Game Of The Century: 1966: Destroyers And Hatchet Men / 1970: Substitutes in Thin Air / 1974: Total Football

 

1966: Destroyers And Hatchet Men

1966 saw a World Cup full of passion and controversy, watched by more people through television than ever before. It was also the first tournament to be won by the host nation, England. Managed by Alf Ramsey who had repeatedly announced ‘England will win the World Cup’, the competition was luckily graced by an exciting and memorable semi-final and final.

Teams from all over the world arrived with two burning ambitions – to win the World Cup and not to lose a match. It was a new age for international football, one of all-out defence. The hatchet man, the destroyer, the sweeper and the iron defender had arrived. Nations were spending fortunes to win the Rimet Trophy – ‘success’ was politically and financially a healthy word, and players could now become immensely rich. Failure was not to be tolerated.

The symbol of the modern game was the opening match at Wembley Stadium: England and Uruguay forced a painful 0-0 draw. Whatever is said about the tournament’s quality, it did manage to sport the best final since 1954, a glorious climax: The old men of Brazil, with Pele a target for the iron men, were unable to cope with blanket defences and mediocre refereeing, and literally limped out of the competition in the early stages. They were not to achieve their hat-trick in the World Cup. The astonishing ability of the unknown North Koreans was one other major surprise: they ran like terriers and achieved much popularity amongst spectators.

Hungary arrived full of tactics and talent. Portugal on the other hand did not look so promising, but with Eusebio in their team, they had one of the game’s true stars. An inside forward with a mighty scoring right foot and tremendous acceleration, he was both graceful and powerful – Europe had found a true talent to rival Pele. The team contained several other stars from the famous Benfica team: Jose Augusto, Torres and tiny Simoes. Argentina brought their ruthless defensive tactics which had already proved successful in the 1964 Brazilian International tournament. West Germany looked strong and possible winners. Seeler was to play again with an artificial Achilles tendon, and in midfield they had an abundance of young talent including a young attacking midfield player from Bayern Munich, Franz Beckenbauer. Russia were full of purpose, and though lacking in flair, they still played their goalkeeper extraordinary, Lev Yachine.

After 24 matches. cruelly defensive tactics, and only 58 goals, the quarter-finals were to be played out. Now the enormously popular Koreans were to meet Portugal and the vast World Cup audience was willing them a semi-final place. At Everton, the crowd and media went wild when the Koreans snapped up three goals in the first twenty minutes without reply. Sir Stanley Rous had warned before the tournament that this Korean team was not to be taken lightly. The fairy story beginning had a realistic ending, though, with Eusebio and company winning 5-3. Hungary, after looking good, simply fell to pieces by the odd goal in three against the Russian’s physical power.

The West Germany-Uruguay match was an ugly affair, two Uruguayans being sent off for kicking and retaliating. Germany were not blameless but they did genuinely suffer much ‘ungentlemanly behaviour.’ They won 4-0 against nine men, Beckenbauer and Seeler having fine games.The England-Argentina match was a tragedy for this World Cup and international football for years to come, creating an unhealing rift between European and South American football. If only Argentina had gone out to play football and been controlled by a good referee, they might have beaten a plodding England, who had the advantage of playing their fourth successive home match at Wembley. Rattin was sent off, and there were outrageous scenes before he finally left the pitch. England eventually managed a goal and scraped into the semi-final. After the match, the referee, Herr Kreitlein, was attacked by Argentinian reserves, players spat at linesmen and others urinated in the dressing room corridors. All this was too much for Ramsey who said, ‘Our best football will come against a team which comes to play football and not act as animals’ – fateful words which burnt strongly in South America.

