June 17 – The Game of the Century

EVERYONE knows that semi-finals are where it’s at. Whereas finals are often tense, nervy affairs where both sides are glad to be there and fail to produce a good match, semi-finals have a habit of being a real hot-bed of entertainment – there’s no loser medals or day out in the sun here, just the long walk home.

Today in 1970 saw one of the greatest football matches ever played. While most will immediately think of either Gordon Banks’ save from Pele or Brazil’s superlative team-goal finished off by Carlos Alberto in the final, the best game of the tournament was undoubtedly the semi-final between Italy and West Germany.

The West Germans were looking to erase the memories of losing the final four years earlier, having already sent their 1966 conquers home and faced up to Europe’s other powerhouse, defending European Champions Italy.

Playing in the blazing heat of the Aztec Stadium, the two sides offered a distinct clash of cultures, with the ying of the steely determination of the Beckenbauer-led Germans meeting it’s yang with Italy’s classy forward play.

It was Italy that drew first blood, as Inter striker Roberto Boninsegna netted after eight minutes with an unstoppable half-volley.

This inspired West Germany to attack, but the Azzurri soaked up the pressure and were on the brink of the final when defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, who plyed his trade at AC Milan, scored in injury time to level the contest and send it into extra-time. German commentator Ernst Huberty could barely contain himself, shouting “Schnellinger, of all people!”

In a breathless extra-time period both sides threw caution to the wind, as Gerd Muller put West Germany ahead, only for the Italians to claw it back through Tarcisio Burgnich and then have Luigi Riva give them the lead again just before half-time in extra-time.

Like a pair of punch-drunk brawling street punks, the two footballing giants continued to trade blows in the final period. Beckenbauer played the extra-time period with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder, as Muller again equalised with his tenth goal of the tournament, but a minute later an unmarked Gianni Rivera headed home a cross from Boninsegna to put Italy 4-3 up.

Television producers were still showing replays of Muller’s goal when the Milan legend scored the winner, but most Italian’s probably couldn’t care less as they had booked their place in the World Cup final.

At the final whistle the 22 players on the pitch, exhausted after a two-hour battle in the blazing Mexican heat, fell into each others arms and then dropped to the floor exhausted as the crowd paid tributes to both sides and the Herculean display of football they had been privileged to watch.

In the other semi Brazil had coasted to a 4-1 win in a South American battle against Uruguay and this had a telling affect when the final was played, as a physically and emotionally drained Italian side were unable to get anywhere near the Selecao, going down 4-1.

The semi-final however, has gone down in footballing folklore as ‘the game of the century’ and the match has been celebrated by a plaque at the Azteca Stadium that reads: “The Azteca Stadium pays homage to the National Teams of Italy (4) and Germany (3), who starred in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, the “Game of the Century”. June 17th 1970.”

They truly don’t make them like that anymore, so enjoy the footage of one of the sport’s classic match-ups. The same can’t be said for today’s other story, as England sunk to a new low, so read about that here and join us tomorrow for more.