FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONWorld Championship - Jules Rimet Cup 1970
Final Competition

TECHNICAL STUDYFÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONWorld Championship - Jules Rimet Cup 1970
Final Competition

TECHNICAL STUDYFÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Sir Stanley Rous, C.B.E. (England), President
Dr. Helmut Käser (Switzerland), General Secretary

TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP
Mr. Harry H. Cavan (Ireland North), Chairman
Mr. Walter Winterbottom, O.B.E. (England), Director
Mr. Dettmar Cramer (Germany FR), member
Mr. Ron Greenwood (England), member
Mr. Sandro Puppo (Italy), member
Mr. René Courte (Luxemburg), Secretary

Reproduction ofextractsfromor translation ofthis report is authorized
provided the source is indicated, except for pages 31 to 38, for which
the authorisation of C.B.D., Rio de Janeiro, has to be received .

INDEX OF ITEMSPageIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Preliminary Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Final Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Team Headquarters and General Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Interpretation of Laws-Referees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Sports Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Preparation Training and Programme of International Matches . . 14
Acclimatisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Observations on Matches of the World Cup Final Tournament . . 20
Training Plan of the Brazilian Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Objective of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Training Aims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Daily and Weekly Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Timing and Rota of Training Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Adaptation to the Conditions of the Place of Competition . . . . . 35
Physical Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Technical Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Tactical Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Psychological Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Administrative Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Medical Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

INTRODUCTION

The first time a special group of coaches was brought together to carryout a study of football in a World Cup Final tournament was in 1966
in England . The report on observations of match play also contained acomparison of training preparation of teams, and a synopsis of the views
oftheir managers/coaches on matters concerning organization, accommodation were made to the FIFA Executive Committee . Some of thesewere immediately accepted in whole or part, e.g. substitution, training ofreferees and a film on fouls, while others, involving changes of competition arrangements, required more lengthy consideration.
The exercise proved to be worthwhile, and therefore it was decided to
set up a similar group to look at the final competition in Mexico . At
first it was thought to invite coaches from various continents, but theworking problem of interpretation led to a selection of manager/coaches
who could communicate readily in English : Walter Winterbottom(England), Dettmar Cramer (Germany FR), Ron Greenwood (England)
and Sandro Puppo (Italy) .
Under the chairmanship of Harry Cavan, Vice-President of FIFA andChairman of the Technical Development Committee, the group first
assembled in Mexico eight days before the opening match to discuss
arrangements. As before, a questionnaire had been sent to each of the
16 nations in the competition asking for details of players, preparation
training and programme of international matches . Each observer was
allocated to a group of the competition and sought discussion withmanagers/coaches to sound their views on matters such as headquarters
and training conditions, organization of the tournament, referee control,
differences in interpretation of laws, problems of acclimatisation andtrends in fitness training and effective styles of play. Further interviews
took place during the competition itself . Each match was watched andalso reported upon .
Then a general report was compiled for a meeting in London in
August 1970, when the managers/coaches from the teams reaching thesemi-finals in Mexico were invited to give their reflections on thetournament and discuss recommendations aiming to improve futurecompetitions .

RECOMMENDATIONS
The game of football has spread throughout the world . There are 138
countries in membership with FIFA and in many countries Soccer is thegreatest national sport. The phenomenal popularity of the game, the sizeof its spectator following, and the prestige attached to various forms
ofcompetition at club and national level, have made Association Football
a powerful social force . If its healthy growth is to continue, it is essentialthat its laws of conduct be universally accepted and obeyed. This is moreeasily said than done. Differences in language, culture, custom, temperament and climate bring out differences in styles of play, and interpretation of laws, which can create conflict on the field of play.
The rewards of success in the World Cup tournament are immense.
The competition adds stimulus to the game everywhere. A country's
achievement in the competition encourages greater participation andhigher attendances in its domestic football. With so much at stake, it isimportant to strive continually for conditions and arrangements which
encourage good standards of football and behaviour .
The following recommendations arise from discussions with the
managers/coaches of the 16 teams taking part in the final tournament in
Mexico . Some touch upon old ground, some are tentative suggestions
requiring further careful investigation before any change is contemplated.
Change tends to beget more change and care must be exercised to see thatwhen new proposals are under consideration something is not lost which istraditionally of great value .
PRELIMINARY COMPETITION
It must be emphasized that theviews expressed in this section come in themain from managers and coaches engaged in the competition and arecommented upon by the Technical Study Group as part of its brieffrom FIFA. Such proposals as are advanced are put forward at this stage
for the consideration of theFIFA Organizing Committee . The views put
forward are only some of the more interesting points of view which werefelt to require consideration. Mostly the opinions given were those ofmanagers/coaches speaking in a personal capacity and were not necessarily the views of their National Associations.
Many of the managers pointed out that some teams come through tothe final competition without very serious competition in the preliminarycompetition, whereas other teams have to fight very hard indeed to win aplace in the final tournament . Teams, it was felt, should at some stage begrouped to play on an inter-continental basis, since long distance travel6

