world cup 1970 final

The 1970 FIFA World Cup
the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. Mexico was chosen as the host nation by FIFA in October 1964. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by Brazil, who beat Italy 4–1. With their third World Cup triumph, Brazil were allowed to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently.

The Brazilian team, featuring the likes of Pelé (who was in his fourth and final World Cup), Carlos Alberto, Clodoaldo, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivelino, and Tostão, is usually regarded as the greatest attacking World Cup team ever. They won all of their 6 games on the way to the title, and had also won all of their 6 qualifying games on their way to Mexico. This tournament saw the return of free-flowing, attacking play after the physical battles of 1962 and 1966, and is still considered by many fans to be the finest World Cup in history.

Final

In the final, Brazil struck first, with Pelé heading in a cross by Rivelino after a throw-in at the 18th minute. Roberto Boninsegna equalized for Italy after a series of blunders in the Brazilian defence. In the second half, Brazil's firepower and creativity was too much for a tired Italian side. Gérson fired in a powerful shot for the second goal, leaving Enrico Albertosi, the Italian keeper helpless, leaving and then helped provide the third, with a long free kick to Pelé who headed down into the path of the onrushing Jairzinho. Brazil's fourth goal, with five minutes to go, is considered one of the greatest goals ever scored in the history of the tournament. A total of 8 outfield players from Brazil were involved, encapsulating 'the beautiful game' in one glorious sweeping move. Tostão started the move just outside the Brazilian 18 yard box, then ran the length of the field to the Italian box without touching the ball again (although he signalled for Pelé to lay it off for Carlos Alberto). Clodoaldo beat 4 Italian players in his own half before passing to Rivelino, who hit a perfect pass down the left wing to Jairzinho. Jairzinho drove inside and passed to Pelé, who showed superb composure, in his last moments of World Cup play, to hold the ball up before rolling a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Carlos Alberto arriving from right back. Carlos Alberto's shot hammered into the bottom corner of the Italian goal, going too quick for Enrico Albertosi to even touch it.

So Brazil had won the World Cup for the third time after 1958 and 1962, earning the right to retain the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. In Pelé, Brazil had a player who had won World Cups 12 years apart, yet still remained at the heart of everything Brazil did, providing the game's most sublime moments ranging from his hanging leap for Brazil's opener and his chess-player's pass for the final goal. Even Pelé's misses will go down in history: the 'own-half' attempt against Czechoslovakia, the 'unstoppable' header against England and most memorably of all the dummy against Uruguay in the semi-final. Seven players (all of whom featured in the Carlos Alberto goal) scored a total of 19 goals (more than any team since). Jairzinho scored in every match in the finals, an amazing feat. While Tostão proved a quick-witted and skilful strike partner. Clodoaldo and particularly Gerson provided superb passes to the front three, as well as goals at critical moments (what would have happened if Uruguay had gone in at half-time 1-0 up?), and Rivelino's left-footed crosses and long-distance shooting were a constant danger. Coach Mário Zagallo was the first footballer to become World Cup champion as a player (1958, 1962) and a coach - sadly his other attempts (1974, 1998) would not be successful.

But it was the style of play that will be remembered. Italy's goal in the final involved four separate errors by the Brazilian defence, but it was of no matter; in 1970 defence was not Brazil's primary interest, with their 7 goals conceded being more than any other champion since. They gambled on outscoring the opposition, and won, every time. Since 1970 winning the World Cup has not been possible without a cast-iron defence, as evidenced by the failure of another great attacking side, Brazil's 1982 team. It would be 24 years before Brazil could put their hands on the new FIFA trophy, once again beating Italy in the final of the 1994 World Cup, although only on penalties and needing a much more defensive style to that seen in 1970.

Before the finals in Mexico, Brazil had to play the qualifying rounds against Colombia, Venezuela and Paraguay. Brazil was far superior winning all 6 games, scoring 23 goals and conceding only 2. In the last match of the qualifying rounds Brazil beat Paraguay 1 – 0 and had the largest official audience ever recorded for a football match, with 183,341 spectators in Brazil's Maracanã Stadium. In total the Brazilian team won all 12 games , scoring 42 goals and conceding only 8.

The top scorer of the tournament was West Germany's Gerd Müller, with an impressive 10 goals in the competition. Müller incredibly scored hat-tricks in two consecutive games, against Bulgaria and Peru in the group stage.