Location: Munich, Germany
Inauguration: 26 May 1972
The history of the Olympiastadion in München is inextricably linked with the goal-scoring exploits of Gerd Der Bomber Muller. Who else but Germany's all-time leading goal scorer could have christened the stadium in such sensational style.
The history of the Olympiastadion in München is inextricably linked with the goal-scoring exploits of Gerd Der Bomber Muller. Who else but Germany's all-time leading goal scorer could have christened the stadium in such sensational style on 26 May 1972? Inspired by 80,000 awed fans, the nimble, stocky striker scored four against the Soviets, who could only add a meaningless consolation goal in a 4-1 drubbing.
München's Olympiastadion is truly one of the most extraordinary stadia in all the world. A living example of functionality combined with stylised architecture, even if some have come to consider it dated - owing largely to the distance between the spectators and the pitch. The 75,000-square-metre roof, once heralded as an architectural milestone, still enchants visitors today.
A national architectural competition was launched in autumn 1967 to find the right people for such a daunting project. In 1966, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1972 Olympic Games to Munich, a city bereft of any major sporting venues. The Olympiastadion was created over a period of six years, surrounded by a vast park landscape with an 80,000-square-metre lake. The unlikely three-square-kilometre site was the Oberwiesenfeld, formerly used for Royal Bavarian Army exercises and later converted into an airport. The winning design was submitted by architects Günter Behnisch and partners whose idea for the sweeping roof, a pioneering concept in design and technology, became an established fixture in global architecture. The Olympiastadion was Munich innovative architectural answer to its Berlin namesake constructed for the Olympics back in 1936.
Precisely three months after the opening match, 80,000 spectators poured into the stadium once again on 26 August 1972 to watch the sun-drenched opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and the entrance of the 121 participating nations.
Olympics and FIFA World Cup landmarks
The Olympiastadion has repeatedly been called upon as a stage for major national and international sporting events and has welcomed almost 50 million spectators through its turnstiles over the years. The pitch is 105 x 68 metres and has an automated sprinkler system and under-soil heating. The current normal capacity is 63,000.
Besides the Olympic Games in 1972, the Olympiastadion will be forever remembered as the site of the Germany 74 final on 7 July when hosts Germany overcame hot favourites Holland.
Reigning European champions Germany were strongly favoured going into the 1974 tournament, but mediocre performances in the group stage compared with Johan Cruyff & Company's 'Clockwork Orange' saw them soon ranked as outsiders for the ultimate contest. The Oranje team had been outstanding throughout the competition and took the lead against Germany with barely two minutes on the clock. Uli Hoeness brought down Cruyff and Johan Neeskens made no mistake from the penalty spot. Germany responded in the 25th minute courtesy of another penalty. The outstanding Paul Breitner seized the ball before tucking it away to restore parity at 1-1.
And when Gerd Muller finished off some fine work from Jurgen Grabowski and Rainer Bonhof in inimitable fashion for a 2-1 lead two minutes before the interval, Germany were world champions and the Netherlands were shell-shocked. Muller recalls: "I got back on the ball, turned and just hit it, and it went in. It was that simple. My goal winning us the World Cup was the most important event in my career, even though I scored more goals four years earlier," the legendary striker said recently. The next Dutch generation has better memories of Munich's Olympiastadion - they triumphed 2-0 there against the Soviet Union in the final of the 1988 UEFA European Championship. Marco van Basten's magical volley into the corner of the net will never be forgotten.
Club surprises
In 1993, Olympique Marseille won the Champions League final against favourites AC Milan through a solitary Basile Boli goal. Another upset followed four years later when Borussia Dortmund defeated Champions League favourites Juventus 3-1 in the final. The stadium has seen the world's best teams over the course of its history.
Renowned clubs such as Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United have all met Bayern Munich in the awe-inspiring arena, while memories of the UEFA Cup semi-final from 1988/1989 against Diego Maradona's SSC Napoli still bring a tear to the eye. From the start of the 2005/06 season, Bayern Munich have played their football at the FIFA World Cup Stadium in the north of the city.
In many ways, the successes of Bayern Munich also belong to the Olympiastadion: 18 championships, 11 DFB Cups, four European Champions Cups or Champions Leagues (1974, 1975, 1976 and 2001), the 1976 European team of the year and FIFA World Club Champions, a feat repeated in 2001.
One of the most iconic sporting venues, the Maracana was erected ahead of the 1950 FIFA World Cup TM and has since played host to some of the most memorable moments in football history.
There are few stadiums in the world that can rightly claim to be truly historic monuments as well as sporting arenas. But the Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, or the Maracana as it is popularly known, with its enormous expanse, huge seating capacity and majestic architecture, is definitely one of them.
Built in the heart of Río de Janeiro for the 1950 FIFA World Cup ™, the colossal stadium has witnessed some of the most unforgettable moments in Brazilian and world football.
Within the realm of South American football, the Maracana has taken on mythical proportions and represents an almost impregnable fortress. A good performance in itself is no guarantee of winning there. Some of Brazil's greatest ever players, Pele, Garrincha, Zico and Romario, have all graced the hallowed ground where fanatical crowds of up to 183,000 mean only the very toughest visitors survive.
Building for grandeur
With the FIFA World Cup as a pretext, the Brazilians set about building the biggest football stadium in the world. The idea was to construct an enormous structure that would provide a suitably majestic setting for the host country's victory at the 1950 tournament. And so work began in 1948 with over 10,000 labourers toiling ceaselessly under the blazing Rio sun. When the stadium was complete, the capacity exceeded the previous record holder, Hampden Park in Glasgow, by 43,000.
The A Noite newspaper reflected the immense sense of pride felt by all Brazilians at the time: "Today, Brazil has the biggest and the best stadium in the world. Now we have a truly fantastic setting where the whole world can admire our sporting grandeur and prowess."
The stadium was officially introduced to the world before the opening match of the 1950 FIFA World Cup, where the hosts would play five of their six games (one would be at the Pacaembu). Brazil, under Flavio Costa, were firm favourites to lift the trophy and approached the final contest against Uruguay with the swagger of champions-elect after easing aside Sweden and Spain 7-1 and 6-1 respectively. As the tournament was played on a final group stage basis that year, a draw was all Brazil needed in the deciding match to be crowned champions.
Maracanazolives for Brazil
The Final was played on 16 July 1950, in front of an official crowd of 174,000, although reliable sources put this figure much higher. One such person was Joao Havelange, the President of FIFA between 1974 and 1988, who recollects: "There were some 220,000 people in the stadium that day," a figure equivalent to 10 percent of Río de Janeiro's population at the time.
Things appeared to be going to plan when Friaca gave the home side the lead, but Uruguay's response was to rock Brazil to its very core. Juan Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia turned the game around for the Charrúa, handing them a 2-1 win and the title. Without doubt the saddest moment in the history of Brazilian football was met by an eerie, haunting silence in the gigantic stadium. The world's media dubbed Uruguay's shock victory as the Maracanazo, a term that is still used today whenever a visiting team wins at the stadium.
"Grown men fought back tears after the game. Some fans had left just before the end with the game all square, thinking Brazil were champions. Yet even before they reached the main gates, their dream had gone up in smoke," recalled Havelange.
As the story goes, the then President of FIFA, Jules Rimet, was making his way down to the pitch to present the trophy to the Brazilians. By the time he reached the pitch Uruguay had turned the game around and were now world champions. A little taken aback by the sudden turn of events, Rimet discarded the congratulatory speech that he had prepared for the Brazilians and simply handed the cup over to the Uruguayan hero Obdulio Varela.
Some say that Brazil have never fully avenged the defeat, but on 16 July 1989 a goal by Romario was enough to beat Uruguay in the final of that year's Copa America on the same ground.
Records, idols and a common ground
The property of the Rio de Janeiro state, the Maracana regularly hosts matches involving its 'big four' teams - Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco. The Maracana has also witnessed some of the most memorable moments in the history of Brazilian football, such as Pele's 1000th career goal for Santos against Vasco on 19 November 1969. When Pele beat the Argentine goalkeeper Edgardo Andrada with a 34th minute penalty, the ensuing pitch invasion by hundreds of fans and photographers stopped the match.
One of the most poignant and evocative chapters in the stadium's history came on 20 January 1983, when Garrincha, one of the all-time greats of Brazilian football, passed away and his remains were brought to the stadium. Thousand of fans came to pay their respects and bid a final farewell to the idol.
In 2000, 50 years after the legendary Maracanazo, the stadium hosted the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup. In an all-Brazilian affair, 73,000 supporters saw Corinthians prevail against rivals Vasco to lift the trophy.
As for its immediate future, the Maracana may well go down the same route as London's Wembley Stadium after the President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ricardo Texeira, expressed his desire to raze the old stadium and rebuild a new one with the same name. The controversial proposal was met with huge protests and was rejected outright by the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro and the majority of its citizens. The matter is far from closed, however, and any decision is sure to have repercussions throughout Brazil.
As usual, the last word falls to the great Pele: "The Maracana is a special place for all Brazilians, but especially for me. It was there that I scored my first goal for the Auriverde against Argentina, and also where I scored my 1000th professional goal years later. Some 1,700 people have played on that pitch and the aura of the place is extraordinary."
Stadiums
* Final Round of the 1950 FIFA World Cup TM (Uruguay 2-1 Brazil)
* Final Round of the 1950 FIFA World Cup (Brazil 6-1 Spain)
* Final Round of the 1950 FIFA World Cup (Brazil 7-1 Sweden)
* 1950 FIFA World Cup group matches (Five games)
* 2000 FIFA Club World Cup final (Corinthians 0-0 Vasco - Vasco won 4-3penalties)
* 2000 FIFA Club World Cup group matches (6 games)
* 1989 Copa America
* 1963 Intercontinental Cup final second leg (Santos 4-2 AC Milan)
* 1963 Intercontinental Cup final deciding match (Santos 1-0 AC Milan)
Location: Pasadena, USA
Resident club: none
Though generally associated with American football, the vast Rose Bowl provided a fitting stage on which to showcase the skills of the world's best 'soccer' players in 1994.
With no traditional venues for 'soccer', the United States was in some ways an unconventional choice to host the FIFA World Cup TM. As it turned out though, USA 94 was a tournament rich in goals and excitement, drawing huge crowds and culminating eventually in the final at the Rose Bowl - drawing the eyes of the world to this small corner of California on 17 July 1994.
Nestled at the edge of the San Gabriel mountains north of Los Angeles in the town of Pasadena, this vast arena accommodated 94,194 spectators and provided a fitting backdrop for the showpiece final between a pair of three-time world champions, Brazil and Italy. The South Americans eventually claimed their fourth FIFA World Cup in a penalty shootout after what can only be called an anticlimactic contest.
The Seleção thus finally got their hands on the FIFA World Cup trophy, having previously retained the old Jules Rimet trophy after winning it for a third time in 1970. The tournament's true stars, Romario and Roberto Baggio, were largely subdued - the latter sealing Italy's fate with his famous penalty miss - but the atmosphere was admirably upbeat. For the spectators it was a day of celebration as the Rose Bowl basked in its moment in the sun.
Not that the glare of the spotlight is anything new for a stadium situated just miles from the glitz of Hollywood. A major venue for American football - it has hosted five Super Bowls together with the annual collegiate Rose Bowl - it staged the gold medal match at the 1984 Olympic Football Tournament, with 101,799 people turning out to see France beat Brazil 2-0.
More recently, in 1999, the FIFA Women's World Cup reached its climax there, with the hosts beating China 5-4 on penalty-kicks after a 0-0 draw. Over 90,000 people were in attendance as America's women claimed their second world crown.
Completed in 1922, the Rose Bowl has increased in size over the years. Built in a horseshoe shape, capacity rose from 57,000 to 76,000 when its open south end was built on in 1929. By the 1950s it could accommodate over 100,000. The venue has correspondingly branched out from its gridiron roots. Innumerable shows and concerts have been held there, as well as the world's largest flea market, Moreover, Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy called the Rose Bowl home for seven seasons and not only were the US national team regulars there but Mexico and other Central American teams have also staged matches at the arena.
Though typically avoiding the Rose Bowl for contests against fellow CONCACAF opposition - whose Spanish-speaking support would likely to outnumber their own - the USA have played there 15 times, losing on just three occasions.
The first of these reverses came against Romania in the Americans' final group game of USA 94 on 26 June. Four days earlier, the Red, White and Blue had shocked fancied Colombia 2-1 on the same pitch. Over 93,000 people witnessed the host nation's first victory in a FIFA World Cup match since 1950.
Of the eight matches it hosted during USA 94, arguably the most memorable was Romania's thrilling 3-2 triumph over Argentina in the second round. Ilie Dumitrescu was the scourge of the Albiceleste that day, scoring twice inside the opening 18 minutes and then slotting the ball perfectly through three defenders and into the path of Gheorghe Hagi for him to add the Romanians' third. Goals from Gabriel Batistuta and Abel Balbo proved in vain as Argentina, with Diego Maradona watching helplessly from the stand, made an early exit.
The Rose Bowl also witnessed the highs and lows of tournament dark horses Sweden. It was in Pasadena that they fell in the semi-final to Romario's fifth goal of the finals, yet days later they returned to claim third place by beating Bulgaria 4-0.
The final itself may not have lived up to the high expectations but there were still scenes that stick in the memory: the beaten Baggio with head in hands, a chain of Brazilians celebrating a victory they dedicated to the late motor racing champion Ayrton Senna, the Italian veteran Franco Baresi in tears after playing the match of his life but missing his penalty-kick. To quote a banner hanging on the Rose Bowl walls, this was a day for 'Making soccer history'.
With the construction of the football-specific, but significantly smaller, Home Depot Center south of LA, the Rose Bowl may see less 'soccer' these days, but its days in the world spotlight will not be forgotten.
Location: Pasadena, USA
Club: None
Work started: 1922
Inauguration: 1 January 1923
Original capacity: 57,000
Architect: Myron Hunt
Current capacity: 92,542
Location: Milán, Italia
Resident club: AC Milan, Internazionale
The legendary home of AC Milan and Internazionale, the San Siro - or Stadio Giuseppe Meazza - is a cathedral of football which hosted matches at the 1934 FIFA World Cup TM and reinvented itself as a three-tier colossus for Italia 90.
The San Siro - or to give its official name, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza - is the proud home of two of Italy's great football clubs, AC Milan and Internazionale. It is also no exaggeration to call it a symbol for football lovers the world over, in much the same way La Scala resonates far beyond Milan for opera aficionados. Situated on the western edge of the city with a capacity of 82,955, its steep access ramps and three tiers of stands make it appear every inch an unassailable fortress.
Befitting a venue of such grandeur, the San Siro has twice hosted football's most-renowned international showpiece. The FIFA World Cups TM of 1934 and 1990 both offered up historic encounters on what is one of the sport's purest stages.
The original structure was built to a typically English model, with four separate stands and room for only 35,000 fans. In the autumn of 1926 the inaugural match was held, a Milanese derby naturally, and to this day Inter hold the bragging rights of winning that first contest 6-3. The national team paid their first visit on 20 February 1927, playing out a 2-2 draw with Czechoslovakia. However, the real international baptism came seven years later with the 1934 FIFA World Cup.
The San Siro staged three matches as the world's leading teams congregated for a second time, beginning with an exciting 3-2 triumph for Switzerland over the Netherlands. The quarter-final contest that followed saw Germany emerge 2-1 winners against Sweden but it was on 3 June 1934, that the stadium earned its place in the hearts of Italian football fans as the tournament hosts took on Austria's outstanding Wunderteam in the semi-final. Amid a stirring atmosphere on a rain-soaked pitch, Italy secured a 1-0 victory through Enrico Guaita's 19 th-minute goal. Vittorio Pozzo's Azzurri went on to win the title against Czechoslovakia in Rome, lifting the Jules Rimet trophy for the first time.
By the time FIFA World Cup football returned to the San Siro in 1990, the old ground had been given a new name - not to mention a complete facelift. In 1980, the San Siro became the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza following the death of the eponymous Italy striker who starred for both Milan clubs and remains Inter's all-time record scorer.
A decade later the Giuseppe Meazza was unrecognisable from the stadium that had hosted those FIFA World Cup matches back in 1934. The stadium had already grown with the addition of a second tier in 1956 but the most significant developments came prior to Italia 90 with the construction of a third tier and the eleven towers that support the roof.
For the opening match of the 1990 FIFA World Cup the stadium offered the world a truly remarkable spectacle: in the city of Il Duomo, here was a space-age cathedral of football. Events on the pitch were equally spectacular. Reigning champions Argentina kicked off the tournament against a Cameroon side many thought were there to merely make up the numbers. Yet sporting logic was turned on its head as, in front of 73,780 spectators, François Omam-Biyik's 67th-minute goal announced the true arrival of African football. The few supporters of the Indomitable Lions who made the long trip to Milan celebrated long into the night their team's humbling of indelible legends such as Maradona, Burruchaga and Sensini.
If the San Siro saw the shock of the tournament, it also saw the best of the eventual winners, West Germany. With three Inter stars in their team - Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matthaus and Jurgen Klinsmann - Franz Beckenbauer's side received notable vocal support from the Milanese crowd gave and featured in all but one of the six matches held in the city. It was here that the Germans saw off Yugoslavia (4-1), United Arab Emirates (5-1), Netherlands (2-1) and Czechoslovakia (1-0). The only stumble from a powerful West Germany side at the San Siro came against Colombia, who managed a creditable 1-1 draw.
Of course, it does not take a FIFA World Cup to draw world stars to the San Siro which has witnessed many memorable triumphs down the decades from both Milan clubs (who between them have won over 30 Serie A titles). If numerous star names have graced the turf in the colours of both Milan and Inter, two local families have made as great a contribution as anybody. Cesare Maldini and his son Paolo are the thread that links Milan's first European Cup win in 1963 with more recent triumphs while in the black-and-blue corner, Massimo Moratti is owner of the club where his father Angelo presided over two European Cup triumphs in the 1960s.
Home to Milan since 1926 and to Inter since 1947, the San Siro is Italian football's finest stage. From Serie A showdowns to FIFA World Cups, it has a history and stature that few stadiums on the planet can match.
In almost a century of rivalry, only one man has ever come close to bridging the chasm. Having devoted the best part of his career to Inter, 1938 FIFA World Cup winner Giuseppe Meazza pulled on the red and black shirt for two seasons as well. After his death, both teams agreed that the stadium they share should be renamed in his honour, and since 3 March 1980, it has been officially called the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. For the superstitious supporters though, it will always be the San Siro.
Arguably the most evocative venue of all, Wembley Stadium is the home of English football. Scene of England's 1966 FIFA World Cup triumph and countless epic cup finals, its Twin Towers are gone as a new arena rises in their place.
There are few places more deserving of the words 'hallowed ground' to a football fan than Wembley Stadium. Demolished in 2002 to make way for a new state-of-the-art arena, it was a veritable museum of British sporting history and famous football moments. And, more than any other stadium in the world, to play at Wembley was understood to be something special - the pinnacle of being a footballer was to ply your trade beneath its majestic Twin Towers.
Now those much-loved towers have made way for a 133-metre arch, the symbol of the new Wembley, which opened in spring 2007 - seven years after English football said goodbye to the old stadium.
Whatever the future brings at the new 90,000-seat Wembley, for the rest of the world, playing in the Empire Stadium, as it was originally known, symbolised being closer to where the game was created. For the English, an inordinate number of memories were made on that expansive Wembley pitch. It has witnessed the England team at their best and worst and was the stage on which they joined the ranks of the select few nations to have won the FIFA World Cup ™ in 1966.
The man who famously lifted the cup that celebrated 30th of July 1966 was Bobby Moore, who enjoyed more than his fair share of triumphs at the old ground. The great England defender also won the 1964 FA Cup and 1965 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup at Wembley, though in 1975 he was on the losing side for Fulham against his former side West Ham.
Fellow 1966 hero Bobby Charlton did at least as well as his captain, winning in addition the FA Cup in 1963 and the European Champion Clubs' Cup with the outstanding Manchester United team of 1968. Also in that side was Northern Ireland's greatest ever player George Best and famed Scottish marksman Dennis Law. On the other half of the pitch with Benfica was Eusebio, the legendary Portugal striker, who tasted defeat there not only in 1968 but also in the 1963 European Cup final and 1966 FIFA World Cup semi-final against the hosts.
Dutch legend Johan Cruyff thrilled and stunned over 90,000 supporters in Wembley at a 1977 friendly, which the Netherlands won 2-0. He also lifted a European Cup in the stadium as a player with Ajax in 1971 and a coach with Barcelona in 1992. Another fantastic foreigner to light up the Wembley pitch was 'The Galloping Major', Ferenc Puskas, who led Hungary in their 6-3 drubbing of England in what is surely one of the most celebrated and important friendly matches of all time. If you wanted to make a statement about football, Wembley was the best place to do it, and the 'Magical Magyars' of 1953 underlined both their greatness and England's naivety at the time.
The 'auld enemy' to the north, Scotland, were actually the first team to get the better of England at Wembley, which they did the second time the two sides met there in 1928. It was a rather notorious 5-1 hammering in fact, though England got their revenge two years later under the same towers with a 5-2 win of their own.
Wembley itself was almost as celebrated as the national team it housed, however, and domestic and European cups of all kinds were played out in the ground. The stadium hosted every FA Cup final from 1923 to 2000, every League Cup final from 1967 to 2000, as well as seven European finals (five in the European Cup and two in the Cup Winners' Cup).
Of all the great and glorious FA Cup finals, two that stand out prominently are the first, the 'White Horse" final of 1923, and the 'Matthews' final of 1953. Built to accommodate 127,000 people, the first FA Cup final reportedly saw close to a quarter of a million cram into the ground. Kick-off was delayed for 45 minutes as the pitch had to be cleared of supporters there to see Bolton take on West Ham. Among those restoring order were a mounted police officer, Constable George Scorey, and his distinctive white horse, Billy, who stood out in the throng. Bolton's first goal in a 2-0 success was scored while a West Ham player was still getting through the crowd after retrieving the ball for a throw-in.
Three decades later, one of England's most respected footballers, Sir Stanley Matthews was the star of the show in another match featuring Bolton. Matthews, then 38, was seeking an FA Cup winners' medal at the third attempt but Bolton seemed to have ruined that hope when they went 3-1 ahead. However, the 'Wizard of the Dribble' proceeded to tear apart the opposition and those in Wembley on that historic day would never stop talking about the way that Matthews' Blackpool came back to win 4-3.
Such recollections flood from Wembley unlike any other ground in the world, and because of England's significant place in the development of the beautiful game, their football memories have a collective magnetism for everyone else.
Location: London, England
Club: No club team plays at Wembley
Original work started: January 1922
Original inauguration: 23 April 1923
Original capacity: 127,000
Original architects: Sir John Simpson and Maxwell Ayerton
New capacity: 90,000
New architect: Sir Norman Foster
New work started: 30 September 2002
Location: Madrid, Spain
Inauguration: 14 December 1947
The story of the mythical Santiago Bernabeu Stadium leads inevitably to the history of its regal owners, Real Madrid, an institution which in 2000 was recognised by FIFA as the Club of the Century.
The story of the mythical Santiago Bernabeu Stadium leads inevitably to the history of its regal owners, Real Madrid, an institution which in 2000 was recognised by FIFA as the Club of the Century. Enduring greats such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Emilio Butragueno, Ronaldo, Raul and Zinedine Zidane have all graced the Bernabeu's sacred turf in the famous all-white strip.
The stadium has also hosted many memorable international matches, most notably the 1982 FIFA World Cup TM final and when La Furia Roja lifted their one and only major international trophy - at the European Championships in 1964.
Built on what at the time were the outskirts of the Spanish capital, the stadium now stands in the heart of Madrid's bustling financial district. The massive undertaking marked the beginning of an era of colossal sporting constructions across the globe. Many at the time thought that its capacity for 120,000 spectators was madness, but the property developers' gamble soon paid off.
Trophy for the Spanish cabinet
Around 100,000 fans packed the Bernabeu on 21 June to witness the final of Euro 1964 when Spain snatched a victory rife with political overtones from the Soviet Union. It was a win that Spain's fascist leader Generalissimo Franco was quick to spin a propaganda vehicle for his regime.
The dictator had withdrawn Spain from the first UEFA European Championship because of political differences with their quarter-final rivals - again the USSR - but he did appear for the showdown that afternoon. The hosts took an early lead thanks to a goal from Pereda in six minutes, but Khusainov levelled for the visitors with a superb free-kick just two minutes later. With the clock ticking down to the final whistle, and after a superb cross in from the right by Pereda, Marcelino headed home past the suddenly helpless 'Black Spider' Lev Yashin. Spain had won their first and to date, only major international trophy with the majestic Bernabeu as the backdrop.
Coming of age
The stadium underwent major remodelling and refurbishment work when Spain was chosen to host the 1982 FIFA World Cup - with the final to be hosted there. Its capacity was reduced to 90,000 and the ground was kitted out with the latest technology in the form of video scoreboards.
With the stadium filled to the rafters, Italy won their third FIFA World Cup crown at the expense of West Germany. Marco Tardelli was to earn himself a place in football lore for his wild celebration of Italy's second goal, putting the Azzurri into a lead which was to prove beyond the Germans. The joy on his face and his frantic race to the dugout to celebrate with his coach and team-mates live on in the collective memory.
Poacher supreme Paolo Rossi also got on the scoresheet for the Italians, picking up not only a winner's medal but the title of the tournament's top scorer. Another Italian legend, goalkeeper Dino Zoff, crowned a glittering career when, at the ripe old age of 40, he received the FIFA World Cup trophy from King Juan Carlos I of Spain.
White Coliseum
Santiago Bernabeu not only dreamt of a great stadium, he also envisaged a great team. The Real Madrid, which he created around the Blond Arrow Di Stefano, were eager to prove that they were worthy of their impressive home. And that is just what they did. Between 1956 and 1960, they won the first five editions of the European Cup and repeated the feat again in 1966.
The final of this famous competition has been held at the Bernabeu on three occasions. In 1957, Real Madrid overcame Fiorentina 2-0. In 1969, an unshakeable AC Milan brought Johan Cruyff's spectacular Ajax Amsterdam to their knees (4-1). And in 1980, Nottingham Forest retained their European Champions' crown by beating Hamburg (1-0).
As far as domestic competitions are concerned, as well as hosting the perennial Real Madrid-Barcelona superclasico, the Bernabeu has been home to more Copa del Rey finals than any other stadium. One never-to-be-forgotten encounter was the 2002 final, popularly known as the Centenariazo. On 6 March, which happened to be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Madrid club, northern rivals Deportivo de la Coruna were bent on spoiling the party, which they memorably did thanks to strikes from Sergio and Diego Tristan.
Five-star stadium
In 1992, four imposing towers were added to facilitate access to and from the stands. The cover over the east stand and the remodelling of this part of the ground, which now house the director's box and the press area, meant that in 2005 the stadium attained 'five-star' status in accordance with UEFA standards. Also under consideration is a project to cover the entire Bernabeu with a transparent retractable roof.
