UNLIKE so many previous World Cup tournaments, the event in West Germany was played in rain, rain and even more rain.

This gave a slight edge to the Europeans - something that they would later exploit.

There were also worries about team security following the 1972 massacre at the Munich Olympics.

England didn't qualify and that left just Scotland carrying the British flag with a team which contained legends like Denis Law, Peter Lorimer, Billy Bremner and a young up-and-coming striker called Kenny Dalglish.

Despite not losing a match in their group and playing quality footballthey finished behind Yugoslavia and Brazil and once again they were back home before their postcards.

Poland, having prevented England from qualifying - who will ever forget their keeper who Brian Clough dubbed 'a clown'? - were a major force.

They won their group with three wins out of three matches in the opening round, and they followed that up by finishing second to West Germany in the second round to reach the semi-finals.

Also in the last four were Brazil, West Germany and Holland.

All of Europe looked for a pairing of West Germany and Holland, the Dutch Masters.

In waterlogged conditions, Poland put up a great performance against West Germany. Midfielders Deyna and Lato controlled everything but luck deserted them and the host nation scrambled through to the final.

Holland, with the talent of Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Ruud Krol and Van Hanagem were too good even for Brazil.

Perhaps the wet conditions prevented the South Americans from displaying their complete footballing skills, yet the world was now in line for a football spectacular.

Football had changed, certainly in Holland whose team, in their bright orange shirts were playing the game which Cruyff envisaged. Total football had arrived.

Gone was the individual position play, now every outfield player was expected to get forward in support of the attack and also get back to help out in defence.

West Germany had the brilliant Franz Beckenbauer, nicknamed "Der Kaiser" and Gerd Muller "Der Bomber" - not to mention Rainer Bonhof and Wolfgang Overath - and with so much talent out on the park the final promised so much.

It got off to an absolutely explosive start.

Right from the kick off Cruyff raced at the West Germany defence until he was clear on goal.

Uli Hoeness was beaten but took Cruyff's legs from under him, all eyes looked to the English referee, Jack Taylor.

Would he give a penalty?

Taylor was certain, he pointed to the penalty spot as 50,000 home supporters said 'No'.He was unmoved.

Holland had a penalty and not a single West Germany player had yet touched the ball.

The pressure on Johan Neeskens was enormous but he kept calm and drilled the ball wide of Sepp Maier for the quickest goal in a World Cup final.

It was all Holland, displaying wonderful football with Cruyff pulling the strings - but they couldn't get that vital second goal.

West Germany made an isolated attack on the Dutch goal, Holzenbein fouled Jansen in the box and again referee Taylor awarded a penalty.

Paul Breitner gave Jongbloed no chance from the spot and West Germany were on their way, 1-1.

Soon after Bonhof played in a pass to Muller who showed wonderful control and then from a very difficult angle squeezed the ball wide of Jongbloed.

So against the run of play, West Germany went 2-1 up.

The second half was all Holland as they hit West Germany from every part of the German half of the field, but Sepp Maier in goal was unbeatable and won the man of the match award.

West Germany hung on to their 2-1 lead and regained the trophy. In the third place play-off Poland beat Brazil 1-0.

Next week, 1978 in Argentina and still no England qualification.

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