1974 World Cup Germany

West Germany hosted 1974 Football World Cup and it was another tournament where the hosts also won.  It was the first tournament with the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup sculpted by Silvio Gazzaniga, the previous trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, having been given to Brazil after their third victory in 1970.

Although the first round format remained the same - the 16 teams playing in four groups of four with the two top progressing - this time there was a second group phase of two groups of four with the group winners making the final.

The hosts West Germany were defeated in the first round by East Germany but still qualified for the second round.  The Dutch however easily made it through playing the now famous Dutch brand of "total football".  The surprise of the tournament was the talented Polish team who went on to finish third and produce the top scorer in Grzegorz Lato.

The final, held at the Olympiastadion in Munich in front of over 75,000 people, started dramatically when Cruyff was brought down in the German penalty area in the first minute and the Dutch took the lead from the penalty before the Germans had even touched the ball.  however Germany fought back and were leading by half time, a lead the Dutch never managed to overturn.  This was the second time West Germany had won the World Cup.

Top Scorer

7 Goals - Grzegorz Lato (Poland)

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