Hosted
*1982 FIFA World Cup TM final (Italy 3-1 West Germany)
*1982 FIFA World Cup second round (three matches)
*UEFA European Championship 1964
*Three European Cup finals (1957,1959 and 1980)
Mexico City's fabled Estadio Azteca has been the backdrop for some of history's most unforgettable FIFA World Cup TM moments, including Pele's last sparks of invention on the world stage, a final glimpse of the old Jules Rimet Cup and Maradona's famous goals against England.
Mexico City's fabled Estadio Azteca has been the backdrop for some of history's most unforgettable FIFA World Cup TM moments. Pele's last sparks of invention on the world stage, a final glimpse of the old Jules Rimet Cup and Maradona's famous goals against England in 1986 all took place on the lush grass of the vintage North American gem. Known simply as the Azteca, it is one of the beautiful game's truly great gathering places - and the only one to host two FIFA World Cup Final matches.
Teetering 7,200 feet above sea level, the stadium has earned a reputation for Mexico's national team as a fortress of results. In fact, Mexico only saw their FIFA World Cup TM qualifying unbeaten streak in the stadium end in 2001 when they lost 2-1 to Costa Rica.
The bowl's signature roof traps and amplifies noise from the massive upper level, filling the air with high pitch shrieks and a deafening, cacophonous din to make the Mexico City landmark, and home to domestic giants Club America, one of the loudest stadiums anywhere. Add to that its more notorious conditions, namely altitude and smog, and you have the most inhospitable of venues for visiting teams.
The perfect football stadium lines up the legends
Built in 1966 ahead of the Olympic Games in 1968 and 1970 FIFA World Cup, the cavernous, three-tiered bowl was designed to hold almost 115,000 fans. An over-the-top undertaking for the time, the Azteca is a vivid demonstration of Mexico's mad devotion to the people's game.
The full construction took nearly four years to complete. Architects Pedro Ramirez Vasquez and Rafael Mijares travelled the globe before breaking ground to catch glimpses of the finest football stadiums of the time. Trips to Buenos Aires, Madrid, Rome, Florence, Paris, London, Moscow and Warsaw provided the duo with the inspiration they needed to design what many consider to be a faultless football stadium.
In addition to being an impregnable fortress for the Mexican national team, the Azteca has witnessed some of the most electrifying and immortal FIFA World Cup moments of the last 40 years. Pele said his goodbye to the international game with a peerless performance in the 1970 Final against Italy, inspiring what many call the greatest team of all time to a masterful 4-1 victory over an Italian side infamous for their cohesive defence.
The man many consider the greatest footballer in history scored a perfect low-and-hard header in the 18th minute from Rivelino's swerving cross. Leaving Albertosi with no chance, the celebration that followed involved Pele leaping into Jairzinho's arms and has since become one of the most recognisable snapshots in football history. After a 4-1 result, the Seleção, playing a languid, sultry brand of football never to be seen again, passed the Jules Rimet Cup around the brilliant Azteca grass for what would turn out to be the last time in 24 years.
Italy had a magic moment of their own en route to the ill-fated final. After finishing 90 minutes against West Germany even at one apiece, the semi-final's extra time period will go down in the annals of history as one of the most magnificent half hours of football ever played for a mass audience. A double from 'der Bomber' Gerd Muller and goals from Tarcisio Burgnich, Luigi Riva and Gianni Rivera saw a desperate attacking session fuelled by fatigue and the Azteca's extreme altitude.
Maradona's Mundial
Of all the moments of drama played out on the Azteca's manicured stage down through the years, Maradona's magic act of Mexico 86 stares down all comers. After surviving a massive earthquake one year earlier, the stadium barely withstood the earth-shattering orchestrations of El Diego.
Soon after the Azteca witnessed Manuel Negrete slam a scintillating side-bicycle against Bulgaria home to put El Tri in the quarter-finals, the towering ground got its first glimpse of Argentine genius Diego Armando Maradona at the quarter-final stage. When the Albiceleste locked horns with bitter old enemies England it was to prove a famous day in the folklore of the FIFA World Cup as both sides of the fractured star were on display for the shrieking Azteca to savour.
In the 51st minute, Maradona turned villain in the eyes of purists and moralists everywhere. Pouncing on the end of a horrid looping back pass from Steve Hodge, the diminutive genius rose to head over veteran goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Though the English captain and keeper was getting on in years, the possibility of him being out-leaped by the diminutive Maradona seemed unbelievable - and indeed it was. Replays proved what the England bench had suspected all along: Maradona had punched the ball into the net.
In a post-match press conference, the No10 cheekily attributed the goal to divine intervention, labelling it El Mano de Dios, or the Hand of God.
His second goal of the match settled the score at 2-1 and was voted the Goal of the Century by FIFA.com users in 2002. It will forever be immortalised by a statue of the No10 that stands outside the stadium.
Three minutes after punching home his first, in a moment of profound atonement and irresistible guile, Maradona collected the ball near midfield, spun like a top and began to race at a nervous English defence. Leaving six opponents behind him on a long sprint, Maradona rounded the wrong-footed Shilton to toe-poke home at the last possible moment.
The defiant Argentine heroics did not end there either. The semi-final against Belgium saw the skipper score two more. The first a delicate, almost dainty flick, and the second another defiant dribble through a terrified backline. And, as if there were any doubt, his telepathic through ball to Jose Burruchaga in the Final confirmed Maradona's reputation as the greatest player of the day - and of his generation.
Following the final whistle the Azteca crowd spilled on to the pitch to pay homage to football's gods. As Pele had been in 1970, Maradona was left shirtless and embraced by thousands high in the Mountains that surround Mexico City.
Location: Mexico City (Mexico)
Club: CF America
Date work began: April 1962
Date of inauguration: 29 May 1966
Original capacity: 114,600
Original architects: Pedro Ramírez Vásquez y Rafael Mijares
Rasunda Stadium
The spiritual home of Swedish football, the atmospheric Rasunda stadium in Solna provided the backdrop for Pele's spectacular entrance onto the world stage in 1958 when the then 17-year-old helped inspire Brazil to FIFA World Cup TM glory.
Sweden's Rasunda Stadium is one of just two venues in the world - California's Rose Bowl being the other - that can boast of having hosted the final of both the FIFA World Cup TM and the FIFA Women's World Cup.
This football-specific stadium, located in the district of Solna some six kilometres northwest of Stockholm city centre, is famed for putting spectators right on top of the action, and it still generates a fantastic atmosphere for the ever-competitive Sweden national team.
Stockholm's footballing temple provided the launchpad for the international career of one of the world's greatest footballers. At the 1958 FIFA World Cup TM, a certain Edson Arantes do Nascimento caused a sensation when the then 17-year-old Brazilian enchanted fans around the world with his magical footwork. The youngster, better known by his pseudonym Pele, would go on to be recognised as one of the game's all-time legends.
After his goal-scoring quarter-final performance against Wales, the young Pele's finest hour came on 24 June at the Rasunda. The 27,000 fans inside the stadium could scarcely believe their eyes as the 17-year-old's famous hat-trick in a 5-2 victory over France fired his team into the final.
Just five days later on 29 June 1958, the Rasunda was again the canvas for the young prodigy's artistic skills as Brazil came up against hosts Sweden in the final. Once again, the teenager upstaged everyone else on the pitch, scoring twice in another 5-2 triumph as Brazil captured the FIFA World Cup for the very first time. Despite the obvious disappointment for the hosts, the 51,800 spectators in the sold-out stadium rose to celebrate and fervently applaud the exceptional young talent.
The Rasunda next staged a global showpiece in 1995 with the second FIFA Women's World Cup. In a repeat of the men's tournament of 1958, the Stockholm venue was chosen to host the final and Norway came out on top in a rain-soaked all-European affair, defeating Germany 2-0 to lift their first trophy in the home of their Scandinavian neighbours.
The Rasunda's history dates back to 1910 when a 12,000-capacity football ground was built on the site. In 1937 a new arena rose in its place, the Rasunda stadium proper, accommodating 40,000 spectators. Its current capacity is 36,100 but more than 52,000 fans once squeezed into the ground in September 1965 for a decisive FIFA World Cup against West Germany. Unfortunately for the Swedes, their vast support was silenced as the eventual 1966 finalists won 2-1 with goals from Uwe Seeler and Werner Kramer.
The same sides met again at the Rasunda 27 years later when Sweden took on the reigning world champions in the semi-final of the 1992 UEFA European Championship. Yet again fortune favoured the visitors as Germany prevailed 3-2 to reach the final in Gothenburg.
Today the Rasunda is the home ground of Swedish top-flight club AIK Solna and also stages derby matches involving other Stockholm sides. A homely, atmospheric old ground, it will make way in 2011 for a new 50,000-capacity national stadium featuring a retractable roof.
Location: Solna, Sweden
Club: AIK Solna
Inauguration: 17 May 1937
Original capacity: 40,000
Estadio Azteca
Mexico City's fabled Estadio Azteca has been the backdrop for some of history's most unforgettable FIFA World Cup TM moments, including Pele's last sparks of invention on the world stage, a final glimpse of the old Jules Rimet Cup and Maradona's famous goals against England.
Mexico City's fabled Estadio Azteca has been the backdrop for some of history's most unforgettable FIFA World Cup TM moments. Pele's last sparks of invention on the world stage, a final glimpse of the old Jules Rimet Cup and Maradona's famous goals against England in 1986 all took place on the lush grass of the vintage North American gem. Known simply as the Azteca, it is one of the beautiful game's truly great gathering places - and the only one to host two FIFA World Cup Final matches.
