The Story of the World Cup
Page 18
It took England, morale as high as ever, only six minutes to equalise. Tilkowski had already looked unhappy on crosses, had already needed treatment after a collision in the air with Hurst. Handsome and anxious, he fretted on his goal-line; alas, certainly no Turek.
Now, when Overath fouled Bobby Moore, the English captain took the German defence unawares with a quick, long, accurate free kick from the left. Hurst, timing his run immaculately, ran in from the right to glide the ball with his head past Tilkowski, who exchanged recriminations with his colleagues.
The match was open again—in both senses of the word, for though Beckenbauer’s fluent excursions into midfield to link up with Overath were inevitably limited, the Germans were certainly not committed to mere defence. With Held running forcefully on the left, Seeler finding space on the right, Haller lurking slightly behind the strikers, they were flexible and dangerous, a different team from the grim company that beat the Russians.
Tilkowski’s weakness showed again when he could only palm out Hurst’s gentle header, and Ball whipped it across an empty, tempting goal. Germany soon struck back, twice. Held, strongly tackled on the goal line by Jackie Charlton, took the corner himself. It was weakly headed out, Overath drove it back again, Banks blocked, Emmerich, still nearer, shot again, and again Banks saved. His mind was indeed not wandering.
Three minutes from half-time Hunt’s preference to Greaves was put severely in question. When Wilson brought off yet another of his overlaps and well-judged crosses, Hurst outjumped the German defence and glided the ball to Hunt on the left-hand post. Greaves would surely have put the chance away, but Hunt’s left foot was his ‘swinger’. Tilkowski raised his arms like a man in prayer, and his prayer was answered as the ball struck him and bounced loose. There was time for a shot by Seeler, a tip-over by Banks, then a pleasing, inconclusive half was at an end.
The second half began with a heavy shower, and two intricate, fine pieces of control on the right by Ball who, in the first half, had been tirelessly pulling Schnellinger across the whole face of the forward-line. Then came a period of stalemate, phoney war, in which no chances were made. Each defence had the measure of its opposing attack, and if Bobby Charlton still ran gracefully, there was a gaping space on England’s left wing unless Wilson filled it.
Only twelve and a half minutes remained when England broke the deadlock. Ball thumped into Tilkowski, bundling him over the goalline for a left-wing corner which he then took. The ball ran loose to Hurst, who shot, Weber lunged in to block and the ball rose tantalisingly into the air as though on a jet of water in a shooting gallery. It was Peters who shot—and scored.
After the hugging, the congratulations, Stiles and Wilson turned to the touchline, eyebrows questioningly raised, fingers upstretched, as if they had some premonition of what was in store.
With four minutes left England spurned a handsome chance to finish the job. With Germany now desperately committed to seeking the equaliser they broke away, a superb through pass by Ball cutting the defence to shreds and putting Hunt quite clear. On his right he had not only Bobby Charlton but Geoff Hurst, while in front of Tilkowski there was only Schulz; a three to one situation which should automatically have produced a goal. But for the second time in the match Hunt blundered, making his pass to Charlton too soon, before Schulz was fully drawn; too shallow and too square. This haste communicated itself to Charlton, who sliced wildly at the ball and hit it wide.
For this England paid heavily. There was less than a minute left when Held and Jackie Charlton jumped for a header. Many thought Held had backed into Charlton. Herr Dienst, the Swiss referee, was of the view that Charlton had fouled Held. He gave a free kick on the left, just outside the penalty area, which at last allowed the hesitant Emmerich to justify his choice. His strong, left-footed shot hit Schnellinger in the back, was sent across the goal-mouth by Held, and there was driven home past the lunging Wilson and the plunging Banks by another defender, Weber. There would now be extra time.
Exhausted by the drama, the tension of it all, as much as by the running, the players sprawled about the grass. Ramsey, in his bright blue tracksuit, marched onto the field and told the England team that they had won the World Cup once; now they must win it again. ‘Look at them!’ he said, indicating the weary Germans. ‘They’re finished!’
Alan Ball was anything but finished. Within ninety seconds he was tearing down the right wing yet again, a miracle of perpetual motion, far too much for heavy Schnellinger, letting go a shot which Tilkowski turned over the bar.
