Memories of 1974

The failure to beat Poland - and goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski - cost England a place in the finals in West Germany and 1966 hero Sir Alf Ramsey his job as manager.

This historic flop was to condemn England to eight years in the dark ages of the nation's football history, while Poland grabbed the chance to emerge as one of the surprise packages in 1974.

Their scalps in the early stages included Argentina and Italy and when the Poles faced the host nation on a rainy day in Frankfurt a place in the final was at stake.

A goal from the prolific Gerd Muller finally finished Poland and pitted the Germans against the Dutch in what was hailed as a showpiece for the new concept of 'total football'.

The Dutch were at a high point in the history of their game. They hadn't qualified for the finals since 1938 but Ajax had won three European Cups in a row in the early seventies and, blessed with fabulous players like Johann Cruyff, Rudi Krol and Johan Neeskens, were the kings of the new attacking game in which defenders became forwards.

The Dutch faced the might of Helmut Schoen's reigning European champions in Munich. There had never been a penalty awarded in a final but within 30 minutes English referee Jack Taylor awarded two. The first, before a German had touched the ball, came when Uli Hoeness tripped Cruyff in the opening minute.

Neeskens scored from the spot. Twenty-five minutes later Taylor awarded the Germans a penalty and Paul Breitner levelled the scores. Muller scored the winner to secure a 2-1 victory and Franz Beckenbauer proudly lifted the new FIFA trophy.

Poland's Gregorz Lato finished as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals. Even the Scots got in on the act, drawing 0-0 with Brazil, while England, languishing at home, realised that their day in the sun was well and truly over.