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World Cup Retrospect - West Germany ‘74
The World Cup of 1974 was all about the East vs. the West, the brilliant Dutch and a butcher from Wolverhampton. In many ways it was the dawning of a new age, a tournament of firsts - from a new trophy to a new format and a new on-field approach. It is regarded as the first World Cup of the modern era. From here on in professionalism and pragmatism would almost always trump romance and flair. With the tournament played under grey skies throughout, the contrast with Mexico in 1970 couldn’t have been greater.
West Germany 74 also saw the tournament’s first-ever red card - a dubious ‘honour’ claimed by Chile’s Carlos Caszley. The Scots came home all too soon despite remaining unbeaten and Zaire became the first black African country to qualify for the finals. Sadly however for Zaire, they are best remembered for helping Yugoslavia tie the competition’s record score with a humiliating 9-0 thumping and Illunga Mwepu’s infamous belting of the ball into orbit, as Brazil readied themselves for a free-kick. The new format saw a second group stage added at the expense of the knock-out rounds. Two teams from groups of four proceeded to a second group, with the winners of each going forward to contest the final.
Germany itself was a divided nation. Separate states formed following World War Two, with the West becoming the Federal Republic of Germany (FGR) - a modern western society - and the East now the German Democratic Republic (GDR), a communist country under the auspices of Russia. Their separation was both mental and physical, with the Berlin Wall a focal point and constant reminder of the Cold War. The FGR had secured their ‘Miracle of Berne’ victory in 1954 but as hosts they were reigning European champions and under the management of the great Helmut Schon - Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner, Uli Hoeness, Der Bomber and Gerd Muller, were charged with winning the tournament on home soil. In contrast it was the GDR’s first appearance in the finals and one can only imagine the anticipation on both sides of the divide when the near-neighbours were drawn in the same group. With the exception of the final, their meeting was the most memorable of the competition for any number of reasons and one filed under ‘special occasions’ in the tournament’s annals. In a match of massive political connotations, the FGR kicked off in dreary conditions already through to the next stage, while their opponents required a point, but conscious of the fact that their people and East-German born Schon demanded victory.
However the heavy favourites could not break down their stubborn opponents and as home fans and players grew more frustrated, the GDR pounced and netted the historic winner through Jurgen Sparwasser with 14 minutes to go, hushing the Olympic stadium - save for 2,000 disbelieving East Germans. Schon was left broken by defeat and captain Beckenbauer effectively became player-coach for the remainder of the competition. The GDR authorities meanwhile saw to it that the two sides never met again to leave the head-to-head record in their favour. As the tournament proceeded, two sides captured the world’s imagination - Poland and Holland. The Poles, starring the tournament’s top-scorer Grzegorz Lato, would eventually finish third but it was the Dutch, led by a skinny genius from Amsterdam, who cast the greatest spell.
‘Total Football’ described the Dutch approach and involved constant inter-changing of players, with each given licence to defend and attack as necessary. Under legendary boss Rinus Michels, it relied on technical players of the highest order in Johan Cruyff, striker Jonny Rep, Johan Neeskens and Arie Haan in midfield and defence respectively. They served notice of their ability with a 2-0 win over Uruguay thanks to a Rep double, before drawing 0-0 with Sweden - a match best remembered for the introduction of the Cruyff Turn - and a 4-1 hammering of Bulgaria.
While the team was all important, in Cruyff they had a man born for the limelight. For a start he wore just two stripes on the Dutch adidas-made kit because of a personal sponsorship deal with rivals Puma. On the pitch his dynamism saw him lead the line, pop up on the flanks and score goals. Here was a true heir to tournament greats Schiaffino, Puskas and Pele. In a symbolic moment, the Dutch beat Brazil 2-0 in what was effectively a semi-final, courtesy of a flying Cruyff volley and a special Neeskens lob. Orange had become the colour of the tournament, just as yellow had been synonymous with Mexico ‘70. In style on-and-off the pitch, the finalists were stark opposites. The effortlessly cool Dutch who had breezed into their date with destiny, and the stiff Germans who had laboured under spectator expectation.
But behind the scenes, Dutch harmony came crashing down when the Bild Zeitung newspaper reported on a ‘naked party’ in the Dutch camp with two German ladies. It is said Cruyff’s poor form in the final was due to late-night phone calls to reassure his irate wife Danny. The duel was delayed, as corner flags were put into the ground at the 11th hour, and then overshadowed by a Black Country referee. Within a minute of kick-off, Jack Taylor awarded the first penalty in final’s history. Neeskens netted and the Germans still hadn’t claimed a touch. By now Dutch arrogance had surfaced. They toyed with their opponents, determined to humiliate them for the pain caused 30 years earlier. Instead of killing off the game, they were made to pay when Taylor awarded a controversial second penalty, this one for the Germans.
Breitner levelled and suddenly it was one-way traffic. Unlike their opponents, the home side capitalised. Rainer Bonhof squared to the deadly Muller, who swivelled and blasted past Jan Jongbloed on the stroke of half-time.The Dutch attacked remorselessly, as Muller wrongly had a goal chalked off. It didn’t matter however, Germany were champions. Meanwhile, the Dutch joined Hungary as the best side never to win the tournament, a tragically inappropriate consolation.
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