England had the wind in their sails. Jackie Charlton came up and passed to his brother, whose blistering left-footed shot Tilkowski—a new goalkeeper, now—turned full stretch on to the post. After a hundred minutes, however, a long, excellent pass to the right wing by Stiles found Ball again. Ball would later write that he thought, ‘Oh, no! I can’t get that one! I’m finished!’ He had already, he said, ‘died twice’, but once more he found the energy to leave Schnellinger standing, then centre on the run.
This time, Geoff Hurst met the ball on the near post with a furious right-footed shot. Tilkowski had no chance with it; it tore past him, hit the underside of the bar and bounced down. Roger Hunt stood with arms joyfully raised, not troubling to apply the coup de grâce which, in retrospect, would have avoided so much controversy. Clearly he was sure the ball had crossed the line.
Herr Dienst was not. Besieged by protesting German players, he marched to the right-hand touchline to consult his Russian linesman, Bakhramov. He, a tall, silver-haired, distinguished figure, reminiscent of a chess-player or a violinist rather than a referee, quickly ended the poignant hiatus, jerking his flag with the utmost emphasis towards the centre spot. For the English crowd, the England players, it was a moment of ecstatic catharsis. The goal stood; the World Cup was clearly theirs.
Once more the Germans threw their men into unbridled attack; once more their defence broke down in consequence. It was in the last seconds that Moore’s long pass, capping an immaculate performance, sent Hurst through, and this time there would be no erring. As joyful small boys dashed on to the pitch, anticipating the goal, the final whistle, he carried on alone, blew out his cheeks, and beat Tilkowski with a terrible left-footer. He was the first man to score three in a World Cup Final; and the Cup itself had at last come to the country where football began.
RESULTS: England 1966
Group I
England 0, Uruguay 0 (HT 0/0)
France 1, Mexico 1 (HT 0/0)
Uruguay 2, France 1 (HT 2/1)
England 2, Mexico 0 (HT 1/0)
Uruguay 0, Mexico 0 (HT 0/0)
England 2, France 0 (HT 1/0)
GOALS
P W D L F A Pts
England 3 2 1 0 4 0 5
Uruguay 3 1 2 0 2 1 4
Mexico 3 0 2 1 1 3 2
France 3 0 1 2 2 5 1
Group II
West Germany 5, Switzerland 0 (HT 3/0)
Argentina 2, Spain 1 (HT 0/0)
Spain 2, Switzerland 1 (HT 0/1)
Argentina 0, West Germany 0 (HT 0/0)
Argentina 2, Switzerland 0 (HT 0/0)
West Germany 2, Spain 1 (HT 1/1)
GOALS
P W D L F A Pts
West Germany 3 2 1 0 7 1 5
Argentina 3 2 1 0 4 1 5
Spain 3 1 0 2 4 5 2
Switzerland 3 0 0 3 1 9 0
Group III
Brazil 2, Bulgaria 0 (HT 1/0)
Portugal 3, Hungary 1 (HT 1/0)
Hungary 3, Brazil 1 (HT 1/1)
Portugal 3, Bulgaria 0 (HT 2/0)
Portugal 3, Brazil 1 (HT 2/0)
Hungary 3, Bulgaria 1 (HT 2/1)
GOALS
P W D L F A Pts
Portugal 3 3 0 0 9 2 6
Hungary 3 2 0 1 7 5 4
Brazil 3 1 0 2 4 6 2
Bulgaria 3 0 0 3 1 8 0
Group IV
Russia 3, North Korea 0 (HT 2/0)
Italy 2, Chile 0 (HT 1/0)
Russia 1, Italy 0 (HT 0/0)
North Korea 1, Italy 0 (HT 1/0)
Russia 2, Chile 1 (HT 1/1)
GOALS
P W D L F A Pts
Russia 3 3 0 0 6 1 6
North Korea 3 1 1 1 2 4 3
Italy 3 1 0 2 2 2 2
Chile 3 0 1 2 2 5 1
Quarter-finals
Wembley
England 1 Argentina 0
Banks; Cohen, Wilson; Roma; Ferreiro,
Stiles, Charlton, J., Perfumo, Albrecht,
Moore; Ball, Hurst, Marzolini; Gonzalez,
Charlton, R., Hunt, Rattin, Onega; Solari,
Peters. Artime, Mas.
