The draw for the ½ finals put host Yugoslavia against West Germany, and the Dutch were lucky – facing Czechoslovakia. Predictions? Holland and… it was equally possible to be either the Yugoslavs, or the Germans. The World champions were favoured a bit higher possibility – and replay of the 1974 World Cup final was very likely.
The final tournament opened in Zagreb on June 16, 1975: the first ½ final was between Holland and Czechoslovakia. Both teams came out with their best elevens, Holland practically not different from the squad, who played the final in 1974. Experience, toughness, and above everything – Cruyff, who this year was wearing not the famous number 14, but plain 9. It was the day for CSSR to learn her own place in football, and if nothing bad happened in the first minutes, no worry – it just a matter of time. The Czechoslovakians were somewhat slow to get it… they showed no fear and ignorantly attacked. The punishment came in the 20th minute… but it was punishment for the mighty Dutch – Anton Ondrus, the sweeper, scored: 1-0 for CSSR.
Ondrus scores against Holland.
Holland came back into thegood things ended in the back - midfield and attack were mess, and to this very moment Schon was experimenting without a hint of success. But Germans were Germans and very dangerous just because of that.
Yugoslavia was perhaps the only team in Europe managing painless transition – few aging players from 1974 were out (and playing abroad), but the well of talent was deep – former reserves were now starters; players left behind in 1974 were now donning the blue jersey. Ognjan Petrovic, Danilo Popivoda, Vladic, Peruzovic easily replaced Maric, Petkovic, Pavlovic. There was a brand new hero – Slavisa Zungul. Perhaps the only not crowded position was that of the playmaker – Karasi was gone and there was no new star at home. But there was one playing abroad – Branko Oblak, for Schalke 04 – and this was a player to comnly line without difficulties and having more than enough players to chose from – Kaltz was simply sitting on the bench, for instance. Maier was in superb form – and voted German player of the year for 1975. However, good things ended in the back - midfield and attack were mess, and to this very moment Schon was experimenting without a hint of success. But Germans were Germans and very dangerous just because of that. game in the 77th minute, when Ondrus scored his second goal – unfortunately, in his own net this time. The unthinkable happened in the overtime: CSSR scored 2 more goals, the last by Frantisek Vessely, the substitute veteran, who quite surprisingly was recalled to the national team when everybody thought he was gone forever. Holland scored a total of zero goals – and as the match progressed, it became increasingly clear the Oranje were not the well-oiled machine of two years ago. Three players were sent off, two of them Dutch – frustration governed Holland.
Zagreb, June 16, Maksimir Stadion
Czechoslovakia 3-1 Netherlands [aet]
[Ondrus 20, Nehoda 114, Vesely 119; Ondrus 77og]
[ref: Thomas (Wales); att: 31,000]
[sent off: Pollák 60, Neeskens 76, Van Hanegem 115]
Czechoslovakia: Viktor, Pivarník, Capkovic (106 Jurkemik), Pollak, Gögh, Ondrus, Masny, Panenka, Móder (96 Vesely), Nehoda, Dobiás
Netherlands: Schrijvers, Suurbier, Van Kraay, Rijsbergen (37 Van Hanegem), Krol, Neeskens, Jansen, W.van de Kerkhof, Rep (65 Geels), Cruijff, Rensenbrink.
Next day – the big match in Belgrade! There was not much to say about the Germans – they were disgusting so far, clearly had many troubles, and were not even a shadow of the 1974 team, let alone the one of 1972. They were solid only at the rear: Dietz was the able, if plainer, substitute of departed Breitner, and the rest were very, very familiar. It was the only line without difficulties and having more than enough players to chose from – Kaltz was simply sitting on the bench, for instance. Maier was in superb form – and voted German player of the year for 1975. However, good things ended in the back - midfield and attack were mess, and to this very moment Schon was experimenting without a hint of success. But Germans were Germans and very dangerous just because of that.
Yugoslavia was perhaps the only team in Europe managing painless transition – few aging players from 1974 were out (and playing abroad), but the well of talent was deep – former reserves were now starters; players left behind in 1974 were now donning the blue jersey. Ognjan Petrovic, Danilo Popivoda, Vladic, Peruzovic easily replaced Maric, Petkovic, Pavlovic. There was a brand new hero – Slavisa Zungul. Perhaps the only not crowded position was that of the playmaker – Karasi was gone and there was no new star at home. But there was one playing abroad – Branko Oblak, for Schalke 04 – and this was a player to compensate for any apparent talent in Yugoslavia. He became the first properly foreign based footballer to play for the national team – and to captain it as well. Yugoslavia 1976 was considered much stronger than Yugoslavia 1974, had a splendid qualifying rounds, experience and gift. Motivation was extremely strong, and was playing at home, in front of frantic crowds – Yugoslavia had the edge. On the negative side – as ever, moodiness was recalled as potential weakness. The Yugoslavs were capable of playing fantastic football and beat anybody, but… if were easily given to frustration when the match was not going their way and under pressure the team traditionally was known to quickly collapse.
