1966: The last time Argentina played Spain in the World Cup - match report

Having beaten England, Argentina will now face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Given that both teams regularly qualify for, and progress to, the latter stages of the World Cup, it is remarkable that the last time they met was in a group game at the 1966 tournament in England. Argentina won the match at Villa Park 2-1.

Their hero that day was striker Luis Artime, described by the Guardian’s Cyril Chapman in his match report as an “irrepressible centre-forward”. He scored their opening goal and, after Spain had equalised, struck the winner to give the South Americans victory.

Unlike Spain, Argentina progressed from the group stage, but lost 1-0 in an ill-tempered quarter-final against England, who won the tournament.

Argentina upset Spain by bold attack

By Cyril Chapman

14 July 1966

Villa Park

Spain 1, Argentina 2

A new Argentina, discarding traditional defensive methods, and attacking from the first moment of a stimulating game at Villa Park last night, stirred visions of a first-class encounter with West Germany on the same ground on Saturday as they beat Spain through two goals scored by Artime, their irrepressible centre forward.

Artime had six reasonable scoring chances, but there will be no recriminations after the way he took the two goals which frustrated Spain, who never got into full stride, so continuous was the Argentine offensive. Some irresponsible tackling in the first half threatened to spoil the match, but firm action by the Bulgarian referee, M. Roumentechev, prevented a brawl developing.

Argentina surprised Spain by attacking strongly from the start of the game instead of taking the cautious approach expected. They had two chances in the first ten minutes, and the second, neglected by Artime, should clearly have been within the compass of a first class centre forward. Mas squared the ball across the goalline straight to Artime, who needed time for consideration which the Spanish defenders were not prepared to accord him.

Spain improved under the careful prompting of Del Sol and Gento, yet even then, Argentina did not withdraw into defence. The Spanish defenders had recourse to vigorous tackling, which laid Artime and then Solart low, both players needing attention from the trainer.

When Argentina took a similarly tough line Suarez and Ufarte were the victims. However, the incident did not impair the efficiency of Suarez, who flighted a shot just over crossbar, as Roma edged a little too far out of goal.

Argentina opened the second half just as aggressively as they had the first, and again Artime was found wanting when the ball was hit sharply into the Spanish goal area. When Ferreiro broke through on the right and put the onus squarely on the centre forward for the third time, Artime failed again. Even a shower of rain did not slow the Argentinians. They are reported to have as much aversion to it as have cricketers, but now they looked the English weather, as well as Spain, firmly in the face, and kept up the attacking.

They had their first reward in the 68th minute, while the rain persisted, Solari bemused the Spanish defence and centred with a ferocity which took the ball right through the red line stretched across goal to the feet of Artime. The centre forward took maximum profit from his previous mistakes by shooting past the Spanish goal keeper.

Argentina’s joy was short lived. Six minutes later Suarez dropped a teasing centre just out of range of Argentine’s goalkeeper, and when Peiro reached the cross first Roma could do no more than push the ball further into goal.

Now there was no limit to the game’s excitements. Argentina counterattacked as strongly as Spain had done and in the 79th minute Artime, practise making even more perfect, cracked the ball in for the winning goal from Perfurmo’s pass. This time Spain had no reply.

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