is no longer a problem under modern conditions. Several proposals forchange have already been considered . One favoured preliminary competions being held in confederations, thereby keeping down travel costs . The
best teams from each confederation would then compete in the final competition . There is a rooted objection to this proposal, and the managers/
coaches feel that the preliminary competition should get nearer to a truly
open competition, thus ensuring that all teams have an equal opportunity
to reach the final competition.
As a step in this direction it is suggested that the preliminarycompetition might go forward as at present on a home and away basis of`zoned' leagues within confederations to produce 30 nations. This would
allow more teams to emerge from confederations with strong footballing
nations as members . The 30 teams should then be seeded : 15/15 anddrawn against each other for the final `15' matches to be played on a home
and away inter-continental basis to produce 15 teams to join the hostcountry in the final tournament ; it will be realized that this scheme
would require the `cup holders' to qualify.
Should it be decided that a greater number of teams would enter the
final tournament, then the number in the final round of the preliminarycompetition could be adjusted accordingly .
The merits in this suggestion are(i) a fairer method of arriving at the final 16 teams ;(ii) it acknowledges travel and cost factors and confederation interests ;(iii) when reduced to 30 nations there would be greater interest in thenext stage of the tournament ;(iv) seeding before drawing lots ensures that the best teams have theopportunity to reach the final, while smaller nations would have thebenefit of experience and the propaganda value of entertaining a
powerful footballing nation's team in its own country .
Several other ideas were put forward, the most drastic being that ofdispensing with a final competition altogether by allowing the winners to
emerge from a round of home and away matches as with the European
Clubs Cup competition. This, it was felt, would not be acceptable under
any circumstances as it would take away the focal point of thecompetition and would destroy the whole concept of the World Cup .
FINAL COMPETITION
The present arrangement of the final tournament is thought to besatisfactory . Most of the proposed changes tend to lengthen thecompetition, e .g . :(i) Increasing the number of teams, say to 24, having four groups of six
teams for the eight finals .
(ii) Re-arranging the competition, as for example by having two leaguesof eight teams, to produce four semi-finalists . This would give an
initial seven matches for every competing team .
Another proposal is to have the eight teams emerging from thepresent system to the quarter finals to play again in two leagues of four,
the winners playing in the final and the second team in the final forthe third and fourth place .
More teams in the final were thought to be desirable by somemanagers, because of the preparation involved . Others felt that alreadythe length of the competition produces conflict with the interests ofdomestic leagues .
If the present system is to continue then there is need to :(a) Dispense with the drawing of lots in the event of a tie situation .
Instead some use should be made of a mark of football achievement
such as the team to have scored the first goal in the match . Thissuggestion has, however, since been cut across by the decision of theInternational Board as to the taking of penalty kicks to resolve sucha deadlock situation .
(b) Arrange a rest gap . If it is not possible to have eight grounds sothat matches in the eighth finals can be played on the same day (except
for the opening match), then the rest gap between the last matchesof the eighth finals and the quarter final matches should be at least
three clear days . Two days does not give enough time to recoverfrom fatigue and minor injury .
(c) Consider equality of treatment of all teams . At present, it wasthought to be unfair that winning teams in eighth finals should havethe additional reward of not having to travel for quarter finals . Ifeight grounds are available then this presents little problem, sinceteams will have to travel some distances, even in matches for eighth
finals . All semi-finalists should, as far as possible, be treated alike inthe question of travelling and moving headquarters . There should
never be less than three whole days of rest between match days .
(d) Improve arrangements to keep pace with modern requirements . The
size of the official party should be increased to 30, to include suchofficials as doctors, masseurs, coaches and any other ancillaries atthe discretion of the national team within the stated limit .
Some general points of organization associated specifically with conditions in Mexico were also mentioned :(i) Teams would rather play matches under floodlight, if necessary, toavoid playing in extremes of solar radiation. Teams should not beasked to play, for any reason, at the hottest time of day in parts of
the world where day temperatures are unduly high at the time of
the competition .
(ii) Three matches in nine days, and four matches in 12 days, playedin hot weather, is too much. Players lose condition and tactics mustof necessity be used which conserve energy .
(iii) Whenever the final competition is allocated to a country where
there is clearly special need for early arrival to acclimatise players,
FIFA should meet an agreed proportion of the additional expense
to enable all competing nations to have essential time for preparation
training.
(iv) If there are problems of altitude, then care should be taken to avoid
great differences in altitude between one match venue and another .
TEAM HEADQUARTERS AND GENERAL CONDITIONS
Various kinds of headquarter accommodation were used in Mexico .
Nations with long experience in these final tournaments are aware of therequirements and prepare more thoroughly, sending delegates andmanagers to preview available accommodation . Most teams were satisfied
with headquarter and training arrangements, though the 'barn-storming'of hotels by chanting mobs of supporters provided an unexpecteddisturbance when players were required to sleep . Some of the smaller
competing nationswere dissatisfied withtheir accommodation and training
grounds and felt that there was inequality oftreatment . Everything should
be done in future competitions to ensure good accommodation at reasonable cost for all teams, and equality of treatment in training facilities andequipment .
Though there are different views as to the ideal type of headquarters, there is general preference for a quiet hotel, special training
camp or hostel away from the centre of town, but not too far away fromthe match ground . Such quarters should ideally be occupied only by theteam and its officials, or else some distinct part of the hotel or centre
should be allocated to them.
The leaders of the National Associations whose teams are engaged ina particular sub-centre should meet formally with the chairman of thelocal organizing committee and, in consultation and with generalagreement, accommodation, and especially training facilities, should beallocated to the national teams . It is important to ensure that thetraining grounds allocated are adequate and meet the needs of thenational teams, and that proper conditions of privacy can be ensured in
the grounds allocated .