This time collapse was seemingly not in the cards – by the 33rd minute it was 2-0 for the Plavi. West Germany was practically gone, for the hosts were playing very fast attacking football – too fast for the Germans! There was drama – it was the end of the world champions, who displayed fully their own troubles and limitations. Goners. Finally, a punishment for the lame performance at the (most) of the 1974 World Cup tournament.
The second half started without a sign of improvement – Flohe replaced Danner, which was more a gesture of helplessness… at least at the beginning of the second half. Flohe managed to score in the 65th minute and gradually, almost invisibly, the scales tipped the other way. In the 79th minute Muller came on the pitch, replacing Wimmer – and 3 minutes later he scored the equalizer. Muller is Muller… although it was not Gerd, but brand new Dieter Muller. The old fox Schon seemingly – just like in 1974 – shaped his winning squad in the last minute, yet, exactly when really mattered. The extra time was predictable… it was visible that the Yugoslavs were running out of steam and the Germans getting stronger. Muller scored two more goals – West Germany won 4-2 and found her new Muller in the bargain. Now it was easy to say who will win the championship – for the first time the same country was to be European champion twice and consecutively at that. West German football continued to be the best in the world!
Beograd, June 17, Crvena zvezda
West Germany 4-2 Yugoslavia [aet]
[Flohe 65, D.Müller 82, 115, 199; Popivoda 19, Dzajic 32]
[ref: Delcourt (Belgium); att: 70,000]
West Germany: Maier, Dietz, Schwarzenbeck, Beckenbauer, Vogts, Danner (46 Flohe),Bonhof, Beer, Wimmer (79 D.Müller), Hölzenbein, U.Hoeneß
Yugoslavia: Petrovic, Buljan, Muzinic, Oblak (106 Vladic), Katalinski, Zungul,Jerkovic, Popivoda, Surjak, Acimovic (106 Peruzovic), Dzajic
Too bad for delightful Yugoslavs, but here was the lesson – nobody was able to rise to the occasion as Germans did, and that was the true display of class.
Heartbroken Branko Oblak leaves the pitch, although, playing in West Germany, he should have known who was really best.
The final tournament opened in Zagreb on June 16, 1975: the first ½ final was between Holland and Czechoslovakia. Both teams came out with their best elevens, Holland practically not different from the squad, who played the final in 1974. Experience, toughness, and above everything – Cruyff, who this year was wearing not the famous number 14, but plain 9. It was the day for CSSR to learn her own place in football, and if nothing bad happened in the first minutes, no worry – it just a matter of time. The Czechoslovakians were somewhat slow to get it… they showed no fear and ignorantly attacked. The punishment came in the 20th minute… but it was punishment for the mighty Dutch – Anton Ondrus, the sweeper, scored: 1-0 for CSSR.
Ondrus scores against Holland.
Holland came back into thegood things ended in the back - midfield and attack were mess, and to this very moment Schon was experimenting without a hint of success. But Germans were Germans and very dangerous just because of that.
Yugoslavia was perhaps the only team in Europe managing painless transition – few aging players from 1974 were out (and playing abroad), but the well of talent was deep – former reserves were now starters; players left behind in 1974 were now donning the blue jersey. Ognjan Petrovic, Danilo Popivoda, Vladic, Peruzovic easily replaced Maric, Petkovic, Pavlovic. There was a brand new hero – Slavisa Zungul. Perhaps the only not crowded position was that of the playmaker – Karasi was gone and there was no new star at home. But there was one playing abroad – Branko Oblak, for Schalke 04 – and this was a player to comnly line without difficulties and having more than enough players to chose from – Kaltz was simply sitting on the bench, for instance. Maier was in superb form – and voted German player of the year for 1975. However, good things ended in the back - midfield and attack were mess, and to this very moment Schon was experimenting without a hint of success. But Germans were Germans and very dangerous just because of that. game in the 77th minute, when Ondrus scored his second goal – unfortunately, in his own net this time. The unthinkable happened in the overtime: CSSR scored 2 more goals, the last by Frantisek Vessely, the substitute veteran, who quite surprisingly was recalled to the national team when everybody thought he was gone forever. Holland scored a total of zero goals – and as the match progressed, it became increasingly clear the Oranje were not the well-oiled machine of two years ago. Three players were sent off, two of them Dutch – frustration governed Holland.
