MULLER MAKES LIGHT OF GOALS
Classy Der Bomber tops score charts as Franz’s Germans lift trophy in some style
IT was safe to say that going into this game the Soviet defence were more than aware of the goalscoring capabilities of Gerd Muller.
‘Der Bomber’ had knocked in all of his side’s four goals in a 4-1 pre-tournament friendly win for West Germany against the USSR, before then announcing his arrival in Belguim with a semi-final double against the hosts.
Muller (left) was also the recipient of Europe’s Golden Boot award, having hit 40 Bundesliga goals for Bayern Munchen in the 1971/72 domestic season.
Also, his tally of 68 goals in 62 internationals was an astounding total in such a defensive era.
As predicted, the final was dominated by Germany from the off and it was no surprise when Muller was in the right spot to profit after Rudakov palmed out a rebound following a Gunter Netzer shot that had crashed against the bar.
Muller’s ability to find space in the penalty area saw him add a second goal after the break, leaving teammate Herbert Wimmer to add icing on the cake with a German third following a rare mistake by the busy Rudakov.
WEST GERMANY: Sepp Mier, Franz Beckenbauer (c), Horst-dieter Hottges, Hans-georg Schwarzenbeck, Paul Breitner, Herbert Wimmer, Uli Hoeneß Gunter Netzer, Jupp Heynckes, Erwin Kremers, Gerd Muller.
USSR: Yevhen Rudakov, Revaz Dzodzuashvili, Murtaz Khurtsilava (c), Volodymr Kaplychnyi, Yuiry Istomin, Volodymyr Kaplychinyi, Yuriy Istomin, Volodymyr Troshkin, Viktor Kolotov, Anatoliy Konkov, Anatoly Baidachny, Anatoliy Banishevskiy, Volodymr Onyshchenko. Subs; Oleg Dolmatov, Eduard Kozynkevych.