Italy v West Germany (1970 FIFA World Cup)

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For other uses, see The Game of the Century.
1970 FIFA World Cup
Semi-final
Commemorative plaque Aztec Stadium.jpg
The plaque commemorating the match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City
Event1970 FIFA World Cup
Italy West Germany
Italy West Germany
4 3
After extra time
Date17 June 1970 (1970-06-17)
VenueEstadio Azteca, Mexico City
Referee (Mexico)[1]
Attendance102,444

The semi-final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup between Italy and West Germany has been called the "Game of the Century"[2] (Spanish: Partido del Siglo; Italian: Partita del secolo; German: Jahrhundertspiel). It was played on 17 June 1970 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Italy won 4–3 after five of the seven goals were scored in extra time, the record for most goals scored during extra time in a FIFA World Cup game. (Four goals were scored in extra time in the 1982 semifinal between West Germany and France.) The result eliminated West Germany from the tournament while Italy would go on to lose to Brazil in the final.

The match[]

Italy led 1–0 for the majority of the match, after Roberto Boninsegna scored in the 8th minute. West German defender Franz Beckenbauer dislocated his shoulder after being fouled, but stayed on the field carrying his dislocated arm in a sling, as his side had already used their two permitted substitutions.[3]

Defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger equalised for West Germany in the second minute of injury time. German television commentator Ernst Huberty famously exclaimed "Schnellinger, of all people!" (in German: "Schnellinger! Ausgerechnet Schnellinger!"), since Schnellinger played in Italy's professional football league, Serie A, at A.C. Milan (for whom he had never scored). It was also his first and only goal in a career total of 47 matches for the West German national team. At the end of regulation time, the score was level at 1–1, forcing the match into extra time. Had the match remained drawn after extra time, lots would have been drawn to decide which team would progress to the final.[4]

Gerd Müller put West Germany ahead in the 94th minute following a defensive error by Fabrizio Poletti who had just come into the game as a substitute, but Tarcisio Burgnich tied it back up only four minutes later, and then striker Luigi Riva put the Italians in front again with a superb goal. Müller scored yet again, this time with a header, for West Germany to tie the score at 3–3. Yet, as the live television coverage was still replaying Müller's goal, Italian midfielder Gianni Rivera scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 111th minute. Being left unmarked near the penalty area, Rivera had connected perfectly with a fine cross made by Boninsegna, clinching the victory for Italy at 4–3.[5]

Match overview[]

Italy 4–3 (a.e.t.) West Germany
Boninsegna Goal 8'
Burgnich Goal 98'
Riva Goal 104'
Rivera Goal 111'		 Report Schnellinger Goal 90+2'
Müller Goal 94', 110'
Attendance: 102,444
Referee: (Mexico) [1]
Italy
West Germany
GK 1 Enrico Albertosi Yellow card 73'
RB 2 Tarcisio Burgnich
CB 3 Giacinto Facchetti (c)
CB 5 Pierluigi Cera
LB 8 Roberto Rosato Yellow card 38' Substituted off 91'
CM 10 Mario Bertini
CM 15 Sandro Mazzola Substituted off 46'
CM 16 Giancarlo De Sisti Yellow card 103'
RW 13 Angelo Domenghini Yellow card 114'
CF 20 Roberto Boninsegna
LW 11 Luigi Riva
Substitutions:
MF 14 Gianni Rivera Substituted in 46'
DF 4 Fabrizio Poletti Substituted in 91'
Manager:
Italy Ferruccio Valcareggi
GK 1 Sepp Maier
RB 7 Berti Vogts
CB 15 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
CB 5 Willi Schulz
LB 3 Bernd Patzke Substituted off 66'
CM 4 Franz Beckenbauer
CM 12 Wolfgang Overath Yellow card 53'
RW 20 Jürgen Grabowski
CF 9 Uwe Seeler (c)
CF 13 Gerd Müller Yellow card 66'
LW 17 Hannes Löhr Substituted off 52'
Substitutions:
MF 14 Reinhard Libuda Substituted in 52'
MF 10 Sigfried Held Substituted in 66'
Manager:
West Germany Helmut Schön

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b was born in Peru, where he begun his career as referee. He moved from Peru to officiate matches in Mexico in 1968, and hence he attended this World Cup as a representative of the Mexican football federation.
  2. ^ Matt Wagg (28 June 2012). "Euro 2012: five classic tournament matches between Germany and Italy including the 'Game of the Century'". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Der Kaiser, the brains behind Germany". FIFA. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Drawing of lots -- that's how teams will be parted". Evening Standard. London: 43. 26 May 1970.
  5. ^ 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico. Match report. Italy - Germany FR FIFA.com

External links[]

Motson, John (2006) Motson's World Cup Extravaganza GREAT GAMES: ITALY 4-3 WEST GERMANY, 1970

Coordinates: 19°18′12″N 99°9′2″W / 19.30333°N 99.15056°W / 19.30333; -99.15056

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