Brazil 1 England 0 – 1970 world cup
The one-nil result was in no way indicative of how thrilling that match was; for the seventy thousand spectators saw brilliance such as the goal that never was, and this after only ten minutes. Jairzinho, who was in great form during this game, picked up the ball on the extreme right, once he had lost off his marker Tommy Cooper; his angle was such that it was difficult to gauge whether he would shoot towards the near or far post, moreover Pelé was correctly situated to head the ball should Jairzinho pick him out. Gordon Banks, still rated the world’s best goalkeeper, moved to cover the near post, which was the most predictable destination of any ball released by Jairzinho, while there was wide anticipation that the England defenders would stop the ball ever reaching the far post. In the event, Jairzinho chipped the ball very high in to the air, no England defender could reach it, and surely it would pass harmlessly by? But no, Pelé jumped, he rose so high that it looked impossible; furthermore, the timings of the pass and the jump were perfectly synchronized, almost as if they had been choreographed; Pelé had seconds to divine where Banks was, and directed a strong header towards the far post, furthermore the ball was directed downwards, for it would be extremely difficult for a goalkeeper to rush the length of the goal, dive and stop the ball going in. Banks did the impossible, knocking the ball upwards with one hand over the bar. Later on Geoff Hurst was presented with an opportunity to put England ahead, unfortunately he was never to possess the goal scoring instinct of Jimmy Grieves, and he stopped and then shot weakly. He should have taken the chance, and left the problem of whether he was offside to the match officials. It proved to be a vital error. The game was goal less at half time, but it was an evenly fought affair with which both nations could be satisfied. The contest between the giants re commenced in the second half, could the strongest attack in the competition, Brazil’s, break through against the most formidable defense available, that of England? Fifteen minutes into the second half the answer came back in the affirmative, although not prior Francis Lee had headed a cross straight at Felix, who was in goal for Brazil: one needed more than that to win such a match. Tostao was running down the left touchline in possession of the ball, Moore switched out of central defense to help the England right back Newton, he was followed by Labone. Moore decided that this support, and the danger given by Tostao, was such that the correct option was to try and tackle the Brazilian genius. It was a costly error for Tostao recovered faster than Moore, the Brazilian swept in a fast pass towards Pelé who was entering the penalty area, shadowed, as he had been during the game, by the superb Alan Mullery. The danger of a shot from this position forced Terry Cooper to move towards Pelé to block. Quick as a flash Pelé passed to his right where Jairzinho was rushing in towards the exposed England left; Martin Peters stormed back in an attempt to fill the hole, while Banks rushed out of goal to decrease the angle, but it was too late. Jairzinho discovered the gap that Banks was unable to cover and sent the ball thundering into the far corner. A surprised Banks kneeled on the ground, it was a body blow. Yet the match was not over as a contest, England substitute Astle squandered an opportunity to equalize when his shot skid past the wrong side of a post. Later on a header from Astle put Alan Ball into a position to get a goal, yet he was unable to do anything. Later on Ball partly redeemed himself when his shot shaded just over the bar. But it was not to be. Brazil had won the match that should have been the final by the narrowest of margins. Fortunately, both teams were still in the tournament as it was a group match.

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Brazil 4 – 1 Italy  – 1970 world cup final


Brazil were matched against their antithesis on 20 June 1970, brilliant attacking would be met by stonewalling and solid defense. More than 100,000 people crowded into the Azteca stadium on 21 June 1970. They were provided with some spectacular passing and movement from the Brazilians who dominated right from the kick off. In the eighteenth minute Italy’s hopes of a successful dour defense, and a solitary successful strike, had been diminished, when Rivelino crossed from the left; Pelé jumped majestically to meet it and headed downwards, this occasion there was no Gordon Banks to make a stupendous, impossible save. Italy had given a goal away, they would have to come out and play, which could expose them to further damage. Yet the pattern did not change all that much, the Italians knew just how dangerous Brazil were capable of being, their hopes still relied on a lucky attack, which was exactly what happened. In the thirty-eighth minute Clodoaldo back-heeled the ball. He had not being focusing and the Brazilian defenders were too slow to react, instead Boninsegna slipped in and sprinted for goal, the onrushing Brazilian goalkeeper Felix attempted to do what he could, however, he was easily side-stepped; Italy were suddenly, and completely against the run of play, level. Brazil progressed on as they had been, yet there were no further goals in the first period. The pattern did not change in the second period, it took Brazil all of fifteen minutes to break through this time; Gerson delivering a thunderously shot towards the Italian goal after he had successfully wrong footed his markers by pivoting just outside the penalty box. This occasion there would be no gift from the boys from Brazil, five minutes after a Gerson free kick was headed by Pelé into the path of Jairzinho, Jairzinho simply strolled himself and the ball between the goal posts past the goal line. There could be no doubt as to the end product, one met with approval by the crowd as Brazil progressed to press forward. The performance was encapsulated by yet another goal, four minutes from the end Alberto’s charge towards the Italian penalty area from the right was expected by Pelé who expertly positioned the ball in his path, all Alberto had to do was shoot, shoot precisely and shoot fiercely, he did so, the ball speeding towards the far post past a beaten goalkeeper. Brazil had won, they had won possibly there greatest finals ever despite all the organizational troubles, the high altitude and the obscene temperatures, they had won with one individual Jairzinho becoming the first ever to score in every match, they had won with perhaps the best footballing side ever assembled by a country contesting the World Cup finals.