It is an interesting fact that in this tournament all but one player sent off were playing against Germany. When they met Russia at Everton, it was no game. Rather it was a bitter and wretched affair, once more poorly supervised by the referee. One man did stand above it: Russia’s goal-keeping legend, Yachin. His brilliance kept Germany out of his goal for long periods. Russia had one player sent off, another injured when they were already one goal down and it took a mighty length of time for Germany to score again through Beckenbauer. Depleted, Russia scored in the last two minutes. On the strength of this match Germany hardly deserved to be in the final. England’s fifth Wembley match was in complete contrast: a fine game against the new ‘Angels of Portugal’, for the ‘Bashers of Brazil’ came and played football. As Ramsey had promised England rose to the challenge; 2-1 was the result, and England had gained a convincing win with highly entertaining, star performances from Bobby Charlton, hatchet-man Nobby Stiles, captain Bobby Moore and the excellent Gordon Banks. Portugal had their stars too and, at the end, Eusebio left the hallowed turf in tears, for his side had played fine football. The game contained one extraordinary incident: when Bobby Charlton scored England’s second goal, Portuguese players shook him by the hand as he walked from the goal area!

The final arrived and, by now, every Englishman the length and breadth of the country believed in Ramsey’s words ‘We will win the World Cup!’ England did and what an exciting and controversial final to the tournament it was. Helmut Schoen, the German gentleman manager, inspired his team to play football this time. England walked out on to the emerald-green pitch for the sixth time knowing that in 65 years Germany had yet to beat them. They were confident, but this was jolted and Wembley was hushed when after thirteen minutes Haller scored for Germany. Within six minutes Hurst had headed an equalizer and this was the half-time score. The second half was breathtaking and twelve minutes from the end, Peters shot and scored. With one minute remaining and Wembley chanting ‘Ee-ay-addio England’s won the cup!’ Germany equalised again through Weber during a goalmouth frenzy following a German free kick outside the penalty area. Two exhausted teams collapsed on to the turf, for extra time had to be played. Ramsey, on the pitch with his players, is reported to have said ‘Look at them, they’re finished. You’ve won the World Cup once, now win it again!’ Adrenalin was pumped in from somewhere and England did win by one highly controversial goal and another which by the rule book should not have been allowed. Hurst scored the third which rebounded from the underside of the crossbar and to this day cannot be proved a goal or not. The fourth, with the final kick of the match, came whilst three small boys had invaded the pitch anticipating the final whistle. Correctly, play should have been stopped with spectators on the field. However, Hurst had scored the first hat-trick in a World Cup final. The hosts had won, and the nation that had taught the world football at last held gold.

But what lessons had World Cup football learned? Would most teams continue frighteningly physical and defensive tactics, with four defenders and a sweeper behind them, three in midfield and only two forward? Was it the end of jinking, speeding wingers? Would refereeing continue to be indecisive and confused in execution? Mexico would hold the answers and in the meantime pundits and fans would have to hope. Cures must be found.

1970: Substitutes in Thin Air

Rioting, the altitude and the heat were the main worries from the moment FIFA had announced, at their congress in Tokyo, that Mexico would be the hosts for the 1970 tournament. The withering heat and breathing difficulties expected at playing heights of seven thousand feet looked dangerous. Footballers could melt in the midday sun and the thin air could damage their health. However, with good medical preparation the tournament went off without incident and the only worry turned out to be FIFA’s new substitute rule.

Brazil would be playing in conditions admirably suited to them and were convinced they could lift the trophy for the third time – and consequently keep it for ever. Zagalo, their former player, was the new manager, Pele was still there, and so too were Gerson, Rivelino, Jairzinho and Tostao. England, the holders, were strong possibles to return victorious, if like other European teams they could overcome the conditions. They arrived in early May to prepare themselves. Moore was England’s calm ‘general’ but he, and the entire England team, were to suffer continually from the Mexican’s inhospitality and the near rioting outside their hotel before the meeting with Brazil in the Group 3 qualifying match. West Germany were in contention, Uwe Seeler would be celebrating his fourth World Cup appearance, Beckenbauer was captain, and the new Gerd Muller was a lethal centre-forward. Helmut Schoen had shaped a formidable squad. Italy arrived and the Italian newspapers stated that there was one big difference between 1966 and now – Riva. Could the idea be an Italy with ten players in defence and one up front? Peru were there in strength and managed by the old Brazilian star Didi, who had a squad with talent to spare. The solid Russians were present again and they did seem to suffer from the conditions in their first game. The hosts were to advance from Group 1 to meet Italy in the quarter-finals.

