Issue 1974 / 4 moments
1974
Total Football reached the final. West Germany won it.
The tenth World Cup was played in West Germany. Johan Cruyff's Netherlands played a fluid, all-position game the press called Total Football, and beat the holders, Brazil, on the way to the final. Zaire became the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to reach the finals.
The West Germany team with the World Cup. Munich, 7 July 1974. Photo: Bert Verhoeff / Anefo, Nationaal Archief. Public domain (CC0).
Four moments from 1974
Ranked by the editors
2–1
The final Total Football didn't win
West Germany v Netherlands, World Cup final, 7 July 1974
2–0
Neeskens and Cruyff end Brazil's reign
Netherlands v Brazil, World Cup second round, 3 July 1974
0–0
The turn that took Cruyff's name
Netherlands v Sweden, World Cup group stage, 19 June 1974
2–0
Feyenoord bring the UEFA Cup to Rotterdam
Feyenoord v Tottenham Hotspur, UEFA Cup final, second leg, 29 May 1974 (4–2 on aggregate)
League champions
Season 1973–74
- EnglandLeeds United (list of England champions on Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
- SpainBarcelona (list of Spain champions on Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
- ItalyLazio (list of Italy champions on Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
- GermanyBayern Munich (list of Germany champions on Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
- FranceSaint-Étienne (list of France champions on Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Source: Wikipedia’s list of champions for each league.