Teetering 7,200 feet above sea level, the stadium has earned a reputation for Mexico's national team as a fortress of results. In fact, Mexico only saw their FIFA World Cup TM qualifying unbeaten streak in the stadium end in 2001 when they lost 2-1 to Costa Rica.
The bowl's signature roof traps and amplifies noise from the massive upper level, filling the air with high pitch shrieks and a deafening, cacophonous din to make the Mexico City landmark, and home to domestic giants Club America, one of the loudest stadiums anywhere. Add to that its more notorious conditions, namely altitude and smog, and you have the most inhospitable of venues for visiting teams.
The perfect football stadium lines up the legends
Built in 1966 ahead of the Olympic Games in 1968 and 1970 FIFA World Cup, the cavernous, three-tiered bowl was designed to hold almost 115,000 fans. An over-the-top undertaking for the time, the Azteca is a vivid demonstration of Mexico's mad devotion to the people's game.
The full construction took nearly four years to complete. Architects Pedro Ramirez Vasquez and Rafael Mijares travelled the globe before breaking ground to catch glimpses of the finest football stadiums of the time. Trips to Buenos Aires, Madrid, Rome, Florence, Paris, London, Moscow and Warsaw provided the duo with the inspiration they needed to design what many consider to be a faultless football stadium.
In addition to being an impregnable fortress for the Mexican national team, the Azteca has witnessed some of the most electrifying and immortal FIFA World Cup moments of the last 40 years. Pele said his goodbye to the international game with a peerless performance in the 1970 Final against Italy, inspiring what many call the greatest team of all time to a masterful 4-1 victory over an Italian side infamous for their cohesive defence.
The man many consider the greatest footballer in history scored a perfect low-and-hard header in the 18th minute from Rivelino's swerving cross. Leaving Albertosi with no chance, the celebration that followed involved Pele leaping into Jairzinho's arms and has since become one of the most recognisable snapshots in football history. After a 4-1 result, the Seleção, playing a languid, sultry brand of football never to be seen again, passed the Jules Rimet Cup around the brilliant Azteca grass for what would turn out to be the last time in 24 years.
Italy had a magic moment of their own en route to the ill-fated final. After finishing 90 minutes against West Germany even at one apiece, the semi-final's extra time period will go down in the annals of history as one of the most magnificent half hours of football ever played for a mass audience. A double from 'der Bomber' Gerd Muller and goals from Tarcisio Burgnich, Luigi Riva and Gianni Rivera saw a desperate attacking session fuelled by fatigue and the Azteca's extreme altitude.
Maradona's Mundial
Of all the moments of drama played out on the Azteca's manicured stage down through the years, Maradona's magic act of Mexico 86 stares down all comers. After surviving a massive earthquake one year earlier, the stadium barely withstood the earth-shattering orchestrations of El Diego.
Soon after the Azteca witnessed Manuel Negrete slam a scintillating side-bicycle against Bulgaria home to put El Tri in the quarter-finals, the towering ground got its first glimpse of Argentine genius Diego Armando Maradona at the quarter-final stage. When the Albiceleste locked horns with bitter old enemies England it was to prove a famous day in the folklore of the FIFA World Cup as both sides of the fractured star were on display for the shrieking Azteca to savour.
In the 51st minute, Maradona turned villain in the eyes of purists and moralists everywhere. Pouncing on the end of a horrid looping back pass from Steve Hodge, the diminutive genius rose to head over veteran goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Though the English captain and keeper was getting on in years, the possibility of him being out-leaped by the diminutive Maradona seemed unbelievable - and indeed it was. Replays proved what the England bench had suspected all along: Maradona had punched the ball into the net.
In a post-match press conference, the No10 cheekily attributed the goal to divine intervention, labelling it El Mano de Dios, or the Hand of God.
His second goal of the match settled the score at 2-1 and was voted the Goal of the Century by FIFA.com users in 2002. It will forever be immortalised by a statue of the No10 that stands outside the stadium.
Three minutes after punching home his first, in a moment of profound atonement and irresistible guile, Maradona collected the ball near midfield, spun like a top and began to race at a nervous English defence. Leaving six opponents behind him on a long sprint, Maradona rounded the wrong-footed Shilton to toe-poke home at the last possible moment.
The defiant Argentine heroics did not end there either. The semi-final against Belgium saw the skipper score two more. The first a delicate, almost dainty flick, and the second another defiant dribble through a terrified backline. And, as if there were any doubt, his telepathic through ball to Jose Burruchaga in the Final confirmed Maradona's reputation as the greatest player of the day - and of his generation.
Following the final whistle the Azteca crowd spilled on to the pitch to pay homage to football's gods. As Pele had been in 1970, Maradona was left shirtless and embraced by thousands high in the Mountains that surround Mexico City.
The Netherlands' Grand Master
Very few players have earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Diego Maradona. Although he never won an international title with his country and played in only one FIFA World Cup™, Johan Cruyff is one of them. Such was his natural talent, the Dutch master enjoys an undisputed reputation as one of the game's all-time greats.
Cruyff was brought up in the shadow of Ajax Amsterdam's stadium and training ground, where his mother worked. His father died from a heart attack when he was 12. From a very early age, the young Cruyff set his sights on one thing alone: becoming a professional footballer. He began formal training when he was seven years old and, to his mother's horror, left school at 13 to concentrate exclusively on sport.
Coaching legend Rinus Michels spotted the slightly-built youth's talent, and designed an exercise programme aimed at developing his frail physique to withstand the rigours of a professional career. Cruyff broke into Ajax's first team aged 17 and two years later, in 1966, picked up the first of nine Dutch league titles destined to come his way.
He soon rose to international prominence as a fleet-footed, elegant and technically gifted footballer, who never evaded a tackle. Cruyff was a playmaker, ammunitions provider and marksman rolled into one, with an ability to time a pass that has hardly been equalled before or since. He was a leading figure off the field as well, confident and opinionated, and never one to mince his words for fear of making enemies.
The epitome of total football
For one of the sport's greatest names, Cruyff's international career was relatively short. He made his debut for the Dutch national side against Hungary in September 1966 and went on to make 48 appearances for the Oranje before quitting in October 1977 aged 30. His last act on the international stage was to help the Netherlands qualify for the 1978 FIFA World Cup™ in Argentina, though by that stage he was only called up for the key fixtures.
Cruyff's finest hour with the Netherlands came at the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. The Dutch went into the tournament with few expectations; they had only just qualified and the players had given little indication that they were comfortable with the tactics of coach Rinus Michels, brought in late in the day to replace Frantisek Fadrhonc. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place just in time, however, and by the end of the first round, the Oranje were considered the tournament favourites.
The Dutch dazzled with their total football, a style of play epitomised by Cruyff himself. Although he was fielded as centre-forward, he wandered all over the pitch, popping up wherever he could do most damage to opponents. His team-mates adapted themselves flexibly around his movements, regularly switching positions so that the tactical roles in the team were always filled but not always by the same person. This was a revolutionary concept, and it took the world by storm.
In the second round Cruyff got among the goals, netting twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Argentina, arguably the Netherlands' best performance of the tournament. The match against East Germany was a more subdued affair, won 2-0, before the Dutch faced Brazil in what was effectively a semi-final in the last of the second-round group games.
After a rough-and-tumble contest, Michels' side walked off 2-0 winners. Cruyff struck his team's second goal, a spectacular volley in the 65th minute. Meeting a centre from Ruud Krol, he wrongfooted goalkeeper Emerson Leao with his flying effort inside the near post.
Disappointments and disputes
Cruyff's brilliance was on view just seconds into the Final. From the kick-off, the Dutch passed the ball around, not allowing West Germany a touch. Orange shirt to orange shirt to orange shirt, and then the ball came to Cruyff who started a run, slipped past Berti Vogts, and was mowed down by Uli Hoeness inside the box. Johan Neeskens buried the resulting penalty before a single German had touched the ball.
The Dutch failed to press home their advantage, however, and allowed the hosts back into the game, Paul Breitner equalising from the penalty spot and Gerd Muller making it 2-1 two minutes before the break. In the second half the Oranje failed to overcome the barrier that was keeper Sepp Maier and the title was lost. Cruyff's player of the tournament award was scant consolation.
The afternoon of 7 July 1974 would be Cruyff's final appearance on the world stage. He had already announced that he would not play in the next FIFA World Cup in Argentina, mainly because he did not want to be away from his family for so long. Add a series of disagreements with the national federation and his international career soon reached a premature end.
At club level Cruyff enjoyed greater longevity. Between 1971 and 1973, he won the European Cup three times in a row with Ajax. In 1973 he moved to Spain with Barcelona, collecting the league title in his first season. After announcing his retirement in 1978, he resurfaced in May 1979 in the United States where he spent a couple of seasons before a short-lived spell with Spanish second division side Levante.
Then it was back home to Ajax in the summer of 1981 for the start of an Indian summer. After winning the league-and-cup double, in 1983 he moved to Ajax's arch-rivals Feyenoord where he inspired the Rotterdam club to do the same. In his mid-30s, Cruyff was playing some of the best football of his life. After two successive Footballer of the Year awards, the best Dutch player of all time hung up his boots once and for all in 1984.
