1974 FIFA World Cup final facts for kids
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Germany's Gerd Müller (far left) watches Netherlands' Johan Cruyff (centre) playing against team-mates Berti Vogts (2nd left) and Uli Hoeneß (right)
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| Event | 1974 FIFA World Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 7 July 1974 | ||||||
| Venue | Olympiastadion, Munich | ||||||
| Referee | Jack Taylor (England) | ||||||
| Attendance | 75,200 | ||||||
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The 1974 FIFA World Cup final was a super exciting football match! It was the big championship game of the 1974 FIFA World Cup, which is a huge international football tournament. This final took place in Munich, Germany, on July 7, 1974.
The game was played between two strong teams: the Netherlands and West Germany. West Germany ended up winning the match 2–1. The Netherlands scored first with a penalty kick by Johan Neeskens very early in the game. But then, Paul Breitner scored another penalty for West Germany to tie the game. Finally, Gerd Müller scored the winning goal, making West Germany the champions for the second time!
After this World Cup, five German players – Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer, Wolfgang Overath, Jürgen Grabowski, and Horst-Dieter Höttges – made history. They became the first players ever to win gold, silver, and bronze medals at the FIFA World Cup.
Contents
How the Teams Reached the Final
Both the Netherlands and West Germany had to play many matches to get to the final. They started in group stages, playing against other teams.
Netherlands' Journey
The Netherlands team, known for their "Total Football" style, had a fantastic journey. In their first group, they beat Uruguay 2–0 and Bulgaria 4–1. They also had a 0–0 draw with Sweden. This strong performance helped them move to the next round.
In the second round, the Netherlands continued to impress. They won all three of their matches! They beat Argentina 4–0, East Germany 2–0, and even the strong Brazil team 2–0. Their amazing wins meant they reached the final without losing a single game.
West Germany's Journey
West Germany also had a tough path to the final. In their first group, they won against Chile 1–0 and Australia 3–0. However, they lost one surprising match 0–1 to East Germany. Despite this loss, they still made it to the next stage.
In the second round, West Germany showed their strength. They won all their games, just like the Netherlands. They defeated Yugoslavia 2–0, Sweden 4–2, and Poland 1–0. These victories earned them a spot in the final against the Netherlands.
The Big Match
Game Highlights
The final was a clash of titans! West Germany was led by their captain, Franz Beckenbauer, a legendary player. The Dutch team had their superstar, Johan Cruyff, and their exciting "Total Football" playing style. This style meant players could switch positions easily, making them very hard to play against.
The game started with a small delay because the corner flags were missing! They had been removed for a ceremony before the match and forgotten.
Just one minute into the game, something big happened. Johan Cruyff made a brilliant run into the German penalty area, and he was fouled. The referee awarded a penalty kick to the Netherlands! Johan Neeskens stepped up and scored, giving the Netherlands an early lead. It was amazing because no German player had even touched the ball yet!
West Germany tried hard to get back into the game. In the 25th minute, they got their own penalty kick after Bernd Hölzenbein was fouled. Paul Breitner took the shot and scored, tying the game 1–1. These two penalties were the very first ones ever given in a World Cup Final!
West Germany kept pushing for another goal. Just before half-time, in the 43rd minute, Gerd Müller scored the winning goal for West Germany! It was a huge moment.
This goal turned out to be Müller's last goal for the West German team. He decided to stop playing international football after this tournament. At half-time, Johan Cruyff received a yellow card for arguing with the referee.
In the second half, both teams had chances to score. Müller even put the ball in the net again, but it was ruled offside. Later, Hölzenbein fell in the Dutch penalty area, but the referee didn't think it was a foul this time.
When the final whistle blew, West Germany were champions! They had also won the European Championship in 1972, making them both European and World Cup champions at the same time. This was a rare achievement!
Match Details
| 7 July 1974 16:00 UTC+1 |
Netherlands  |
1–2 |  West Germany |
Olympiastadion, Munich Attendance: 75,200 Referee: Jack Taylor (England) |
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Neeskens  2' (pen.) |
Breitner 25' (pen.) Müller 43' |
          Netherlands
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   West Germany
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Linesmen: |
Match rules:
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See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Final de la Copa Mundial de Fútbol de 1974 para niños
- Germany–Netherlands football rivalry
- Germany at the FIFA World Cup
- Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup
