Date 17 June 1970 Attendance 102,444 | Event 1970 FIFA World Cup | |
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Venue Estadio Azteca, Mexico City Referee Arturo Yamasaki Maldonado (Mexico) Location Estadio Azteca, Coyoacán, Mexico | ||
The semi-final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup between Italy and West Germany is known as the "Game of the Century" (Spanish: Partido del Siglo; Italian: Partita del secolo; German: Jahrhundertspiel). It was played on 17 June 1970 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Italy won 4–3 after five goals were scored in extra time, the only FIFA World Cup game in which this has happened.
Contents
The match
Italy led for the majority of the match, after Roberto Boninsegna scored in the 8th minute. Germany's Franz Beckenbauer dislocated his shoulder after being fouled, but stayed on the field carrying his dislocated arm in a sling, as his side had already used their two permitted substitutions.
Defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger equalized for West Germany during injury time at the end of the second half. German television commentator Ernst Huberty exclaimed "Schnellinger, of all people!" (in German: "Schnellinger! Ausgerechnet Schnellinger!"), since Schnellinger played in Italy's professional football league, Serie A, at AC Milan (for whom he rarely scored) and previously for A.S. Roma and A.C. Mantova. It was also his first and only goal in 47 matches for the national team. The second half ended with the scores deadlocked at 1–1, and at this point the match became a battle of endurance during the two periods of extra time.
Gerd Müller put Germany ahead in the 94th minute, but Tarcisio Burgnich tied it back up four minutes later and Luigi Riva put the Italians back in front. Gerd Müller scored again for West Germany to tie up the score at 3–3. Yet, as television cameras were still replaying Müller's goal, Italy's Gianni Rivera scored the game-winning goal in the 111th minute. Being left unmarked near the penalty area, Rivera connected a fine cross made by Boninsegna, clinching the victory for Italy at 4–3.
Consequences
Germany won 1–0 against Uruguay for third place.
The energy expended in winning the hard-fought match may have tired out the Italian players in the subsequent final; the Azzurri were roundly defeated by Brazil four goals to one. Brazil thus became the first team to win three world football championships and, according to the rules set out by Jules Rimet they were permanently assigned the Jules Rimet Trophy, which from the 1974 world championship was substituted by the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Had Italy managed to prevail the inverse would have happened since both teams had two Rimet Cup wins under their belts.
Monument
There is a monument commemorating this match in front of the Azteca. On a plaque the following sentence is engraved: El Estadio Azteca rinde homenaje a las selecciones de: Italia (4) y Alemania (3) protagonistas en el Mundial de 1970, del "Partido del Siglo" 17 de junio de 1970. English: The Azteca Stadium pays homage to the National Teams of Italy (4) and Germany (3), who starred in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, the "Game of the Century". June 17th 1970.