RLD OMENTS CUP
After coming close in 1966 and 1970 skipper Franz Beckenbauer finally steered West Germany to its second world title defeating the revolutionary Dutch side in the final.
Along with the Hungary team of 1954, the Dutch side that year is widely perceived to be the best-ever not to win the World Cup. The team, which was packed with players from the great Feyenoord and Ajax sides that dominated the European Cup in the early 1970s, pioneered “Total Football,” a strategy that effectively did away with positions — players were interchangeable on the field at all times.
The team was spearheaded by Johan Cruyff, who in a group match against Sweden showcased the move he is perhaps best known for — the “Cruyff Turn.”
With his back to Sweden defender Jan Olsson, Cruyff dragged the ball with his right foot behind his planted left foot, abruptly turned and darted toward the ball. Olsson appeared bamboozled, seemingly stuck to the ground while trying to understand what had just happened.
Cruyff scored three goals during the tournament, including a superb volley against Brazil that confirmed the team would make the final. And even though the Dutch would play host West Germany, the team in orange was widely expected to prevail. That was especially so after Johan Neeskens put the Netherlands ahead with a second-minute penalty, the first in World Cup final history.
Instead of pressing for more, the Dutch toyed with West Germany. Many observers thought the Dutch were looking to humiliate their opponents for a variety of historical reasons. Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands for much of World War II, breeding resentment that endured for decades.
Another penalty got West Germany level, however. And with two minutes left in the first half, striker Gerd Mueller put his team ahead, a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
The tournament marked the use for the first time of the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga. 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.
In the group stages Carlos Caszely of Chile became the first player to be sent off with a red card in a World Cup match, during their match against West Germany. Red cards were formally introduced in World Cup play in 1970, but no players were sent off in that tournament.
Italy were eliminated by Poland with Dino Zoff's run of 1142 minutes without conceding a goal shatterd by Haiti’s Emmanuel Sanon in a game that the Azzurri eventually won 3-1. History was made on June 22 when the two Germanys clashed, with East emerging winners with a Sparwasser goal.
Reigning champions Brazil had one of their weakest sides ever to enter the competition. After scraping to the semi-final group, the Selecao were outclassed by Cruyff and company.