Zagreb, June 16, Maksimir Stadion
Czechoslovakia 3-1 Netherlands [aet]
[Ondrus 20, Nehoda 114, Vesely 119; Ondrus 77og]
[ref: Thomas (Wales); att: 31,000]
[sent off: Pollák 60, Neeskens 76, Van Hanegem 115]
Czechoslovakia: Viktor, Pivarník, Capkovic (106 Jurkemik), Pollak, Gögh, Ondrus, Masny, Panenka, Móder (96 Vesely), Nehoda, Dobiás
Netherlands: Schrijvers, Suurbier, Van Kraay, Rijsbergen (37 Van Hanegem), Krol, Neeskens, Jansen, W.van de Kerkhof, Rep (65 Geels), Cruijff, Rensenbrink.
Next day – the big match in Belgrade! There was not much to say about the Germans – they were disgusting so far, clearly had many troubles, and were not even a shadow of the 1974 team, let alone the one of 1972. They were solid only at the rear: Dietz was the able, if plainer, substitute of departed Breitner, and the rest were very, very familiar. It was the only line without difficulties and having more than enough players to chose from – Kaltz was simply sitting on the bench, for instance. Maier was in superb form – and voted German player of the year for 1975. However, good things ended in the back - midfield and attack were mess, and to this very moment Schon was experimenting without a hint of success. But Germans were Germans and very dangerous just because of that.
Yugoslavia was perhaps the only team in Europe managing painless transition – few aging players from 1974 were out (and playing abroad), but the well of talent was deep – former reserves were now starters; players left behind in 1974 were now donning the blue jersey. Ognjan Petrovic, Danilo Popivoda, Vladic, Peruzovic easily replaced Maric, Petkovic, Pavlovic. There was a brand new hero – Slavisa Zungul. Perhaps the only not crowded position was that of the playmaker – Karasi was gone and there was no new star at home. But there was one playing abroad – Branko Oblak, for Schalke 04 – and this was a player to compensate for any apparent talent in Yugoslavia. He became the first properly foreign based footballer to play for the national team – and to captain it as well. Yugoslavia 1976 was considered much stronger than Yugoslavia 1974, had a splendid qualifying rounds, experience and gift. Motivation was extremely strong, and was playing at home, in front of frantic crowds – Yugoslavia had the edge. On the negative side – as ever, moodiness was recalled as potential weakness. The Yugoslavs were capable of playing fantastic football and beat anybody, but… if were easily given to frustration when the match was not going their way and under pressure the team traditionally was known to quickly collapse.
This time collapse was seemingly not in the cards – by the 33rd minute it was 2-0 for the Plavi. West Germany was practically gone, for the hosts were playing very fast attacking football – too fast for the Germans! There was drama – it was the end of the world champions, who displayed fully their own troubles and limitations. Goners. Finally, a punishment for the lame performance at the (most) of the 1974 World Cup tournament.
The second half started without a sign of improvement – Flohe replaced Danner, which was more a gesture of helplessness… at least at the beginning of the second half. Flohe managed to score in the 65th minute and gradually, almost invisibly, the scales tipped the other way. In the 79th minute Muller came on the pitch, replacing Wimmer – and 3 minutes later he scored the equalizer. Muller is Muller… although it was not Gerd, but brand new Dieter Muller. The old fox Schon seemingly – just like in 1974 – shaped his winning squad in the last minute, yet, exactly when really mattered. The extra time was predictable… it was visible that the Yugoslavs were running out of steam and the Germans getting stronger. Muller scored two more goals – West Germany won 4-2 and found her new Muller in the bargain. Now it was easy to say who will win the championship – for the first time the same country was to be European champion twice and consecutively at that. West German football continued to be the best in the world!
Beograd, June 17, Crvena zvezda
West Germany 4-2 Yugoslavia [aet]
[Flohe 65, D.Müller 82, 115, 199; Popivoda 19, Dzajic 32]
[ref: Delcourt (Belgium); att: 70,000]
West Germany: Maier, Dietz, Schwarzenbeck, Beckenbauer, Vogts, Danner (46 Flohe),Bonhof, Beer, Wimmer (79 D.Müller), Hölzenbein, U.Hoeneß
Yugoslavia: Petrovic, Buljan, Muzinic, Oblak (106 Vladic), Katalinski, Zungul,Jerkovic, Popivoda, Surjak, Acimovic (106 Peruzovic), Dzajic
Too bad for delightful Yugoslavs, but here was the lesson – nobody was able to rise to the occasion as Germans did, and that was the true display of class.
Heartbroken Branko Oblak leaves the pitch, although, playing in West Germany, he should have known who was really best.