SCORER
Hurst for England
HT 0/0
Sheffield
West Germany 4 Uruguay 0
Tilkowski; Hottges, Mazurkiewicz;
Weber, Schulz, Troche, Ubinas,
Schnellinger; Gonçalves, Manicera,
Beckenbauer, Haller, Caetano; Salva,
Overath; Seeler, Held, Rocha; Silva, Cortes,
Emmerich. Perez.
SCORERS
Held, Beckenbauer, Seeler, Haller for West Germany
HT 1/0
Everton
Portugal 5 North Korea 3
José Pereira; Morais, Li Chan Myung; Rim
Baptista, Vicente, Yung Sum, Shin Yung
Hilario; Graça, Coluna; Kyoo, Ha Jung Won,
José Augusto, Eusebio, O Yoon Kyung; Pak
Torres, Simoes. Seung Jin, Jon Seung
Hwi; Han Bong Jin,
Pak Doo Ik, Li Dong
Woon, Yang Sung
Kook.
SCORERS
Eusebio (4) (2 penalties), José Augusto for Portugal
Pak Seung Jin, Yang Sung Kook, Li Dong
Woon for North Korea
HT 2/3
Sunderland
Russia 2 Hungary 1
Yachine; Ponomarev, Gelei; Matrai,
Chesternijev, Voronin, Kaposzta, Meszoly,
Danilov; Sabo, Sipos, Szepesi; Nagy,
Khusainov; Chislenko, Albert, Rakosi; Bene,
Banichevski, Malafeev, Farkas.
Porkujan.
SCORERS
Chislenko, Porkujan for Russia
Bene for Hungary
HT 1/0
Semi-finals
Everton
West Germany 2 Russia 1
Tilkowski; Hottges, Yachine; Ponomarev,
Weber, Schulz, Chesternijev, Voronin,
Schnellinger; Danilov; Sabo,
Beckenbauer, Haller, Khusainov; Chislenko,
Overath; Seeler, Held, Banichevski, Malafeev,
Emmerich. Porkujan.
SCORERS
Haller, Beckenbauer for Germany
Porkujan for Russia
HT 1/0
Wembley
England 2 Portugal 1
Banks; Cohen, Wilson; José Pereira; Festa,
Stiles, Charlton, J., Baptista, José Carlos,
Moore; Ball, Hurst, Hilario; Graça,
Charlton, R., Hunt, Coluna, José Augusto;
Peters. Eusebio, Torres,
Simoes.
SCORERS
Charlton, R. (2) for England
Eusebio (penalty) for Portugal
HT 1/0
Third place match
Wembley
Portugal 2 Russia 1
José Pereira; Festa, Yachine; Ponomarev,
Baptista, José Carlos, Khurtsilava, Korneev,
Hilario; Graça, Coluna, Danilov; Voronin,
José Augusto; Eusebio, Sichinava; Metreveli,
Torres, Simoes. Malafeev, Banichevski,
Serebrianikov.
SCORERS
Eusebio (pénalty), Torres for Portugal
Malafeev for Russia
HT 1/1
Final
Wembley
England 4 West Germany 2
(after extra time)
Banks; Cohen, Wilson; Tilkowski; Hottges,
Stiles, Charlton, J., Schulz, Weber,
Moore; Ball, Hurst, Schnellinger; Haller,
Hunt, Charlton, R., Beckenbauer, Overath;
Peters. Seeler, Held,
Emmerich.
SCORERS
Hurst (3), Peters for England
Haller, Weber for Germany
HT 1/1
MEXICO
1970
The Challenge of Mexico
The 1970 World Cup, played, inexplicably and inexcusably, in Mexico, was gloriously won by Brazil. For all the appalling problems of heat and altitude, all the preceding threat of violent, negative play, they triumphed with a panache, elegance and enterprise which raised new hope for attacking football. It was especially suitable that in the Final they should thrash an Italian team which stood for all that was most cautious and destructive in the contemporary game.
