National Team
Alonso was not in the plans of coach César Luis Menotti for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, but he got in the squad anyway, allegedly as a result of pressure by Admiral Lacoste, an influential member of the military government. Menotti gave Alonso only a few minutes of play during the tournament. (Other talented midfielders such as Ricardo Bochini were even more unlucky, as they did not have a top-ranking military connection.) Menotti used Daniel Valencia and later Mario Kempes in his position; Argentina won the world title with Kempes as top scorer.
In 1983, national coach Carlos Bilardo gave Alonso some playing time, but eventually used younger players Diego Maradona, Jorge Burruchaga, and Carlos Tapia in his position.
Read more about this topic: Norberto Alonso
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