The opening games of the tournament proved that, in general, the conditions seemed to have little effect on players. Football with all its strategies was looking fresher, and refereeing was firm if fussy at times. By and large, it was a clean and sporting World Cup, but playing at noon for the sake of European television coverage was a ludicrous concession by FIFA. In temperatures of over 95° even the ‘mad dogs’ of England should not have gone ‘out in the midday sun’, never mind compete! For this tournament, FIFA had ruled that each country could name five substitutes but only use two. In the quarter-final clash between England and West Germany, the use of substitutes for England was a nightmare: Ramsey brought on Bell for Charlton and inexplicably Hunter for Peters and his team fell apart after leading 2-0. Germany substituted wisely, charged back and won 3-2 after extra time. Gordon Banks, who had made a miracle save from Pele in the Group 3 qualifying match, sadly left the arena. Mexico played Italy and like the Chileans in 1962, sensed success. The hysteria was frightening, but at full-time there was quiet and nothing to celebrate. The Italians had had their best game yet and swept the Mexicans aside. Uruguay with the last seconds of extra time ticking away managed a doubtful goal against Russia. Before the little winger Cubilla crossed for Esparrago to score, the ball for all to see – except the referee and linesmen – had crossed the goal-line. Finally in Guadalajara Brazil, still the favourites, spectacularly triumphed over Peru 4-2.

The old enemies met in the semi-final, Brazil versus Uruguay. Brazil went one down, with Felix, their unpredictable goal-keeper, letting in a shot from a seemingly impossible angle. Late in the first half, Brazil equalised and the second forty-five minutes were all theirs, even though the Uruguayans became physically brutal. Pele was superb throughout and Rivelino scored from a ball immaculately served by Pele. Brazil were victors by 3-1. In Mexico City, Italy and West Germany played exciting attacking football, not a classic game, but worthy of a World Cup semi-final. Italy were leading 1-0 and three minutes of injury time had been played when the Germans struck the equaliser. The Germans lived again as they had done in the 1966 final. Extra time brought a shower of goals and the sight of Franz Beckenbauer playing with his right arm in a sling, the result of a vicious tackle. Five goals were netted in the first twenty-one minutes of extra time and Italy emerged victorious 4-3.

The final was between two countries that had won the coveted trophy twice each. Brazil were clear favourites, but Italy had found their form and a taste for goals in the last two matches. They lost their appetite in the final. In fact, they played a negative game of all-out defence. In contrast, Brazil’s flair, talent and sheer enjoyment was breathtaking to watch.

Pele had a stunning farewell to offer the World Cup – he scored a brilliant first goal, exploding into the sky high above the Italian defenders and heading powerfully into the net. He went on to create two of the next three goals. Brazil won 4-1, and in so doing reminded the world that football was a game to be enjoyed even on this level. Gerson, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto, Tostao and Pele had demonstrated that South American-style football could beat the defensive European approach. It was the destruction of the destroyers, and European football was taught a lesson. 

The Brazilians had won the Jules Rimet Trophy three times and, as FIFA had decreed, it was now theirs in perpetuity. Never did a country deserve the trophy more.

1974: Total Football  

In 1972, West Germany had hosted a bloody Olympics that shocked the world and the shadow hung heavily over the lead-up to this World Cup. Security was heavier than ever but somehow there was an underlying feeling that such a disaster could not strike twice. Ninety-nine nations had qualified and the usual sixteen arrived – fighting even before the kick-off for every penny that could be scraped from the rich money-barrels of the tournament. This World Cup was full of cash incentives for nations, teams, and players – commercialism to the nth degree had arrived. It is suspected that the West Germans had received £10,000 each by the end, the Dutch possibly twice as much. The sponsors were there and the whole finals were in the arena of big money.