The decision to make it Mexico, rather than Argentina, had been taken by FIFA at their Congress in Tokyo during the 1964 Olympic Games, thus following the dubious example of the Olympic Committee which had decided to hold the Games in Mexico City in 1968. What may euphemistically be described as lobbying by the interested parties was particularly fierce. Several delegations, including that of the Football Association, whose Secretary had personal experience of conditions in Mexico City, opposed the choice of Mexico. What possibly swayed the final choice was the inconsistency of Argentina’s support for the World Cup, and their tenuous economic situation.
The displeasing machinations in Tokyo—one delegate admitted that his fare had been paid by an aspirant World Cup host—the whisperings in hotel corners and corridors, prompted Sir Stanley Rous to cry ‘Enough!’ Mexico, as it was, prevailed by fifty-six votes to thirty-two, with seven abstentions, but he, and others, wanted no more of such gerrymandering.
The intense heat of the Mexican summer—rising to well over ninety degrees—and the breathing difficulties experienced at heights of over seven thousand feet, in Puebla, Toluca, Mexico City and the rest, were problems enough. To make matters worse, the World Cup Committee entered a lamentable agreement with international television to begin their Sunday matches—including the Final—at twelve noon. In almost every one of the chosen venues noon is an hour at which it is inadvisable even to walk about. To attempt to play football, and World Cup football at that, was both ludicrous and potentially dangerous. It was particularly difficult for teams from northern Europe; the holders, England, would find themselves melting in the torrid ninety-eight degrees of Guadalajara, when up against Brazil, and finally succumbing in the still stickier heat of Leon.
In retrospect, the decision to play in Mexico, and to play frequently at noon, looks as shameful as it did in prospect. The World Cup of 1970 ultimately succeeded in spite of the abominable conditions, and one hopes, though without any great confidence, that the lesson has been learned.
Acclimatisation
One inevitable effect, just as in the case of the 1968 Olympiad, was a huge increase in the cost of preparation. Though medical opinions varied sharply on the best means of acclimatisation and the optimum period of adaptation, there was no doubt that such a period was essential. The Olympic soccer tournament of 1968, in which Mexico’s team of young League players was well beaten by France and Japan, showed that teams from sea level could settle down quite happily after three weeks or so. The Final, after all, had been between Hungary and Bulgaria.
The Contenders Brazil
Brazil’s preparation, heavily and generously underwritten by the President of their Sports Confederation, Joâo Havelange, was a protracted one, extending over some three months. Their prospects, however, were seriously compromised by a sudden change of horses in mid-stream when, in March 1970, João Saldanha, the team manager, was replaced by Zagalo. It was a situation heavy with irony, for Zagalo, Brazil’s left-winger in the victories of 1958 and 1962, had been a protégé of Saldanha when he was managing Botafogo.
With his
intelligence, enthusiasm, and vigour, Saldanha gave the national side new direction and allure. It did not look terribly impressive when it scraped through 2–1 in the Maracanà against England in June 1969, with late goals by Tostao and Jairzinho, but the following August, with Tostao scoring abundantly, it swept through its qualifying group against Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela, uniting the vast country behind it.
Saldanha, intellectual and revolutionary, dialectician and, we were to understand, master of unarmed combat, departed for Europe trailing clouds of glory, saw seven international games, locked horns with the dour Alf Ramsey in a television interview; and returned to Brazil a changed man. Something had happened; something at once radical and puzzling. Now Saldanha’s policies, always unexpected and spectacular, became frenetic and bizarre. In November 1969, without an international match being played for four months, he suddenly dropped four defenders, including both goalkeepers, and called up five new men.
There was instant outrage and protest, compounded the following February, when Toninho and Scala were, on medical grounds, sent back from training camp to their clubs by Dr Toledo, the Brazilians’ medical adviser, only to be pronounced perfectly fit by their own infuriated clubs. On March 4, Brazil played at Porto Alegre, and lost to Argentina, who had already been eliminated from the World Cup by Peru. Four days later, Saldanha committed the ultimate and unforgivable crime: he contemplated dropping Pelé, with whom he had for some time been embroiled in a struggle for power. The heavens opened, Saldanha disappeared, Zagalo took over.