There’s nothing more final than an unjust football result. No
appeals process exists to shake off the unpalatable, unacceptable and unfair.
What can Atletico do about Real’s last-gasp leveller in
the 2014 Champions League Final? And Smith Won’t Score, Brighton fans. It’s best just not to dwell on it.
But what if you could
go back and rewrite history in the name of Justice? And what if that was then accepted as science fact by
all?
World Cup fans should ask, did the right team win? And I
say no, not always.
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| The best Brazil team not to win the World Cup? |
Take 1982 for example: Italy won it but Brazil should
have. It would have ended a 12 year post-Pele drought. An era of Zico, Socrates and Falcao made more
fabulous by the last vestiges of sepia-coloured TV pictures and excitable
commentary on the phone.
Of course, Italy will point to Paolo Rossi's stunning
hat-trick against them - but it was a defeat to send Brazil into their shell
until they exacted revenge over Italy in the worst ever World Cup Final twelve
years later. A Final so bad it made Diana Ross’ Opening Ceremony penalty kick look
appropriate.
But one solitary ninety minutes stands above as the game
that both launched a mighty nation, while chiming a knell for another.
The 1954 Final between West Germany and Hungary was the
ninety which changed football's direction the most. Their status’ are now so completely in contrast
today, it’s hard to imagine it came about as a freak result . West Germany’s
so-called Miracle of Bern.
Back then, Germany was demoralised, a literally divided
nation. What they wanted was a morale boost just nine years after the disaster
of World War II.
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| No one would begrudge Hungary oneWorld title |
Their opponents, the marvellous Magyars were - well,
marvellous. Imperious, brilliant - and the mantle of world champions would all
but confirm an era of magnificence.
Hungary had already humbled the West Germans 8-3 in the
group stages and made it to the Final courtesy of victory over 1950 runners-up,
Brazil and champions, Uruguay.
Ferenc Puskas fractured his ankle during the Finals – but
it’d be disingenuous to his teammates to blame that for Hungary’s shocker.
Instead, West Germany's 3-2 win launched a dynasty while
Hungary disappeared from sight by 1962. Add to that Germany being disallowed
from the 1950 tournament – this was their first post-war football foray.
By 1990, West Germany's destiny was built on history, self-belief
and structure. Those pillars helped push them past a weak Argentina.
But that was
when host nation Italy should've won.
Fuelled by the unexpected six-shooter Salvatore
Schillaci, Italy powered their way through the group stages with Toto's
firebrand goals.
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| Toto's pumped up goal celebrations were nuclear-fuelled |
They were cruelly denied by a semi-final penalty
shoot-out loss to defending champions Argentina – but it would have been a
travesty if one-man Team Maradona had retained the Cup. Andreas Brehme's
clinical penalty booked West Germany's date with destiny again.
And it's not just about the World Cup, it's a European
Championship thing too. And that my friends, is all about England.
England are so unlucky. They could've buried the mantle
of Least Successful Big Nation before
Spain ditched the unwanted title first with consecutive victories in Euro 2008,
2012 and the World Cup in between.
It’s because Euro 96 and 2004 belonged to the Three
Lions.
Baddiel and Skinner’s “thirty years of hurt” seems a
reasonable tariff for crimes against preparation nowadays. It’s 50 and
counting.
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| The Queen of England too excited by a German win? |
With ten goals, England scored more than any other in
Portugal, starring the Golden Generation and fearless 18-year-old Wayne Rooney
of Everton.
Just as Germany seemingly strut to victory every
generation, England’s defeats are magnified by frustration at the sudden
failure of well, usually penalty shoot-outs.
And the less we say about Wembley in 1996, the
better. With the Czechs, 80-1 outsiders at
the start waiting in the final, it was a gimme for the host nation at Wembley .
Excuse me, I have to leave the keyboard for a couple of
minutes.
And while we’re on host-nations, Holland should’ve been
crowned European Champions for a second time in 2000. They succumbed to Italy
in the semi-final on penalties – Italy in turn, lost to a French Golden Goal
despite leading in the Rotterdam Final.
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| Greece's Plan A gameplan worked perfectly! |
France were already world champions and maybe, the Clairefontaine
youth project deserved this outstanding double recognition – but still,the
Dutch with Kluivert, Overmars, Davids, Stam and van der Saar deserved to
emulate the Gullits and van Bastens of a generation earlier.
On the other hand, England's bad luck aside, no one can argue with Greece
winning Euro 2004; Otto Rehhagel’s procession of one-nil wins was a masterclass
of gameplan – nor with Denmark’s romp to Euro 92 glory when UEFA pulled them in
from summer holiday deckchairs to replace war-torn Yugoslavia.
As for England,’66 made up for the World Cups they
carelessly didn't bother with in the thirties.
Our common memories make the thin-line between success
and failure an open wound. What a pity there’s no revisionism in football.
