching staff, while the team was received at the Ezeiza Airport with insults and throwing coins.