Moving into the dugout
Although Cruyff had no formal coaching qualifications, a new career beckoned and he took over as technical director at Ajax at the beginning of the 1985/86 season. He brought silverware to the club - leading them to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987 - and by the time he quit the following year had also helped develop talented youngsters such as Dennis Bergkamp, Aaron Winter, Brian Roy and the Witschge brothers, Rob and Richard.
In 1988, in a repeat of the journey he had made as a player, Cruyff left Ajax for Barcelona where he set about reconstructing a struggling team, releasing a dozen players including German Bernd Schuster and bringing in new stars. Soon he had fashioned one of the most spectacular club sides of recent times, the so-called 'Dream Team' which won the 1992 European Cup and four domestic championships in a row.
After an eight-year relationship, Johan Cruyff and Barcelona parted company for a second time in 1996. Cruyff, who was forced to give up smoking after a bypass operation in 1991 and had recurring heart trouble in 1997, swore he would never coach again and he has kept his word.
Yet his legacy is assured. As he said himself of the Dutch team of his day: "We showed the world you could enjoy being a footballer, you could laugh and have a fantastic time. I represent the era which proved that attractive football was enjoyable and successful."
International career
Netherlands: 1966 - 1977
48 caps, 33 goals
31 wins; 9 draws; 8 losses
Honours
1974 FIFA World Cup™ runner-up
Individual
1974 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
UEFA Golden Player Netherlands
FIFA World Cup appearances
7 caps, 3 goals
5 wins; 1 draw; 1 loss
Germany 1974
Netherlands 2-0 Uruguay
Netherlands 0-0 Sweden
Netherlands 4-1 Bulgaria
Netherlands 4-0 Argentina
Netherlands 2-0 East Germany
Netherlands 2-0 Brazil
West Germany 2-1 Netherlands
Club career
1964 - 1973: Ajax
1973 - 1978: Barcelona (Spain)
1979: Los Angeles Aztecs (USA)
1980 - 1981: Washington Diplomats (USA)
1981: Levante (Spain)
1981 - 1983: Ajax
1983 - 1984: Feyenoord
Honours
Intercontinental Cup winner: 1972
UEFA European Cup winner: 1971, 1972, 1973
UEFA Super Cup winner: 1972, 1973
Dutch Championship winner: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1983, 1984
Spanish Championship winner: 1974
Dutch Cup winner: 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1983, 1984
Spanish King's Cup winner: 1978
Individual
MasterCard Team of the Century inductee
FIFA 100 inductee
European Footballer of the Year: 1971, 1973, 1974
Dutch Sportsman of the Year: 1973, 1974
North American Soccer League MVP: 1979
Dutch Championship top scorer: 1967, 1972
Coaching career
1985 - 1988: Ajax
1988 - 1996: Barcelona
Honours
UEFA European Cup winner: 1992
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner: 1987, 1989
UEFA Super Cup: 1992
Spanish Championship winner: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
Dutch Cup winner: 1986, 1987
Spanish Cup winner: 1990
"He was so mature. He was such a skinny little kid but he had such immense stamina. He could run all over the field and he could do everything: set movements up, fly down the wing, run into the penalty area, head the ball in. Left foot, right foot, anything - and such speed."
Vic Buckingham, Cruyff's first coach at Ajax
"He was certainly the best footballer Europe has produced"
Franz Beckenbauer, who led West Germany to victory over the Netherlands in the 1974 FIFA World Cup™ Final
"When you saw Cruyff off the pitch he was like a thin boy. But on the pitch he was from another planet."
Rinus Michels, Cruyff's coach with Ajax, Barcelona and the Netherlands
Pablito - Italy's outstanding opportunist
Some players control games, some are capable of outstanding pieces of skill, while others impose themselves through sheer physical strength. Paolo Rossi didn't fit into any of these categories. He was quite simply a born goalscorer. At the 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina TM and even more so at Spain 1982, the Italian allied economy of movement, perfect positioning and innate opportunism to become one of the finest strikers on planet football.
Hit by scandal
But Paolo Rossi's career could so easily have ended prematurely in 1979. Basking in the glory of his outstanding displays in Argentina, he returned to the Campionato to spearhead Perugia's attack. His season was going well, until 30 December 1978 when his side could only manage a 2-2 draw with Avellino.
After an inquiry the following year, Rossi and several team mates were accused and convicted of "fixing" the match. The Italy forward claimed that his reply to a question posed by an opposing player was wholly innocent: "2-2? If you want...". In spite of these denials, the punishment was severe: a three-year suspension, commuted to two on appeal. Aged twenty-two at the time, Rossi was cut off in his prime.
He had been spotted at an early age by Turin giants Juventus, who loaned him to Serie B outfit Como in a bid to toughen him up. But it was after switching to fellow Serie B side Vicenza that he exploded, his 21 goals during the 1976-1977 season hoisting the Biancorossi up to Serie A. He did even better the next season, scoring 24 times to seal second spot for his side, behind the Vecchia Signora.
A young starlet
Unsurprisingly, Enzo Bearzot gave him his first international cap the same year. The Rossi bandwagon was rolling. Aged just 21, he had an excellent tournament at Argentina 1978, displaying his poacher's instinct to the watching world. His tally of three goals and two assists boded well for the future.
At 1.74m and 66 kilos, he was never going to be a physical presence, but he had the knack of being in the right place at the right time. His first international goal against France at Mar Del Plata illustrates this perfectly: after ricocheting around the box, the ball rebounded off Rossi's tibia into the back of the net. Proof, if it were needed, that the man who would be dubbed "Pablito" after the tournament possessed a true striker's instinct.
Then came the suspension. Having being snapped up again by Juventus just before the ban took effect, Rossi was forced to spend two years on the sidelines. His return to the field came in April 1982 TM, a few weeks before the 1982 FIFA World Cup SpainTM. Enzo Bearzot, still coach of the Squadra Azzurra, showed his faith in Rossi's ability by taking him to Spain despite his two-year absence from action.
The legendary Italian coach later explained the thinking behind his decision: "I knew that if Rossi wasn't in Spain, I wouldn't have had an opportunist inside the penalty box. In that area, he was really good, really fast, always ready to fool defenders with his feints."
The tifosi, like the media, were sceptical, even more so after the first round. Italy scraped through on goal difference, having garnered just three draws and a paltry two goals. Rossi, a starter in all three, failed to make his presence felt.
In the second round, the Italians found themselves grouped with Brazil and Argentina. Rossi again fired blanks in the Argentina game, which Italy nevertheless won 2-1. Despite the intense media criticism, Bearzot elected to give the Tuscan one last chance.
The idol of a country
Italy needed a win against Brazil, while the Seleçao only required a draw to progress. The Azzurri emerged from an extraordinary match 3-2 victors, but it was "Pablito" who stole the limelight with a stunning hat-trick delivered in his own inimitable style. A header and two opportunistic strikes in the area. The Rossi goal machine was activated, and it was to blaze a path all the way to the final.
Two more goals came his way in the semi-final against Poland, before he chalked up his sixth strike in the final against Germany. He finished the tournament as top scorer, condemning those who had been calling for his head just a few days earlier to a large slice of humble pie. "I felt protected, and that was a decisive factor", he would later explain. Rossi's hour of glory had arrived at last. The icing on the cake came with the European Footballer of the Year award later that year.
A fond ending
Back at "Juve" with Antonio Cabrini, Marco Tardelli, Gaetano Scirea and Claudio Gentile, not to mention Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek, two more stars of the FIFA World Cup in Spain, "Pablito"'s appetite for honours was insatiable. The Italian Cup in 1983, the Scudetto and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1984, the European Cup in 1985...
After this flurry of silverware, he bade farewell to Turin to join arch-rivals AC Milan in the summer of 1985. Honours were harder to come by with the Rossoneri, but he was nonetheless selected in the squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico. He didn't play, however, and, after a brief spell with Verona, finally hung up his boots the following year at the age of 31.
Prone to injury on account of exhaustion, Rossi had opted to call it a day before playing one match too many. Something of a loner, he quickly vanished from the world of football to concentrate on his passion for deep-sea diving. However he will be remembered first and foremost as a very special striker, blessed with a tremendous goalscoring instinct and a degree of humility we may never see the like of again. Read More......
International career
Italy: 1977 - 1986
48 caps, 20 goals
25 wins; 13 draws; 10 losses
Honours
1982 FIFA World Cup™ winner
1978 FIFA World Cup fourth place
Individual
1982 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1982 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe (6 goals)
FIFA World Cup appearances
14 caps, 9 goals
8 wins; 4 draws; 2 losses
Argentina 1978
Italy 2-1 France (1 goal)
Italy 3-1 Hungary (1)
Italy 1-0 Argentina
Italy 0-0 West Germany
Italy 1-0 Austria (1)
Netherlands 2-1 Italy
Brazil 2-1 Italy
Spain 1982
Italy 0-0 Poland
Italy 1-1 Peru
Italy 1-1 Cameroon
Italy 2-1 Argentina
Italy 3-2 Brazil (3)
Italy 2-0 Poland (2)
Italy 3-1 West Germany (1)
Mexico 1986
Not used
Club career
1975 - 1976 Como
1976 - 1979 Vicenza
1979 - 1980 Perugia
1982 - 1985 Juventus
1985 - 1986 AC Milan
1986 - 1987 Verona
Honours
UEFA European Cup winner: 1985
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner: 1984
UEFA Super Cup: 1984
Italian Championship winner: 1982, 1984
Italian Cup: 1983
Individual
FIFA 100 inductee
European Footballer of the Year: 1982
Italian Championship top scorer: 1978
"A draw would have been enough for us to qualify for the semi-finals, but Rossi was in a state of grace. He scored an astonishing hat-trick. We tried everything but there was nothing we could do about it."