Hotels and motels on main thoroughfares are unsuitable, particularly
if they are inhabited by holidaymakers, among whom are attractive
young women . Several managers openly discussed the problem of sex,
when teams are involved in a competition requiring five to seven weeks
away from their homes .
The growing demand for news and television items during preparation
training and the competition itself seemed to have reached such proportions as to cause inconvenience to many managers, who find much of
their time taken up by interviews and telephone calls . The practice of
having another official of high standing, knowledgeable about the
team's affairs, to act as the press relations officer has proved mosthelpful in relieving the manager/coach from constant interviewing . It issuggested, however, that the National Organizing Committee or FIFA
should arrange a special programme for general interviews, giving a listof questions which journalists wish to be answered, so that not only can
the general interview take place but a statement can also be issued .
Similar arrangements should be made for `open' training sessions forphotography and television recordings to help reduce the constant streamof requests for special privileges .
The Organizing Committee of FIFA should make sure that the local
Organizing Committee in each sub-centre supplies to each team at least adozen footballs, but preferably 20, similar to those chosen for thecompetition .
The problem of living together for days on end, where the squadconsists of players with different social backgrounds, levels of educationand cultural interests, is never simple, even though there is a common
dedication to football teamwork . The long period of preparation in
addition to the tournament resulted in psychological problems connectedwith boredom and homesickness . Some. players were affected more thanothers, and managers felt that in future more consideration should begiven to the question of recreation and entertainment .
The war situation back home in Israel put a special strain on theyounger Israeli players, and the Peruvian team bad the agonizing worryof the terrifying earthquake disaster which struck their country withalmost unprecedented violence, while the Rumanian team had equallyfrightening and grim news of the devastating floods in their country .
The ability to speak Spanish was clearly an advantage to some teams,
whose players could move around freely, could listen to radio andtelevision and enjoy a choice of restaurants and cinemas . In the sameway, teams accustomed to long periods in training camps were moreable to accept the long time away from home . It is suggested that the
National Organizing Committee should set up an Entertainment or10

Recreation Sub-Committee, which should specifically look at the detailof recreation and advise or make provision for such things as : regularpostal services ; telephone communication ; newspapers ; libraries andreading material ; programmes of sight-seeing ; entertainment, local andcultural, outside the hotel ; links with families .
The Mexican team were supplied with television tapes or films ofmatches . These not only provided entertainment but were also of help
in studying the play of opponents . It is for consideration whether alibrary of television films or tapes of matches could be made available sothat teams could use them as required . Although FIFA had taken
trouble to issue each team with copies of the films on interpretation of
the laws, some teams were unable to use them because it was impossible
to get hold of a suitable projector. It was felt that the local Organizing
Committees should ensure for the future that suitable projectors wereavailable on hire during the period of the tournament . It was also feltthat when the contract for the TV rights of the next World Cup was
negotiated a clause should be inserted in that contract stipulating that
copies of all matches should be made available so that competing nations
could use them on request .
The tickets provided for officials with the national teams should affordthem good quality seating in a special enclosure which should provide
a proper view of the game and also be easily accessible to the players'changing rooms .
Each team should have the use of a training ground which isprivately enclosed, with adequate changing, massage and showering
facilities, and provision for hot and cold drinks . Enthusiastic spectators
were sometimes a nuisance at open training grounds in Mexico .
Teams were pleased that local Mexican teams, both amateur andprofessional, were available to provide suitable training matches during
the fortnight or more of acclimatisation . It was felt that the attention of
all national associations should be drawn to the fact that there is noobjection to teams playing games during the competition itself with local
teams, so long as there is no advertisement of such games and nomoney is collected at the gate : such games should be used to help
the players who spend most time on the benches as reserves so that they
may be kept match fit . This was considered to be a problem by mostmanager/coaches . Any such arrangements should only be organizedhowever after due consultation with the FIFA Organizing Committee
and with that Committee's consent and approval .
Several teams took with them a cook and special food and beverages,
to be sure of having meals and drinks to their liking . The local
Organizing Committee should inform competing countries what customs

and health regulations there are concerning the importation of food anddrink, so that arrangements can be made well beforehand . It must be
said that the quality of food in Mexico in hotels and motels usedas headquarters was excellent .
INTERPRETATION OF LAWS-REFEREES
Despite gloomy forecasts, the final tournament in Mexico not only
produced some remarkably good football but also many good footballmatches which were played in the best spirit of sportsmanship and were
well controlled by match officials. A most notable fact was that noplayer was sent off the field .
Credit for this must first of all go to the competing teams for selfdiscipline even when playing under exhausting conditions with partisan
and vociferous crowds. Then praise must be given to the referees, to thespecial training they readily undertook, and to the conferences andspecially prepared films aiming to get a more uniform interpretation of
the laws.
Managers and coaches were appreciative of the improvement in theoverall standard of refereeing, and the following comments and suggestions are intended to be constructive in seeking further progress :(i) The idea of preparing referees by conferences and films before an
important competition should be extended to competitions in theconfederations . Indeed, the training of referees should be carriedout as assiduously as that of the teams taking part in the competition. Referees must keep up with the constant development of thegame.
(ii) Acclimatisation necessitated early assembly of referees in Mexicoand thereby provided opportunity for conference discussion . On
future occasions, it is thought that referees would benefit by attend
ing a training conference several months before the tournament.
Other referees from various continents should also be invited, sothat agreements on uniform interpretation could be spreadthroughout the world of football.
(iii) Selection of referees from any countries was thought to be usefulin raising standards, providing these referees had distinctive ability
and sufficient experience in refereeing top competition matchesoutside their own country and possibly in another continent.
(iv) Senior referees do not necessarily make good linesmen . Some
referees, lacking experience as linesmen in recent years, performed
these duties indifferently, and occasionally interfered with the12duties of the referee on the field. It would be well for FIFA torequire all referees in the final list for selection to renew experienceby running the line of at least five games in the 12 months prior to
the Finals .
(v) Consideration should be given to special environmental conditions
and other factors ; for example, some players in games played at
mid-day in the broiling heat were losing up to threelitres of waterby half time . It is essential that they should be able to drink, during
the match if necessary, provided they go to the touchline to do so .
(vi) Control and decisions were good on the whole, though there wereseveral instances when a direct free kick was given outside thepenalty area when clearly the infringement had taken place inside
the area .
(vii) The card system of notifying a caution and sending off should beuniversally applied in top competition .
(viii) Though teams understand the interpretation of the laws, they areoften let down by temperamental behaviour .
(ix) Films on interpretation of the laws should be sent out tocompeting countries some time before the final tournament, so thatthey can be studied carefully.
(x) There are differences in practice acceptable to players and referees
in Central and South America compared with Europe and Asia .
Coaches, players and referees in Central and South America seemto accept that a player can foul outside the penalty area with
impunity, i .e . although they may be penalized for the offence they
will not be cautioned or sent off. In Europe, referees punish
intention as well as action. Whereas only action is punished inSouth America . European referees also tend to be more meticulous
about player and ball position at free kicks and throw-ins . There
are differences also in the attitude towards a high kick, a hightackle, tackle from behind, sliding tackle, standing to obstruct withwide stretched arms, and the advantage rule . It is suggested thatfilms or loops should also be prepared by FIFA on these matters .
(xi) Some managers were of the opinion that there was no real chanceof widespread uniformity of interpretation until a greater exchangeof referees took place between the continents and internationalcourses were held regularly .
(xii) Some fear was again expressed that star players would be marked
men and that the task of tackling a star player would be undertaken
by several opponents in order to avoid detection. In the event,
though a few games were spoiled by too much intimidating, dangerous and sometimes foul tackling, most teams played clean football .
13

