Brazil, with Pele back – after swearing never to play again due to being kicked around in the 1966 World Cup – and back at his best, were magnificent. They beat holders England 1-0 in the group stage, despite Gordon Banks’s now legendary save from Pele, and roared into the knockout stages with Jairzinho on fire. The Banks save, however, is part of footballing folklore.
“From the moment I headed it, I was sure it had gone in,” said Pele, who would go on to lift the trophy with Brazil at Mexico 1970. “After I headed the ball, I had already began to jump to celebrate the goal. Then I looked back and I couldn’t believe it hadn’t gone in. I have scored more than a thousand goals in my life and the thing people always talk to me about is the one I didn’t score.”
With the imperious Franz Beckenbauer and the deadly Gerd Muller in their ranks, West Germany gained revenge for their defeat in the 1966 final by recovering from 2-0 down to England to win 3-2 after extra time in the last eight. Their semi-final match with Italy was just as dramatic, the Italians eventually coming through 4-3 in extra-time after another seesaw encounter. Brazil marched past Peru in the quarter-finals and then saw off Uruguay 3-1 in the semis.