Falcao, Brazilian standout at the 1982 FIFA World CupTM
"All the best Brazilians were in Spain, I have a clear conscience on that. We just made the mistake of trying to mark Rossi man-to-man."
Tele Santana, Brazil coach at Spain 1982
"He had been very good alongside Roberto Bettega at the 1978 World Cup, but Bettega wasn't there anymore. Rossi was the only one left, and I can honestly say that if I'd had another alternative I wouldn't have called him up. It was a huge risk gambling on him being able to get into the rhythm of such a demanding tournament and on his desire to make up for past mistakes. But I needed a goalscorer, someone to poach for goals in the box in a way that suited the style of play I wanted. I knew that if I didn't take him, I wouldn't have a player capable of causing trouble in the area, a crucial role in any team.
"The fact it took Rossi some time to explode into life during the tournament was partly due to our physical preparations, which prioritised fitness at the expense of speed. At the start, he was sluggish, but he kept getting better. In the area, he was extraordinary: very lively, always ready to pounce on the slightest mistake and never ceasing to put defenders under pressure. Ultimately, that translated into glory for himself and the team."
Enzo Bearzot, Rossi's coach at the 1978, 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.
The wounded 'Little Bird' who soared for Brazil
Unpredictable, magical, elusive and explosive are just some of the many adjectives people have used to describe Brazil's beloved Garrincha, one of the best players ever to wear the famous canarinha jersey. With his legendary dribbling skills and keen eye for goal, he helped the South American giants to successive FIFA World Cup ™ triumphs in 1958 and 1962.
If Pele is regarded by Brazilians as the most technically gifted player of all time, then Garrincha will always be remembered for his impudence and inventiveness. Daring, spirited and entertaining, he brought smiles to the faces of spectators the world over.
'The Chaplin of football'
But life for Manoel Francisco dos Santos was not always easy. His childhood was a constant struggle as he faced huge obstacles in pursuing his love of football. Born with one leg a full six centimetres shorter than the other in Pau Grande, a poor sector of the Rio de Janeiro state, the odds were stacked against him from the start.
In later years, the youngster ignored medical advice to quit the game despite having a badly distorted leg from corrective surgery. Small for his age, his sister Rosa began to call him Garrincha, a north-eastern name for the wren, a small bird popular in Pau Grande. The nickname stuck.
With almost superhuman perseverance, the 'Little Bird' stopped at nothing to become a professional footballer. In 1953, after being rejected by several teams because of his abnormal physique, the Brazilian was finally taken on by Botafogo on the recommendation of their player Gentil Cardoso, who had earlier been humbled by the bow-legged youngster in a practice game.
Playing professionally for the first time, the Brazilian quickly began exhibiting his full repertoire of tricks on the wings, and was soon beating his rivals for fun with his meandering runs and unbelievable changes of pace. Flair-loving Brazilian supporters quickly came to adore his selection of dribbles, feints and shimmies, which could infuriate even the best of defenders. It was in this era that he earned the monikers, 'The Chaplin of football' and 'The joy of the people'.
What planet is Garrincha from?
It was not long before Garrincha broke into the national team, making his debut on 18 September 1955 in a 1-1 draw against Chile. In all, his international record was 50 caps and 12 goals, and he scored five times in his dozen FIFA World Cup finals matches.
Just five years after senior debut for Botafogo, he became a world champion at Sweden 1958 - the first of Brazil's five world titles. It was there that he became part of a formidable attacking unit that included Didi, Zagallo, Vava and a precocious 17-year-old called Pele, who was just starting to grab the headlines. Vicente Feola's Auriverde picked up other accolades, one of which was becoming the first team to win the competition on a foreign continent.
Garrincha's finest hour would come four years later at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile. The winger was voted player of the tournament after coach Aymore Moreira put additional weight on his shoulders in the absence of the injured Pele. He rewarded his gaffer's faith with a series of magical displays and four crucial goals, which made him the tournament's joint top scorer.
"What planet is Garrincha from?" asked Chile's Mercurio newspaper after Brazil had eliminated the hosts in the semi-final. After winning a second FIFA World Cup in succession, Garrincha's reputation soared both at home and abroad, with many people now considering him the second greatest player in his country's history behind Pele.
The maestro's descent
His last appearance on the world stage was at England 1966, where he showed sparks of the genius for which he was famous. Unfortunately for him, Vicente Feola's Brazilian side were a rather pale shadow of the team that had won the trophy four years earlier in Chile and were eliminated in the first round after losing to Hungary and Portugal. Garrincha played in Brazil's first two games, scoring in their only win over Bulgaria.
The phenomenon that was Garrincha transcended football, with the player figuring unwittingly in the works of many Latin American writers. Eduardo Galeano, one of the continent's most eminent writers and a self-confessed football lover described him in Soccer in Sun and Shadow:
"When he was on form, the pitch became a circus. The ball became an obedient animal, and the game became an invitation to party. Garrincha would shield his pet, the ball, and together they would conjure up some wonderful tricks that would have the spectators in stitches. He would hop over her, and she would bounce over him. Then she would hide before he would escape only to find her already running in front of him. Along the way, his pursuers would crash into each other in their attempts to stop him."
As for his club career, Garrincha spent 12 seasons at his beloved Botafogo, where he won two Rio-São Paulo tournaments, three Carioca State Championship titles and scored close to a quarter-century of goals. He moved to Corinthians in 1966, before flitting between teams within his homeland and having a brief spell in Colombia, though by then he was evidently past his prime.
'Angel with bent legs'
Life dealt a cruel hand to the irrepressible 'Angel with bent wings' (as he was called by a Brazilian poet), who having overcome his physical defects seemed powerless to control his addictions and vices. The player's ability to escape from trouble on the pitch deserted him after dark when his self-confessed alcoholism and partying took their toll in the latter stages of his career.
Suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, the virtuoso died an early death at the age of 49. His remains were shown in the Maracana stadium, where thousands of fans paid their last respects. His coffin was draped in a Botafogo flag as he was led to his final resting place in Pau Grande.
In the cemetery where Garrincha is buried there is a small memorial expressing Brazil's love for the two-time world champion. It reads: "He was a sweet child / He spoke with the birds."
International career
Brazil: 1955 - 1966
50 caps, 12 goals
43 wins; 6 draws; 1 loss
Honours
1958 FIFA World Cup™ winner
1962 FIFA World Cup winner
Individual
1962 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1962 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe (4 goals, joint-winner)
FIFA World Cup appearances
12 caps, 5 goals
10 wins; 1 draw; 1 loss
Sweden 1958
Brazil 2-0 USSR
Brazil 1-0 Wales
Brazil 5-2 France
Brazil 5-2 Sweden
Chile 1962
Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Brazil 0-0 Czechoslovakia
Brazil 2-1 Spain
Brazil 3-1 England (2 goals)
Brazil 4-2 Chile (2)
Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia
England 1966
Brazil 2-0 Bulgaria (1)
Brazil 1-3 Hungary
Club Career
1953 - 1966: Botafogo
1966 - 1967: Corinthians
1968: Atletico Junior (Colombia)
1968 - 1969: Flamengo
1972: Olaria
Honours
Carioca State Championship winner: 1957, 1961, 1962 (with Botafogo)
Rio-São Paulo Tournament winner: 1962, 1964 (with Botafogo)
Rio-São Paulo Tournament winner: 1966 (with Corinthians)
Individual
MasterCard Team of the Century inductee
"One day he came home with a little bird in his hand and I said to him: 'Look, it's just like you. It flies around a lot, but it's no good for anything. It's a garrincha (little bird)'. The name stuck for the rest of his life."
Rosa dos Santos, Garrincha's elder sister
"When he came to Botafogo for a trial, he put the first ball he touched straight between my legs. A lot of people thought I would be offended but they were wrong. I told the directors there and then that they had to sign him. Fortunately, they listened to me."
Nilton Santos, Garrincha's team-mate for Botafogo and Brazil
"I had some preconceptions when it came to Garrincha. The psychologist told me he had a few problems, but I just accepted them and discovered that players very often see what's happening out on the pitch better than the coach."
Vicente Feola, Brazil coach at the 1958 FIFA World Cup TM
"Garrincha was a phenomenal player. Without him by my side, I would never have won three World Cups over the course of my career."
Pele, Garrincha's team-mate at the 1958 and 1962 FIFA World Cups
"Garrincha was too unpredictable, even for us his team-mates. But there was no doubt he was the key to winning games for us. Of course he had a great team around him, but you simply can't ignore his incredible talent."
Mario Zagallo, Garrincha's team-mate at the 1958 and 1962 FIFA World Cup finals
"Garrincha, who is still regarded as the best right-sided forward in the history of the game, said I was the tightest marker he played against. You can't imagine how happy it makes me to think that the best player in the world said I was the best at marking him out of the game. It's a real shame he's no longer with us."
Coronel, Vasco player in the 1950s
"Garrincha is an extremely important figure in popular Brazilian culture. I always explore popular figures in my work. He was a romantic with a passion for football, Brazil and women."
Milton Alencar, director of the film Garrincha -Estrela Solitaria (Lone Star)
"When he was out there, the pitch was a circus ring, the ball a tamed animal, the match a party invitation. Garrincha nurtured his pet, the ball, and together they created such mischief that people almost died laughing. He jumped over it, it gambolled around him, hid itself away, skipped off and made him run after it. And on the way, his opponents ran into each other."
Eduardo Galeano, Uruguayan writer, in his book Fútbol a Sol y Sombra (Football in the Sun and Shade)
Der Kaiser, the brains behind Germany
Beckenbauer is without doubt one of the greatest players and coaches of all time. He redefined the role of libero, lifted the FIFA World CupTM as captain in 1974, before repeating the feat as a manager in 1990.
The son of a general manager of a postal depot, he began his career at the age of nine in the youth team of SC Munchen 06, before joining Bayern Munich in 1958. He made his debut for Bayern on the left wing, against FC St. Pauli on 6 June 1964. In only his first season in the regional league, he helped the club achieve promotion to the Bundesliga.
Franz celebrated his first international cap on 26 September 1965, aged 20, and went on to play in three FIFA World Cups. The young Beckenbauer made his first finals appearance in 1966, scoring two goals in a 5-0 victory over Switzerland in his first game. Although West Germany lost in that legendary Final to hosts England at Wembley, more than 30 years later, Beckenbauer can reflect positively on events: "Being a runner-up in the FIFA World Cup isn't too bad for a young player", Beckenbauer told FIFA.com.
His second tournament in Mexico in 1970 was also memorable as he played in the semi-final against Italy with a dislocated shoulder, carrying his injured arm in a sling. However, his dedication went unrewarded with the Azzurri running out 4-3 winners, leaving the Germans to settle for third place.
Nevertheless, Beckenbauer still has fond memories of Mexico. "1970 was a magnificent tournament. The fans were fanatical and stadium security wasn't quite so intense in those days. You could still do pretty much what you wanted to. There was just one armed policeman who sat outside the entrance and watched the whole ground. Obviously, that would be unthinkable today. Back then, it was simply more relaxed. The games in Mexico were colourful. The country laughed and football danced," he recalled.
Glory on home soil
Then in 1974 came Beckenbauer's finest hour. By now, he was playing in the position he revolutionised - as a libero behind the defence. He organised the team from the back, but also advanced when his side were on the attack. It was in his nature to go forward; he simply could not stop himself.
The 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany was something extra-special for Beckenbauer and his team. From the first whistle, the home fans demanded nothing less than victory. The high expectations were something the captain was all too aware of: "When you are hosts, there is obviously twice the pressure, because everybody expects you to win".
Collectively, Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner, Wolfgang Overath, Gerd Muller and the rest of the team withstood the pressure to make West Germany champions for the second time. After their 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, Beckenbauer became the first captain to lift the brand new FIFA World Cup trophy after Brazil had retained the Jules Rimet trophy in 1970.
In 1977, Beckenbauer left Bayern Munich to join the New York Cosmos. By the time he left Munich he had won every major honour with "his" Bayern: the Intercontinental Cup, a hat-trick of UEFA European Cups, four German Championships and four German Cups. He hoped to find a new challenge in the USA's professional league, as well as earn a good living. From a sporting point of view, however, the switch stateside did not further his development: "Football-wise it was a non-starter" he said.
No end to the success
The move across the Atlantic also brought an end to his international career. Since he was plying his trade abroad, he was no longer considered for selection by West Germany. In total, he made 103 appearances for his country, becoming the first ever German player to break through the 100-cap barrier.
In 1982, he made his comeback in the Bundesliga at 35, playing for one season with Hamburg. He retired from playing in 1983 after another spell with the New York Cosmos.
In July 1984, after the failure of Jupp Derwall at that year's UEFA European Championship, Beckenbauer was installed as West Germany's national team head coach. His first major success from the dugout was at Mexico 1986, where he led his team to the Final. Although Argentina won the trophy, Beckenbauer had come of age as a coach.
At Italy 1990, West Germany became undefeated world champions, and when Andreas Brehme converted the only goal from the penalty spot in the Final against Argentina, Beckenbauer secured his place in the record books as the first man to win the FIFA World Cup as captain and as coach. Winning the trophy as coach remains the pinnacle of Franz Beckenbauer's football career: "I would say 1990 in Italy was the most important to me, it doesn't come any better than managing a side to victory," he has been quoted as saying.
Beckenbauer was the president of Bayern Munich until 1998, when he was made the vice-president of the German Football Association. And after helping to return the sport's showpiece event to his homeland, he successfully oversaw the 2006 FIFA World Cup as the chairman of its Organising Committee.
International career
West Germany: 1965 - 1977
103 caps, 14 goals
69 wins; 19 draws; 15 losses
Honours
1974 FIFA World Cup™ winner
1966 FIFA World Cup runner-up
1970 FIFA World Cup third place
1972 UEFA European Championship winner
1976 UEFA European Championship runner-up
Individual
1974 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
FIFA World Cup appearances
18 caps, 5 goals
14 wins; 1 draw; 3 losses
England 1966
West Germany 5-0 Switzerland (2 goals)
West Germany 0-0 Argentina
West Germany 2-1 Spain
West Germany 4-0 Uruguay (1)
West Germany 2-1 Soviet Union (1)
England 4-2 West Germany
Mexico 1970
West Germany 2-1 Morocco
West Germany 5-2 Bulgaria
West Germany 3-1 Peru
West Germany 3-2 England (1)
Italy 4-3 West Germany
Germany 1974
West Germany 1-0 Chile
West Germany 3-0 Australia
East Germany 1-0 West Germany
West Germany 2-0 Yugoslavia
West Germany 4-2 Sweden
West Germany 1-0 Poland
West Germany 2-1 Netherlands
Club career
1964 - 1977: Bayern Munich
1977 - 1980: New York Cosmos
1980 - 1982: Hamburg
1983: New York Cosmos
Honours
Intercontinental Cup winner: 1976
UEFA European Cup winner: 1974, 1975, 1976
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner: 1967
German Championship winner: 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982
North American Soccer League winner: 1977, 1978, 1980
DFB German Cup winner: 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971
Individual
FIFA Order of Merit: awarded in 2004
MasterCard Team of the Century inductee
FIFA 100 inductee
European Footballer of the Year: 1972, 1976
German Footballer of the Year: 1966, 1968, 1974, 1976
North American Soccer League MVP: 1977
Coaching career
Club teams
1990 - 1991 Marseille
1993 - 1994, 1996: Bayern Munich
National teams
1984 - 1990: West Germany
Honours
1990 FIFA World Cup winner
1986 FIFA World Cup runner-up
1994 German Championship winner
1996 UEFA Cup winner
"Franz Beckenbauer symbolises football, highlights and a winning mentality. On top of that, he brought the World Cup to his own country. We're proud of him."
Boris Becker, German tennis great.
"He's a great mate. As a player, he was marked out by intelligence rather than strength. He was more Brazilian than German as a footballer."
Pele, iconic Brazilian and Beckenbauer's team-mate at the New York Cosmos.
"The message he sent out was: 'Don't even try it. Coming out to face me is a waste of your time.'"
Sir Bobby Charlton
"When I played football, I was always a forward for reasons of conviction and passion. Best of all, centre forward - surging towards the goal. Being a defender, centre-half, or even a sweeper was not for me. Others were more talented and more suited to that. That applied to one person in particular. I mean Franz Beckenbauer. As a footballer, he was blessed with so much talent and ability, that he embodies the perfect sweeper to this very day. Franz Beckenbauer was an exceptional player, who made his mark on football during the time that he played. He has shaped this sport, the language and rules of which are understood throughout the world, and interpreted it in a new way. He has given the "Number 5" a new dimension and from the classic sweeper has created the playing sweeper, who intervenes proactively in the offensive game of his team. Franz Beckenbauer was without doubt a reformer as regards football, if you like. I am certain, that without him, we could hardly have brought the 2006 FIFA World Cup to Germany. He was world champion in 1974 as a player, in 1990 he was world champion as team manager and in 2006 the chief organiser of the World Cup."
Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder
"He's the hero of our nation. It hasn't happened by chance, he's earned it by hard work."
Gunter Netzer, former Germany international and team-mate
"Simplicity is the secret of his success. This man, with so much ability and an extraordinary career path, is the same lad he always was. Plenty of them go off the rails, but not him."
Dettmar Cramer, former coach
"He's one of the all-time greats alongside Alfredo di Stefano or Pele."
Sepp Herberger, German FIFA World Cup winning coach in 1954
"A truly impressive person. If you don't like him, there's something wrong with you."
Michel Platini, UEFA President
"He's a gentleman, a perfect Englishman. Unfortunately, he's not English."
Kevin Keegan, former England international and team-mate in Hamburg