SPORTS MEDICINEThe Technical Study Group were approached by the majority of team
doctors who felt that a conference should be called to discuss the special
physiological and psychological problems of the World Cup competition
in Mexico, and it was felt that an opportunity had been missed
during the tournament itself. It may be possible to redeem this situationand to consider recommendations for arrangements for a conference
before or during the next tournament in the Federal Republic of
Germany .
Dr Guillen of Peru also suggested that FIFA should set up a study
group to inquire into the problems related to the integration of teammembers of varying social backgrounds and status .
PREPARATION TRAINING AND PROGRAMMEOF INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
The amount and kind of special training ofsquads in preparation for theWorld Cup final competition by the 16 competing nations varied greatly ;and so, too, did the number ofmatches arranged for international teams .
There were several influencing factors .
(a) Players chosen to represent their countries belonged to clubs, mostof which had commitments with intensive league programmes andcup competitions throughout a football season of eight to ninemonths' duration. Some of the national associations can only call on
the services of club players for international matches and special
training within the limits agreed with leagues and clubs .
(b) Countries, such as Sweden, USSR, Czechoslovakia, Rumania andBulgaria have a break in their football season of two to three-and-ahalfmonths in winter (December, January, February and March), andin order to fit in with the selected times of May to June for theWorld Cup final in Mexico, some adjustment was necessary to thedomestic league programme . For Brazil and other South Americancountries, there is a break in January at the height of theirsummer.
In these periods when domestic league competitions are suspended
it is possible for the national squad to make a tour of othercountries where football is played during these months . USSR,
Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Sweden organized tours in SouthAmerica during this winter period, and Brazil arranged a tour ofEurope at the same time.
14

