THE ROAD TO RUSSIA: 1974
West Germany hosted the 10th edition of the World Cup from June 13 to July 7 in 1974. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the Fifa World Cup Trophy, created by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded after the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded permanently to Brazil.
The host nation won the title, beating the Netherlands 2- 1 in the final at Munich’s Olympiastadion. The victory was the second for West Germany, who had also won in 1954. Australia, East Germany, Haiti and Zaire made their first appearances at the final stage, with East Germany making their only appearance before Germany was reunified in 1990.
Tight security surrounded the 1974 World Cup in West Germany following the terrorist attacks that occurred at the Munich Olympics two years earlier.
The tournament saw a new format — the quarterand semi- finals were scrapped in favour of two group phases — and the birth of “total football”.
Finalists Holland, led by the outstanding Johan Cruyff, and Franz Beckenbauer’s West Germany were the leading exponents of the new art which involved players switching positions at will to open up defences.
The highlight of the first round came when East Germany shocked West Germany 1- 0 in Hamburg, Jurgen Sparwasser scoring the winner.
The result meant the hosts avoided Holland and Brazil in the next round. The Dutch were a delight as they romped into the second stage, and victories over East Germany, Argentina and Brazil secured their place in the final.
There they faced West Germany, who had seen off an impressive Poland in the other group, and barely a minute from the start the Dutch went ahead when Cruyff won a penalty, converted by Johan Neeskens. Holland toyed with the Germans for a while, then suddenly lost their grip. Paul Breitner equalised after 25 minutes and just before half- time Gerd Muller scored the clincher. Poland finished third by beating Brazil 1- 0. ■ A total of 97 goals were scored by 53 different players in 38 matches at an average of 2.55 goals per match. With seven goals, Poland’s Grzegorz Lato was the top scorer in the tournament. There were three self- goals. — S. PERVEZ QAISER