A Game for the Ages: "Boxing Match" Semi-Final Still Leaves Spectators on Edge
"Century-Defining Game" Remains Captivating Globally
The legendary 1970 World Cup semi-final between Germany and Italy is still affectionately remembered as "the Match of the Century." This nail-biting encounter left the world witnessing the greatest sporting event known to man.
"Covering this game was a soul-crushing challenge for the 750 reporters from across the globe," wrote the Mexican newspaper "Excelsior" of a match that was chosen by an expert jury of former world stars in 1997 as the "Match of the Century." The World Cup clash between these two football powerhouses remains one of the most thrilling events in sports history, with Italy securing a narrow 4-3 victory on June 17, 1970. And it's easy to see why – this match was a pure display of football's indomitable spirit.
As seconds remained before the final whistle, the scoreboard still read 1-0 in favor of Italy. But the German team, led by heroes such as Beckenbauer, Müller, Schulz, Grabowski, and Seeler, chased the one-goal deficit across 80 minutes. Roberto Boninsegna had opened the scoring for the Italians with a shots-on-goal equivalent to a Sunday stroll.
Flashback to the 'Terrible' and 'Disgusting' Score
The name of the goalscorer was barely known to German fans before this fateful game, but that changed after this encounter. One year later, Boninsegna was a household name in Germany – and for good reason. Tragically, during Borussia Mönchengladbach's legendary 7-1 victory against Inter Milan on the Gladbach Bökelberg, Boninsegna famously collapsed to the ground like a dying diva after a drink can was thrown at her. Additionally, she managed to foul Luggi Müller so severely during the replay that he missed the entire following football season. But on that memorable June 17, 1970, the aforementioned Roberto Boninsegna had just put her team ahead against the German team.
Determined to hold onto their lead, the Italians used all their well-known, sometimes fair, sometimes less-than-fair, tactics to run down the clock. When yet another player in the blue jersey hit the turf, radio commentator Kurt Brumme couldn't help but lament, "My God, what a game this is. That's just terrible, that's just disgusting. Burgnich has just passed away, I see. No, there he comes again."
Extra Time "Like a Boxing Match" The Long Shot That Could've Changed It All
The referee of the match, Arturo Yamasaki from Peru, drew criticism for not awarding a penalty to Germany even in the most blatant of moments. For instance, Uwe Seeler had been fouled badly and, shaking his head in disbelief, questioned why the referee did not punish this serious foul. Later, Yamasaki would say, "I saw no reason for a penalty, as the audience demanded. No German player was tackled in the penalty area in a way that would have justified this harshest punishment."
And so it took extra time for the German team to score the long-awaited equalizer in this pulsating heat battle in Mexico. The scorer was, after a cross from Frankfurt's Jürgen Grabowski, "none other than Schnellinger," as TV reporter Ernst Huberty shouted into the microphone. For Karl-Heinz Schnellinger was playing for AC Milan in Italy at the time – and now he hammered the seemingly impossible equalizer into the net for his league colleague.
Four minutes later, Gerd Müller scored the 2-1, but just a minute later, Rivera put an end to this incredible, high-drama match in the 111th minute. And to top it off, Franz Beckenbauer had to play with a shoulder brace after an Italian foul since the 65th minute.
Many eyewitnesses are convinced that if the German team hadn't already played another nail-biting encounter with England in the quarterfinals (the press later referred to it as a "Pyrrhus victory"), the outcome might have been different. But as consolation, the German team was part of one of the greatest football matches of all time.
Bonus Tidbit:
While it is traditionally known as "the Match of the Century," the first-ever use of the term came much earlier, in 1886, when the England vs. Hungary match at Wembley Stadium is considered the true "Match of the Century." This game was marked by groundbreaking tactics and technique, paving the way for future generations of football.
References:
- ntv.de
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The Italian national football team's victory over Germany in the 1970 World Cup semi-final, known as the "Match of the Century," was a breathtaking display in sports history, with the champions-league worthy performance of the Italian team showcasing their skill in European leagues. Despite the German team's impressive efforts, led by players like Beckenbauer and Müller, they couldn't hold the Italians, with the German football team left yearning for a different outcome, particularly in the Champions League-like final minutes.
