The final that never was

4 Brazil wins 2 draws 1 England win

Brazil had underwhelmed in the lead-up to Mexico 1970, but began it sizzling in a 4-1 win over Czechoslovakia. England were unbeaten in 10 games, during which they’d beaten Johan Cruyff and the Netherlands in Amsterdam, and were fresh from victory over Romania in their curtain-raiser. Injury forced both coaches into changes, with Zagallo replacing Gerson with Caju and Ramsey bringing in Wright for Keith Newton. It was time for football’s forefathers against its artistic overlords; the reigning champions against the two-time kings; the sport’s most prolific team against its most impregnable. At the first World Cup to be televised in colour across the planet, this seismic showdown had the masses salivating.

Sky-high expectations were, despite the scorching heat, emphatically met from the outset, an electrifying contest swinging from end to end. Charlton was in his orchestral pomp, while Caju and Jairzinho caused panic down the flanks. After the latter galloped past Cooper down the right and hooked in an enticing cross, Pele outjumped Wright, powered a header towards the bottom corner and screamed ‘Gooool’. The Brazil No10’s thrill was fleeting, however, with Banks somehow flinging his body south-east and fingertipping the ball around his post.

The sequel to ‘The Save of the Century’ was ‘The Tackle of the Century’. Jairzinho was in full flight, yet Moore produced an impeccable sliding challenge to thwart him. England substitute Astle missed a gilt-edged chance, eight yards out, and it was promptly punished by Brazil. Tostao held off Ball, nutmegged Moore, dropped Wright to his backside with a shimmering side-step, and chipped the ball into Pele. The No10 magnetised three opponents towards him and, employing his extrasensory vision, spun swiftly and laid the ball right for the onrushing Jairzinho. Banks was off his line rapidly, but ‘The Hurricane’ cleverly lashed the adidas Telstar over him and into the net. England were the unfortunate losers of an enthralling epic. Brazil and spectators across the world were the winners.

“I hit that header exactly as I had hoped. He came from nowhere and he did something I didn’t feel was possible. He pushed my header, somehow, up and over. I couldn’t believe what I saw. Even now when I watch it l, I can’t believe it.” Pele in 2019 on Gordon Banks’ save

“Bobby Moore looked like death warmed up when he arrived in Mexico. He had almost lost a stone. But he was never about power and pace. He was the most immaculate footballer I ever saw. I roomed with him. Most people throw their clothes on the floor, but he even used to fold his underpants neatly. That tackle summed him up. If he hadn’t made it, he would have probably been sent off. It was immaculate.” Alan Mullery

“Bobby Moore was a great player, revered the world over, a world champion in ’66. He was a magnificent marker, he didn’t give you any space or time. But I didn’t try that because it was Bobby Moore. I had looked over to the sidelines and saw Roberto getting ready to come on. He was a forward.

I knew Pele wouldn’t get taken off, so I knew it was me. I knew I had to do something special. [If I hadn’t] who knows if I’d have stayed in the starting XI? The ball came to me and I tried a speculative shot from distance, which got blocked. Seconds later it came to me again. It was a very tight game.

I went for it. I managed to put the ball between Bobby Moore’s legs, pull off that dribble and find Pele. That cemented my place in the team.” Tostao “That was the real final. We knew that Brazil and England were the best two teams. The game had everything. The tackle by Bobby Moore, the save by Banks, the dribble by Tostao. People still talk about these decades later. It was a really beautiful game between two of the greatest sides the World Cup has seen.” Mario Zagallo

• While the youngest Englishman to play in the game was 25-year-old Alan Ball, Brazil fielded two 20-year-olds: Clodoaldo and Caju. Edu, also 20, who was on the bench, was incredibly at his second World Cup.

• Temperatures during the game, which kicked off at midday, reached a scorching 37°C (99°F).

• Eight months before Mexico 1970 began, Tostao was told he would never be able to play football again due to a detached retina, which medics feared would permanently blind him. After surgery in Houston, Texas, he was cleared to return to training just two-and-a-half months before the World Cup. Tostao was initially scared of heading the ball, however, and Zagallo and Brazil doctor Lidio Toledo both felt inclined to overlook him, until 11th-hour persuasion from Pele helped convince them otherwise.

• While the Brazilian players had ingratiated themselves to the Mexicans, playing samba for them and interacting, the English had upset the locals by refusing to drink their water or eat their food. Consequently, the night before the game, the Mexican fans boomed car horns and bashed dustbin lids outside the Three Lions’ hotel. Some even got into it and banged on the England players’ rooms, with reserve centre-back Jack Charlton chasing a group of them down a staircase and into the lobby.