West Germany 1974
The 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany was an event where strategic play and tactical innovation came to the fore, encapsulated by the rise of 'Total Football' from the Netherlands and the formidable display by the host nation. The tournament saw the introduction of the now-iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy, which replaced the Jules Rimet Trophy. West Germany, led by Franz Beckenbauer, claimed their second World Cup title, overcoming a Johan Cruyff-inspired Dutch side in a final that pivoted on a shift in momentum after the Netherlands took an early lead. The 2-1 victory for West Germany in the final at Munich's Olympiastadion was a testament to their resilience and strategic prowess. The World Cup was also notable for the stunning upset of the reigning champions Brazil by a polished Polish team. Germany '74 offered a blend of disciplined defence and fluid attacking play, leaving a lasting legacy on the tactical evolution of the game.
Winners and awards
Grzegorz Lato
Johan NeeskensAndrzej SzarmachWładysław ŻmudaKnockout stage
| Final | ||
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands 1-2 West Germany  1974-07-07, 16:00 | ||
| Third-place match | ||
 Brazil0-1 Poland 1974-07-06, 16:00 | ||
second group stage
| Group A | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Netherlands | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
2 Brazil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
3  East Germany | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
4  Argentina | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Group B | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 West Germany | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
2 Poland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
3  Sweden | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
4  Yugoslavia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
first group stage
| Group 1 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 East Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
2 West Germany | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
3  Chile | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
4  Australia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Group 2 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Yugoslavia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
2 Brazil | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
3  Scotland | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
4  Zaire | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Group 3 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
2 Sweden | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
3  Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
4  Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Group 4 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Poland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 6 |
2 Argentina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
3  Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
4  Haiti | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 |
Top scorers
Grzegorz Lato (7)Andrzej Szarmach (5)Johan Neeskens (5)Johnny Rep (4)Gerd Müller (4)Ralf Edström (4) Rivellino (3)Dušan Bajević (3)Johan Cruyff (3)Paul Breitner (3)