Jairzinho (foreground)celebrates after scoringagainst Italy to complete hisrecord-setting streak of goalsin all six Brazil games.
44 / Soccer America / February 18, 2002
February 18, 2002 / Soccer America / 45
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Brazil takes home the trophyBy most standards, Mexico 1970 was the best of the 16 World Cups.
Sure, there are some dissenters, but it produced arguably the
greatest game, goal, save and champion in World Cup history.
Brazil retired the Jules Rimet Trophy after winning its third title.
Pele returned for his fourth and final World Cup, leading the Brazil-
ians to six straight wins. They are the only champion to win every
game it played (penalty picks excluded) since World War II.
Pele was surrounded by a superb supporting cast. Jairzinho
scored in all six games, making him one of two players (along
with Frenchman Just Fontaine in 1958) to score in six games in a
World Cup.Brazil's last goal in its 4-1 win over Italy in the Italy was a work of
art, perhaps the best collective effort in World Cup history: Clodo-
aldo to Jairzinho to Pele to Carlos Alberto, running onto Pele's
blind pass and scoring with a blistering shot.
Many consider England goalie Gordon Banks' save on Pele's
header the 10th minute of a first-round match the most spectac-
ular in World Cup history.
The 1970 World Cup also produced the most dramatic game. The
Italy-West Germany semifinal is matched only by the West
Germany-France semifinal 12 years later.
Italy-West Germany was set to go down as a 1-0 victory for the
Italians until Karl-Heinz Schnellinger's goal in the 90th minute sent
it into overtime. Extra time, memorable for the image of German
star Franz Beckenbauer playing with his arm heavily taped to his
chest after suffering a dislocated shoulder, produced five goals in
16 minutes: Germany 2-1 in the 95th minute, 2-2 tie in the 98th,
Italy 3-2 in the 104th, 3-3 tie in the 110th, Italy 4-3 in the 111th.
Atmosphere? For the enthusiasm of the Mexican fans, the 1970
World Cup is remembered as the most beautiful celebration of
soccer on a world stage.
— Paul Kennedy(Next issue: West Germany shows its resiliency.)