Extract from Chapter 12: ‘The world’s game, part 2’ | Soccer in the seventies
After the mediocrity of 1962 and 1966, the World Cup burst back to life in Mexico in 1970, the first time it was televised in colour. Superlatives abound whenever this tournament is mentioned: it arguably featured international football’s best-ever match (the Italy vs West Germany semi-final), its best save (England’s Gordon Banks, from Pelé), one of its greatest goals (Carlos Alberto, for Brazil in the final against Italy) and its best-ever team, the Brazilians.
Pelé had announced his retirement from World Cup football after his rough treatment in 1966, but was persuaded to change his mind. With the likes of Gerson, Tostão, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto joining him, Brazil rediscovered the attacking flair that had made such an impression in 1958, and won their third world title with a string of dazzling performances. For many, it was confirmation of Pelé’s status as the best player the game had seen. Tarcisio Burgnich, who marked him in the final, said, ‘I told myself before the game, he’s made of skin and bones just like everyone else. But I was wrong.’
Brazil were a very different, more defensive team when they went to West Germany to defend their title four years later. Most of the attacking talent from 1970, including the retired Pelé, was missing. They finished in third place, but scored only six goals (three of them against whipping-boys Zaire) in their seven games. Instead, it was the Dutch who really caught the eye, and not just because of their startlingly bright orange shirts. Cruyff was their captain, accompanied by former Ajax team-mates such as Neeskens, Krol and Haan, and a strong Feyenoord contingent led by Wim van Hanegem.
Michels, still with Barcelona, had become the national coach a few months earlier. It was Holland’s first appearance in the finals since 1938, but, with their total football in full swing, they were the tournament’s main attraction. After sweeping Argentina and Brazil aside in the second group stage, the Dutch came unstuck in the final against the hosts.
West Germany had finally established a national league, the Bundesliga, just 11 years earlier. Bayern Munich had become a major force by the late 1960s, led by midfielder-turned-sweeper Franz Beckenbauer, who went on to lead the national team to the European title in 1972. Beckenbauer reinvented the libero position, becoming a roaming sweeper with free rein to move forward and act as a playmaker.
Against the Dutch in the 1974 final in Munich, German defender Berti Vogts followed Cruyff all over the pitch and largely nullified him. After taking an early 1–0 lead, Holland failed to control the game and were beaten 2–1. Holland’s total football had lit up the tournament, but it wasn’t enough. Their 1976 European Championship campaign was derailed by divisions in the squad, a recurring theme ever since. They reached the World Cup final again two years later, minus Cruyff, but lost to hosts Argentina. Dutch football was in decline, and would not recover until a new generation of talent emerged a decade later.
Pelé had announced his retirement from World Cup football after his rough treatment in 1966, but was persuaded to change his mind. With the likes of Gerson, Tostão, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto joining him, Brazil rediscovered the attacking flair that had made such an impression in 1958, and won their third world title with a string of dazzling performances. For many, it was confirmation of Pelé’s status as the best player the game had seen. Tarcisio Burgnich, who marked him in the final, said, ‘I told myself before the game, he’s made of skin and bones just like everyone else. But I was wrong.’
Brazil were a very different, more defensive team when they went to West Germany to defend their title four years later. Most of the attacking talent from 1970, including the retired Pelé, was missing. They finished in third place, but scored only six goals (three of them against whipping-boys Zaire) in their seven games. Instead, it was the Dutch who really caught the eye, and not just because of their startlingly bright orange shirts. Cruyff was their captain, accompanied by former Ajax team-mates such as Neeskens, Krol and Haan, and a strong Feyenoord contingent led by Wim van Hanegem.
Michels, still with Barcelona, had become the national coach a few months earlier. It was Holland’s first appearance in the finals since 1938, but, with their total football in full swing, they were the tournament’s main attraction. After sweeping Argentina and Brazil aside in the second group stage, the Dutch came unstuck in the final against the hosts.
West Germany had finally established a national league, the Bundesliga, just 11 years earlier. Bayern Munich had become a major force by the late 1960s, led by midfielder-turned-sweeper Franz Beckenbauer, who went on to lead the national team to the European title in 1972. Beckenbauer reinvented the libero position, becoming a roaming sweeper with free rein to move forward and act as a playmaker.
Against the Dutch in the 1974 final in Munich, German defender Berti Vogts followed Cruyff all over the pitch and largely nullified him. After taking an early 1–0 lead, Holland failed to control the game and were beaten 2–1. Holland’s total football had lit up the tournament, but it wasn’t enough. Their 1976 European Championship campaign was derailed by divisions in the squad, a recurring theme ever since. They reached the World Cup final again two years later, minus Cruyff, but lost to hosts Argentina. Dutch football was in decline, and would not recover until a new generation of talent emerged a decade later.