CLASSIC GAMES

	Sign In Sign-Up

FIFA WORLD CUP

GROUPS AND TEAMS

Classic Games

17 June 1970: Italy - West Germany 4-3 a.e.t.
Those old enough to remember the 1970 semi-final will not have forgotten one of the most dramatic matches of all time - the epic clash of styles between the opportunism of "Gigi" Riva's Squadra and the will to win of "Kaiser" Beckenbauer's Mannschaft. The match had club rivalry too, with the Inter trio of Facchetti, Mazzola, and Riva facing old foes in the shape of Bayern's Maier, Beckenbauer and MÃ¼ller. It was also a duel between two formations whose hallmark was a balance between defensive steel and inspired forward play.

Boninsegna opens the scoring

German pressure
The two giants of Europe were doing battle to decide who would line up in the final against the winner of the all South American tie between Brazil and Uruguay, played at Guadalajara on the same day. The Italians had been crowned European champions two years earlier, while the Germans had finished runners-up at the last FIFA World Cup in England. At the start of the game, stifled by the high stakes and the oppressive heat of Mexico's brand new Aztec stadium, both sides kept it tight, content to sit back and ease their way into the game. The 100,000 spectators were also unusually subdued, and even the ball seemed lifeless, prompting Sepp Maier to ask for it to be changed early on.

But it was the Italians who turned this false rhythm to their advantage, springing a surprise on the West German team led by the old lion Uwe Seeler. In the eighth minute, Roberto Boninsegna exchanged a defence-splitting one-two with Luigi Riva before dispatching an unstoppable half-volley from 16 metres out which left Sepp Maier rooted to the spot. Game on.

The Germans responded immediately, with the main threat coming from rising star Franz Beckenbauer, first with a pass into space which Gerd MÃ¼ller just failed to reach, then a 40-yard burst of acceleration before he was stopped in his tracks by a questionable challenge from Squadra Azzurra captain Giacinto Facchetti.

Watch Video Although the Mannschaft clearly dominated the first period, the Italians often looked comfortable at the back, mopping up the somewhat predictable assaults of Seeler and Co. At the tender age of 34, the tireless Seeler was taking part in his fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup, and it was the Hamburg striker's ability to get his head to almost every free kick that constituted the main threat to the Italians in the opening half-hour.

But little by little, his strike partner, "Bomber" MÃ¼ller started to make his presence felt at the heart of the Italian defence. First he just failed to control a curling cross from the ever-present Wolfgang Overath, allowing Mario Bertini to come out and claim. His 20-yard half-volley on the turn just two minutes later (31') then drew the Fiorentina keeper into a smart save. Bertini had been picked instead of Dino Zoff by coach Ferruccio Valcareggi, much to the displeasure of the Friulian's supporters, and he was soon called into action again, this time turning an even better-struck shot from JÃ¼rgen Grabowski round the post for a corner.

The second half followed the same crescendo-like rhythm. Seeler, put through cleverly by the "Kaiser", lost out in a one-on-one duel with Albertosi (50'), and Grabowski was thwarted by the Florentine guardian on the hour mark. The Germans then failed to capitalise on an under-hit backpass from Bertini. MÃ¼ller robbed Albertosi, Grabowski gathered and laid it back into the path of Overath, but his shot cannoned back off the crossbar with the Italian keeper stranded (66').
Click Here