This Day in History: 2023-06-05

Nr. 469

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE (1970)

The boos that ushered the Uruguayan and Italian teams off the Puebla pitch brought the curtain down on a dour 0-0 draw. Group B of the 1970 World Cup was the antithesis to the free-flowing football of the South Americans. Defensive Italy cancelled out negative Uruguay and the spectators were vocal in their disapproval. Italy had, in an earlier game against Sweden, scored the one goal that would put them top of their group. However, in the later rounds an Italian renaissance led to buccaneering displays against Mexico and West Germany which saw them score four times in both matches.

Italy players run to celebrate after Gianni Rivera scores the winning goal past West Germany’s Sepp Maier in their thrilling 4-3 encounter.