User:Lord Cornwallis/England V West Germany (1972)

On 29 April 1972 England met West Germany at Wembley Stadium in London for the First Leg of their Quarter final clash in the 1972 European Nations Cup. Germany won the match 3-1 and progressed after the second leg in Berlin finished 0-0. The German team went on to win the competition by beating the Soviet Union in the final. It is the second most famous match in German footballing history after the 1954 Miracle of Bern and the eleven players who started that day are considered Germany's greatest ever line up. In England it was seen as the beginning of the end for the Alf Ramsey era, which had seen England win the World Cup in 1966. Within eighteen months England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup and Ramsey's contract was not renewed.

Background
When the two sides had last met on 14 June 1970 in Leon, Mexico in the Quarter Finals of the 1970 World Cup England had taken a 2-0 lead before going down to a 3-2 defeat after a German comeback and a Gerd Müller winner in extra time. A great deal of emphasis was placed on the substitution of Bobby Charlton and his replacement by Colin Bell. Germany's Franz Beckenbauer had been instructed to mark Charlton, and this occupied him for much of the match. Once Charlton was off the pitch Beckenbaur was free to roam forwards and join Germany attacks, which tilted the balance of the game.

After the match, Alf Ramsey and a number of the press and players had dismissed the defeat as a fluke, attributing their late collapse to the heat of the Mexican afternoon. England had also finished the stronger of the two teams, and felt they should have had a penalty for a tackle on Bell in extra time. England were perceived to have played well in the tournament by much of the press, especially in the matches against Brazil and West Germany. To further reinforce their confidence, by April 1972 England were unbeaten since that match, and had reached the Quarter Finals of the 1972 Nations Cup with ease. The side still contained a number of players from the 1966 and 1970 World Cups and still possesed a lingering aura from their 1966 victory according to --- and many anticipated the rematch with West Germany.

West Germany had similarly reached the stage with ease, and had themlselves only suffered a single defeat since they had played England in Mexico two years before. However, German football had suffered a series of setbacks, in recent times, most famously the - scandal which broke shortly before the England match. The German coach Helmut Schön had tried to relax his players before the match by

Ramsey's preperations were disrupted by the last-minute withdrawal of Roy McFarland. Although his club manager Brian Clough claimed that he was injured Derby County were in contention for the Football League title and had a match a two days later which McFarland played in. In response Ramsey brought in Norman Hunter to partner captain Bobby Moore in central defence, even though the two players styles did not naturally complement each other. Ramsey was furious with Clough's withdrawal of McFarland, and barely spoke to him afterwards. When instructing his team, Ramsey did not give anyone the job of marking Germany's attacking midfielder Günter Netzer and barely even mentioned him in his team talk.

First Half
Beckenbaur had been deputised to nuetralise the England forwards, but as it became obvious the defence could handle the job themselves, he began to advance more and more to support the attacks, making full use of the libero role, a free-moving sweeper who could help the defence out or moving forward to create moves for the attack.

By far the most dangerous of the German players was Günter Netzer, operating from a deep-lying position, who was given enormous freedom by the English decision not to man-mark him. Norman Hunter grew so frustrated that he pleaded with Moore to be allowed to "get the bastard", but Moore replied "This is the way Alf wants it and that's how it's going to be".

England managed to create a handful of chances, but there was an enormous gulf between the two sides. However, in spite of the clear German supremacy they only led 1-0 by the half-time break. One writer compared the constrasting style/approach of the two teams in the first half by observing that the English were "banging on the door in the hope it would give way: The Germans tried key after key in the lock"

Second Half
In the Second Half, Gerrmany's dominance began to lessen. This may have been because their efforts in the first half had worn them out on the wet/damp Wembley pitch. England were able to

the Wembley crowd had been calling for Ramsey to bring on substitute Rodney Marsh to try and inject some flair into the attack, and in the -- minute Ramsey sent him on in place of Hurst.

and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Replays of the indicent seemed to suggest that Moore's contact had taken place outside of the box which would have meant a free-kick rather than a penalty. Netzer took the kick, and ---. Banks managed to get both hands to the ball, but was unable to keep it out.