Countries which restart their football seasons in March feel that they
are at a disadvantage when arrangements are always made for the
final tournament to take place in May and June ; players have notreached their peak form and there is little time in two months togain experience of playing together .
On the other hand, countries which normally complete their season's
league fixtures in May or June, find that their players are tired after
a full season of club matches, often with two matches a week in its
final stages .
(c) Most countries had a four year plan, but preparation training
increased after the team qualified in the preliminary competition .
El Salvador and Morocco only commenced serious preparation after
qualification and the appointment of their coaches some three months
and six months respectively before the final competition .
(d) Some nations had the additional benefit of having participated withamateur teams in the Olympic Games football tournament in Mexico
in 1968 . Other nations were able to fit in tours of South America,
including visits to Mexico, where they gained experience of the
problems associated with altitude, temperature, etc .
As the host nation, Mexico made special efforts to prepare its team and,in the event, achieved greater success than in any previous final competition . Players in the squad were brought together from January until
the competition, during which time they played 26 matches, including
some in Mexico City against all the teams in the final tournament except
Israel, Morocco and El Salvador .
They were privileged also in having the magnificent new Centro deCapacitation, headquarters ideally constructed and equipped for the purpose of training a soccer team and situated in close proximity to the
Azteca Stadium .
Apart from Mexico, no other country came near to matching thethoroughness and extent of Brazil's preparation training and match
programme . If success in a final competition depends on this, then thedetail of the arrangements by Brazil deserves close study .
Though training and matches with an eye to selection took place in1966 and 1967, the year 1968 saw the beginning of full-scale preparationof the Brazilian team, In this year, after 35 consecutive days of squadtraining, the team made a long tour in June, playing five teams in
Europe, two matches in Mexico, two against Peru and two against
Paraguay . Altogether in that year the national team played 21 matches .
In the following year, 1969, in addition to 13 matches, Brazil visited
Bogotá, 2,630 metres in altitude, for a period of training lasting 20 days .
The selected squad for the World Cup final competition assembled on
15

February 12, 1970 and stayed together, playing nine matches, before
arriving in Mexico on May 1, exactly one month before their first gameof the tournament .
This preparation training period of 31/2 months, included 92 working
days and 19 free days . The working days were split into two training
sessions, giving a total of 4,605 minutes of training apportioned asfollows
Minutes
600
Warming up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Physical training :380(i) Long distance-Cooper aerobic USAF method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
400(ii) Gymnastics-no weights, but resistance work in pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70(iii) Interval training-200 metre basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70(iv) Circuit training-no weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
530
Technical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tactical
430(i) Group work on reduced areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
715(ii) Team work on whole field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice matches-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,170
240
Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,605
Within the four year period Brazil had played against Bulgaria,
Czechoslovakia, England, Germany FR, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay .
USSR was also able to plan several training periods for its squad ofplayers, and arranged an extensive match programme against othercountries and club teams :1967-15 national, 8 clubs ; 1968-12 national, 5 clubs ; 1969-8 national,
6 clubs ; and 1970-4 national, 5 clubs .
England, Sweden, West Germany and Israel had between 10 and 13
matches in seasons 1968 or 1969 ; most other teams arranged six orseven matches a season .
In Western European countries where the league programme of clubmatches continued throughout the winter until the end of April, 1970,
players were not brought together for periods of special training except
for the few days when teams assembled for international matches.
On the other hand, USSR, Rumania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia andSweden arranged training periods and tours during the winter months,
when domestic club football was suspended .
Uruguay adopted a three-stage programme of building up the nationalteam :(i) Winning the qualification games using experienced players from
Nacional and Penarol .
16

(ii) Selection and training of young and still inconspicuous players invarious centres, from which 28 new players were chosen for thesquad of 40.
(iii) Intense preparation of the 40 players, who were reduced in March
1970 to 26 and then to the final 22.
The programme of training and preparation during 1970 included seven
official matches in Montevideo and then the team was assembled on
April 18 for special acclimatisation tour and training on the way to
Mexico .
Following the keen disappointment at the team's showing in 1966,
Bulgaria made extensive preparations at all levels of international football
to improve their performance . They won the European Youth Tournament in 1969, and were the unofficial European Under-23 Champions .
The senior team played matches all over the world, drawing withEngland and Italy. During the closed season, December to -March, in
1969, they undertook a tour of South America, including four games ataltitude, two in Peru and two in Mexico . In January, 1970, a squad ofplayers was taken to a high altitude training camp to undergo hard
physical conditioning and tests.
Rumania began special preparations two years before the final
competition . Each time an international match was played on a
Sunday, a squad of 16 to 18 players was assembled on the previous
Monday and stayed together until the following Monday. As time
progressed, preference was given to younger players and the team's
average age fell to 24. Physical tests were given regularly . They included :(i) 30 metre sprints(ii) 60 metre sprints(iii) 90 metre sprints with right angle turns at each 30 metres(iv) 10 stint circuit test(v) Technical test with football.
In the last six months, Rumania used the winter break for medical
checks and three weeks' training in Bucharest, followed by a tour inSouth America with six matches in Brazil, one in Argentina and one in
Peru. Final acclimatisation took place in April and May before departure
to Mexico on May 11 .
ACCLIMATISATION
It is well-known that changes of environment, which affect physiological
functions of the body, can also affect fitness and playing standards offootball teams. Medical science has done much to prevent serious
17

