In that self-imposed desire to see the last fifteen World Cup finals again, we started with England ’66 and continued with Mexico ’70. The one Brazil 4 – Italy 1, which we watched in real time completely ecstatically fifty-three years ago, when the novelty of the satellite brought us the emotion “live and direct”. Going forward, for at least two decades, maybe more, we’ve argued — as have many others — that the definition of Mexico ’70 was the most extraordinary clash in soccer as a whole. It has even been described as the party of the century. Well, we just went back to take a good look at it and… let’s just say it without anesthesia: it was a huge disappointment. We lasted until the end only because we proposed it as a journalistic exercise: to cool the time. Otherwise, it was an ordinary, bland game, which caught our eye at the time, because football is passionate at all times, but it is very far from the current vibrant game. And, above all, many flat individual performances in names we appreciate, such as Rivelino, Tostão.

Football modeled after 1966

Nor can a player be classified by match. And let us remind you, the finale is never too bright: there is a lot of slowness, there is tension and caution. And that after that there were 53 years of evolution; every day something is done to improve the game. It is logical that today’s football has surpassed that of 1970.

The king of irony

We filled four pages of commentary with Brazil and Italy. It’s not about deserving at all; it happens that memory is fragile and nostalgia deceives, deforms, grows. It was another football, much slower, without ratings. During the 91 minutes of the final, Carlos Alberto had a track 10 meters wide and 105 meters long, without anyone bothering him; he could have climbed up and gone over fifty times if he wanted; He did it only three times, one of them with his beautiful goal in the 86th minute, when Italy was already upset, nervous. Every time Carlos Alberto took the ball and advanced, we thought: “And Facchetti, where is he…? Did you go to buy cigarettes…? How did the Italian coach not order one of his players to minimally cover the departure of that opponent…?

Stop time…!

It is difficult to list everything we strive for in one column. Gerson was by far the most outstanding, not only the setter, but also the commander of his team, the leader, the thinker, the distributor, but he took the ball and there was no Italian nearby, not even within seven or eight meters. He carried the ball and enjoyed the scenery. In addition, there was time to score a second goal (a beautiful left-footed shot from a meter outside the penalty area) which made it 2:1 and broke the mood in Italy. Because until then, in the 66th minute, the game was very even, and Italy had the best entries, two from Gigi Riva and one from Domenghini, a penetrating right midfielder who was one of the best of the season. Azzurri alongside the skilled De Sisti and the cerebral Sandro Mazzola. Moreover, Everaldo deflected Domenghini’s shot that missed the stick by a millimeter and could have been a partial victory for the Europeans. Paragraph for Gigi Riva: maybe we should not say “great left winger”, but “great left winger in his time”.

Estupiñán and ten others

The concept of pressure did not exist yet. No one interfered or interfered with the opponent’s actions until he approached the area. There, yes. Apart from their four goals, Brazil had barely two more scoring opportunities: Rivelino hit the crossbar with his right foot after a free kick and with his left foot from the same number 11 who took down Albertosi from a superb ball. Then he came four times and converted all four, extremely efficient, very Brazilian. It was much more even than the score suggests.

The only truly spectacular game was Pelé’s goal, thanks to his sensational, technical and relentless header, and above all his incredible leap without a rush, which beat a 1.83m man like Burgnich in the air. about the king He was ten centimeters shorter (1.73) and a head and a half taller. We’ve seen it a hundred times and it still amazes us. Then, there are no maneuvers worth mentioning. Carlos Alberto’s goal was nice, especially because of the precision of his speed shot. And period. You don’t see any ball juggling. The rest, bland, and that they had enough time to maneuver. And not because it was played slowly and comfortably was it more precious; on the contrary, now it is faster and more technical, you can see beautiful goals and matches.

Apart from the unusual and clumsy cleaning with his fists, Félix seemed to us to be a correct, composed and efficient goalkeeper. Everaldo normal side; Brito and Piazza, the centers, did not stand out. Clodoaldo good handling and driving; however, he made a serious mistake that cost Italy a temporary draw. The non-existent and unrelated Tostão; he only showed up doing some misdemeanors. Poor Jairzinho; Almost without entering the game, he scored a goal by taking the ball in front of him, which Pelé magnificently placed on his head. The unproductive Rivelino, who made six free throws, two of which we have already mentioned and four more that went fifteen to twenty meters from the goal, something incredible, rough.

And Pelé… In his natural position of 9 in that area; He wore the number 10 on his shirt, but was clearly a centre-forward. He touched the ball very little (six) and didn’t make a single mistake (he stood out more with strength than skill), but he ruled in the victory: first his anthological header that opened the score, then a perfect assist that served Jairzinho at 3-1 and, to decorate the victory, a delicious pass to Carlos Alberto in the fourth scream. Devastating power and all for the team, not for him. A panther always on the lookout, but a thinking cat with masterful technique. Unheard of: he made two free throws in the sky, we’ve never seen shots this wide.

Rudi Glöckner, from extinct East Germany (we reluctantly tell him democratic: there were no more totalitarian regimes), he generally led well. He took eight free throws for Brazil, very excessive. Permissive, soft as arbitration used to be. There were some difficult entries from the back: from Burgnich to Pelé, from Clodoaldo to De Sisti (this one, terrible), from Brito to Riva. They were all yellow; let them pass. I didn’t want complications. Nevertheless, it was generally a clean match, without fights and unsportsmanlike actions, everything was very gentlemanly. The pitch did not look good, it was drilled in parts. There was no ball to unravel the game, and no fourth official to stop the Brazilian masseur who kept entering the field when they were already winning. The match was broadcast with three cameras, one on the sidelines and one behind each goal. Only goal games were repeated.

Of course, that kind of football existed and we loved it. And the one from the 60s was terrible and we loved it too. Nor will we tear down the statue of Tostão that we have in our imagination to see that Brazil-Italy again. He will always remain in our hearts. This rediscovery of Brazil 4 – Italy 1 leads us to reconsider the current match, undoubtedly more attractive, livelier, better played, with a greater degree of opposition and intensity. And more artistic. If they were here today, with today’s training and tactics, they would adapt and play. Some would stand out, but one thing is certain: it’s harder to shine today.

However, we did not aim to compare players, but games. And this one is undoubtedly superior now. Throughout. (OR)