Football in the 1970's

1970 World Cup           1974 World Cup           1978 World Cup

 The 1970 World Cup

The 1970 World Cup was again Brazil's, who got to keep the cup permanently after winning it for the third time. Held in Mexico, the defending champions England were treated with hostile by the native press and supporters, and eventually went out 3-2 to West Germany in the quarter-finals. The score in the final match would indicate the extent of the domination of Brazil, beating Italy (who also had won the cup on two previous occasions), by an impressive score of 4-1, playing their way past an Italy who failed to press Brazil enough to pull off a victory. It was a victory full of passion by the victors, led by a Pele who was simply superb in what would be his swansong world cup.

Final Match

Brazil 4-1 Italy (1-1)

Stadium: Azteca

Referee: R. Glöckner (GDR)

Spectators: 107.000

Goals: 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1

Brazil: Pelé (1), Gerson (1), Jairzinho (1), Carlos Alberto (1)

Italy:Boninsegna (1)

Third-Place Match

Germany FR - Uruguay: 1-0

Semi-Final Matches

Italy - Germany FR: 4-3 (after extra time)

Brazil - Uruguay: 3-1

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The 1974 World Cup was the world cup of Total Football, which had burst onto the soccer scene as a dynamic and exciting form of football which brought immense success to teams like West Germany and Ajax Amsterdam, who won the European Cup three times in a row. In the end, the final would be a showdown of the two teams who played it most effectively. Brazil, had lost three of its most talented layers and was no longer the powerhouse it was four years before.

Final Match

Germany FR 2-1 Holland (2-1)

Stadium: Munich

Referee: J. Taylor (England)

Spectators: 79.000

Goals: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1

Germany FR: Breitner (1)-penalty, Müller (1)

Holland: Neeskens (1)-penalty

Third-Place Match

Poland - Brazil: 1-0

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The 1978 World Cup saw Argentina claiming back their first title, at home. For Holland, second time emerging runners up, they would probably have felt that Argentina could not have won it anywhere but home, the talented Dutch losing to a defensively weak Argentine team. Brazil clinched third spot again in front of Italy. For Argentina, it was a prelude to the emergence of their domination in the years to come.

Final Match

Argentina 3-1 Holland (1-0), second half (1-1), (after extra-time)

Stadium: Buenos Aires

Referee: S. Gonella (Italy)

Spectators: 77.000

Goals: 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1

Argentina: Kempes (2), Bertoni (1)

Holland: Nanninga (1)

Third-Place Match

Brazil - Italy: 2-1

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