disturbances by using antidotes for virus infections, and saline intake tocounteract loss of body salt through excessive dehydration . Experience atthe time of the Olympic Games football tournament had dispelled theexaggerated fears about the ill-effects of playing football in Mexico .
Nevertheless, the value of pre-acclimatisation experience and of a periodof acclimatisation immediately before the World Cup final was accepted bymost competing teams. Special acclimatisation outside their own countries
was not necessary for the teams of Mexico, El Salvador and Peru .
Israel (Guadalajara and Leon), El Salvador (Leon), Bulgaria (Leonand Mexico City), Czechoslovakia (Guadalajara), Brazil (Puebla) had
gained experience of match play at various stadia during the Olympic
Games .
USSR, England, Germany FR and Bulgaria made special tours,
sometime before the World Cup final, to South America which included
matches in Mexico .
Special training at high attitude some time before the assembly of thesquad for the World Cup was arranged by Rumania (three weeks in the
Carpathian Mountains), Czechoslovakia (two weeks at Font Romeu inFrance), Morocco (three weeks at 3,000 feet), Israel (ten days in
Addis Ababa) and Bulgaria (Training camp in mountains) .
However, the amount of acclimatisation just before the event inorder to improve the oxygen intake capacity of the blood is claimed
to be the important factor . Critical altitudes are above 2,000 metres andacclimatisation at altitudes higher than this is said to improve oxygen
intake capacity more completely .
A comparison of the acclimatisation preparation just prior to theeight finals shows the importance which various countries attached tothis physiological phenomenon . The lengths of the pre-competition periodof acclimatisation are shown diagrammatically, but the detail of the
programme is also of interest. (See attached programme .)Uruguay placed great emphasis on the final spell of preparation. The
squad left Montevideo on April 16 and played matches in Lima (Peru),
then went on to special training and a match at Bogotd (Colombia) .
From there to Quito (Ecuador), down to sea level to Guayaquil and backfor another match on May 12 at Bogotd. The team arrived in Mexico
on May 14 and went to their headquarters in Puebla .
Brazil and England left their countries a month before the competition for tours and matches in Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia .
USSR, Rumania and Bulgaria spent a fortnight in the mountains
before flying to Mexico to arrive on May 10, 13 and 16 respectively .
Czechoslovakia and Belgium went direct to Mexico arriving on May 7
and 9 .
18

Most other teams arrived ten days to a fortnight before the firstmatch . Germany FR arrived on May 16, going straight to Leon .
They had planned to test all players for acclimatisation in a pressurechamber in Cologne but, in the event, the congested league programmedue to bad weather prevented all players from taking these tests, andalso curtailed the programme of general training, though two international matches were played in May before departure .
The deficiency of oxygen in the blood when performing strenuous
activity at high altitude increases respiration rate and induces feelingsof discomfort . Rumania found that, whereas at home a 100 metre run
required on average two respirations, in Guadalajara an all-out sprint
over this distance demanded five respirations .
Early arrival in Mexico was necessary for two other adaptation
reasons, that of the body's adjustment to the time change, whichtakes between six to ten days to become acceptable, and that of performing strenuous activity under strong solar radiation, which causes
heavy loss of body moisture with the discomfort of thirst .
The combined efforts of these changes caused some players to lose
normal standards of physical condition which, in turn, affected
playing standards . Reports on tests and individual case records, taken
by medical officers, afford information of value to future competitions
where environmental changes call for a period of acclimatisation, andwhere it is necessary to plan a programme to obtain the optimum
performance levels .
However, football is a game of skill, and it is possible therefore to
use tactical and technical skill to control the speed of play . Several teams
had developed a strategy of play which can be called'stop-go' football,where the ball is `held' or interpassed defensively before the moment
when it is decided to make an attack . It is possible that this kind of
approach caused teams to concentrate on conserving energy and lessened
the inclination to go `all out' to fight for possession and counter attack.
In contrast to this approach a few teams, like Brazil, Peru and Germany
FR, excelled themselves in pressing forward in attacking play .
The fears associated with acclimatisation seemed to disappear as
teams began to play and prove their stamina . Some teams grew in strengthand belief in their skill as the competition progressed, none more so thanBrazil, Italy, Germany FR and Uruguay who reached the semi-finals.
It would be wrong to discount the weakening effects of heat andhigh altitude ; it would be equally wrong to exaggerate them . On thewhole, full credit is due to all teams for the careful preparation andeffort which provided a tournament of many outstanding games offootball .
19