Banks threw the ball out to Hughes who dwelt on the ball, tried to take it inside and was dispossesed by who weaved a path through the English defence and passed it to Gerd Muller, who spun round and fired the ball past Banks.

The game finished 3-1.

Aftermath
For the return fixture in Berlin two weeks later Ramsey dramatically changed his line-up, making it

In the British press particular attention was given to the return of Peter Storey whose omission from the team at Wembley had been criticised for leaving England without out a ball-winner. However, the defensive leaning line-up fielded by Ramsey led to suggestions that he had possibly given up on winning the tie and was trying to spare England from further embarresment.

In the event, England held the West Germans to a 0-0 draw. England were criticised for rough play after the match and Gunter Netzer claimed the English players had "autographed" his leg. Some in the media saw the two matches as a surrender of England's position as a major player in the world gam.e

West Germany went on to defeat Belgium in the Semi Finals and the Soviet Union in the final and win the Cup, their first major honour since the 1954 World Cup. It was the beginning of a period of success for the West Germans who then won the 1974 World Cup on home soil and were a dominant force in European football until the 1990 World Cup.

England entered the World Cup Qualifying group with confidence, but a defeat in Poland and subsequent failure to beat the Poles at Wembley led to their elimination as England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup. A failure for which Alf Ramsey was ultimately sacked.

The impact of the match drew ---. Germany and England's style had traditionally been similar, relying on physicallity and hard work, but the Germans had added ball-playing influences from Southern Europe which they had mixed with their tradional physicallity. The style that emerged came in the form of Total Football which dominated the 1970s. By constrast the English had barely developed their style in recent years and were playing a more flat 4-4-2 formation.

The shock of the defeat drew comparisons with England's famous 6-3 defeat to Hungary in 1953 which had similarly seemed to prove England's syle outdated.

that report's/suggestions of Germany's dominance

England dominated most of the Second Half and at one point had looked the more likely winner.

suggested that the final against the Soviet Union was actually a better game.

England v Brazil (1970)
On --- 1970 England met Brazil in Group – of the 1970 FIFA World Cup

England were the reiging champions and Brazil the favourites.

It is often best remembered for a save by Gordon Banks from a header by Pele in the, often referred to as “the greatest ever save” and a tackle by Bobby Moore on Jairzinho in the second half.

It is sometimes known as the ‘’’’’final that should have been/never was’’’’’, owing to a widespread belief at the time that the two teams would meet again in the final. This is did not occur as although Brazil went on to reach the final, which they won by beating Italy 4-1, England were eliminated 3-2 by West Germany in the Quarter Finals.

Background
and England had their preperations disrupted by the Bogota Bracelet incident in which captain Bobby Moore had been arrested and detained in Colombia shortly before the World Cup began. Had been releasead in time to play as captain in England’s opening match, in which had beaten Romania 1-0 with Geoff Hurst scoring the only goal. Brazil had beaten Czechoslovakia 4-1 despite going behind in the first half. Despite the

Poor public relations had aleniated many of the Mexican public, who had already adopted Brazil as their favoured team. On the night before the match a large crowd gathered outside the English team hotel and began chanting ========== to keep the English players awake.

And many of them had little sleep.

Moore and Pele swapped shirts and hugged each other. Reports differ as to exactly what was said between them. Some suggested that Pele had told Moore (meet in the final .etc)

As Pele’s grasp of English was still limited at the time, it was also reported he simply said “You no thief, Bobby” – in reference to the recent bracelet incident. The picture of the two men embracing became one of the most famous/popular depictions of the game, and Moore later said it was his favourite picture.

Aftermath
England won their final match 1-0 against Czechoslovakia and finished runners-up in the group and faced a journey to Leon to play West Germany.

Brazil went on to win their Quarter Final against Peru and process to the Semi Finals where they beat Uruguay. In the final they faced Italy, and defeated them 4-1, winning the trophy, which they were permitted to keeep as it was the third time they had won it.