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.)