This time the tournament was to be played throughout on a league basis, divided into four groups, the two winners in each group moving into two further groups and the winners of these two meeting in the final. Consequently there would be more matches, but no knock-out excitement in the quarter and semi-finals. However, there was to be excitement in the stadiums, as in the intervening years since 1970, Brazil’s lessons had been absorbed and – at an international level at least – a new adventurous style arrived, with Holland and Poland in particular being skilled exponents of this approach. They brought flair and skill and some adventure; this type of football was designated ‘total football’ – not easily translatable but basically meaning that every player on the field except the goalkeeper was a potential scorer, and all were defenders. 

England had failed to reach the final sixteen, excluded following their 1-1 draw with Poland at Wembley the previous November. There was no Russia, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Czechoslovakia or Spain either. But several lesser nations elbowed their way in: little Haiti, the Third World - represented by Zaire – and even the Australians – the ‘Jumping Socceroos’. 

Brazil and Yugoslavia opened the proceedings with what was becoming a traditional start toa World Cup, a 0-0 draw. Played in pouring rain, Brazil looked a patched-up team without Pele, Carlos Alberto, Tostao and Gerson – Yugoslavia gave warning that muscle was around once more. Scotland were present and battled hard to reach the next groupings. They failed but played far better than expected, didn’t lose a match and only conceded one goal. They went out on statistics. Goal-scoring was to reach its lowest ebb with only 97 goals in 38 matches, despite Yugoslavia hammering nine against Zaire – during which a player from the African team was sent off for kicking. The exciting Poles knocked seven past Haiti, but the Australians did not make any real impact.

The Dutch team led by Cruyff at first seemed to be in a shambles, but they soon pulled themselves together and were to play wonderful ‘total football’. They danced around the bludgeoning Uruguayans in one match, winning 2-0 when it could have been 12-0. West Germany galloped on with holes in their defence but attacking football in mind. Sweden brought back golden memories by a surprising win against Uruguay and holding Holland to a 0-0 draw. They were now serious contenders.

The second round arrived — poor, dull and destructive teams had been eliminated. Holland, Brazil and East Germany – who on the way had been victorious over fellow qualifiers West Germany 1-0 – survived. The exciting-looking Poles and gutsy Swedes were there and Argentina and Yugoslavia had battled through. The matches were livening up and the most successful teams in the tournament were employing a delicate balance of attack and defence, moving swiftly out of defence at the first opportunity but with caution, for modern football’s priorities still leaned to defend.

The Dutch now came into their own and so did their players: Cruyff, the star of the tournament, Rep, Neeskens, Krol. They tore into Argentina 4-0, and the destroyers were destroyed again, though in fairness the Argentinians, with hosting the 1978 finals in mind, left behind a better-than-usual impression of themselves. West Germany now believed in their football and showed it against Yugoslavia and Sweden. They scored four goals against Sweden who got a couple in return. Brazil were to go; they had suffered from underestimating the European upsurge in attacking play as well as losing their aged stars. The Poles took third place in the tournament, when expected to achieve nothing. The trophy slipped out of their grasp in pouring rain against the West Germans, and one goal scored by Muller decided the match.

The new league system for 1974 produced an ideal Cup Final: West Germany versus Holland, the two most overtly entertaining teams in the world. Before the kick-off the Dutch were looked on as the favourites and by the opening minute of the game had converted a penalty and were fulfilling all expectations. This ninety minutes was the perfect example of ‘total football’: its sheer vitality, urgency and skill kept a television audience of over a billion glued to their sets. The final result was 2-1 to the Germans, who had equalled the Dutch flair in every way, raising their game and attaining heights of skill that surprised even the most ardent of German supporters. Beckenbauer was an inspiration and Muller, though a marked man, was outstanding and managed to score the winning goal after Breitner had equalized with the second penalty of the match.

In organisation and style the World Cup had come of age. In a very real way now, the dreams of Rimet and the founders of FIFA were truly fulfilled – their 1974 tournament had been played in a spirit of goodwill and sportsmanship. This was endorsed by the very moving closing ceremony in the Munich stadium when hundreds of children, each holding a rose, broke into song.