OBSERVATIONS ON MATCHESOF THE WORLD CUP FINAL TOURNAMENT
Before the start of the 1966 World Cup competition in England, managersof competing teams expressed the view that the matches would confirm
the growing trend towards defensive football and there would be astronger emphasis on team fitness and hard tackling to win possessionof the ball . In the event they were right in their prediction .
Later some of the managers expressed regret that the high stakes ofcompetitive football throughout the world were compelling more use ofdefensive tactics and a restriction of attacking play, giving rise to many
unattractive games .
The Technical Study Group in its report supported the opinion thatthe solution to the problems of defensive play lay in the hands of players
and coaches, and that methods of attack should be developed to overcome the stifling effects of a seven to nine player defensive screen in
front of goal .
In the last four years football in Western Europe has not seemed tochange a great deal, though Eastern European countries have tried to use
a 4-2-4 framework for basic patterns of play with at least four forwards
moving into attack and USSR has attempted also to develop powerfullong range shooting .
In South America, Brazil has continued with its 4-2-4 pattern and its
liking for attacking football . Peru, too, produced a national team for theWorld Cup competition whose success was largely based on attacking
play .
From the interviews with managers in Mexico before the World Cup
final competition began, there was still some fear that, unless the referees
were strong in their control, many games might be marred by roughplay. Differences in habits of play and temperament were thought to be
the most likely causes of upset . To the surprise of many experts, mostgames were played in a good spirit, and several of them produced aremarkable standard of attacking football .
Some among the European managers thought that the problems ofaltitude and heat had prevented teams from playing at full pace . The
need to conserve energy for a series of matches caused them to adapt theirtactics accordingly . Instead of tackling energetically, players backed away indefence, and, when in possession of the ball, they frequently used a 'stopgo'variety of play. Even substitution was used to give `key' players a rest .
Club football inevitably has a strong influence on the development ofa player's style of play, and the clubs are affected by the demands oftheir home competition . In Italy players generally subordinate their20individual abilities to club tactics, which are largely defensive in nature,since these tactics have proved to be more successful in terms of league
positions and finance. With 50 or more club matches in a season it isscarcely possible for the coach of the national team to achieve a different
style of team play within the space of a few weeks.
In Europe team tactics and their adaptation have become importantfeatures of performance. There is much `running off the ball'-that iswhere players run continuously to find new positions when they are not inpossession of the ball . Players try to create spaces to make it easier
to pass the ball, and to draw the opposing defenders into false
positions, and the gap which frequently appears on the flank is often
exploited by defenders running forward into an advanced attacking
position .
Spearhead forwards tend to be players who are quick and skilful, or
else who possess outstanding athletic ability ; above all, they arecourageous in their determination to force their way past opposition andin their readiness to shoot at the slightest opportunity . Long throughpasses and high centres from the flanks are common techniques of play .
Defenders in these teams are expert in covering each other, in interception, heading and tackling techniques, and in the use of controlledinter-passing out of defence . The best teams in Europe have freed
themselves from rigid patterns of play . Players are capable of varying
their functions between defence and attack ; they adapt their playaccording to the strength and weaknesses of the opposing sides .
In South America players seem to acquire an additional dimension
in standards of ball control and inter-passing skill . Speed of movement
is characteristic of most forwards enabling them to evade tackles and to
run quickly while controlling the ball . Inter-passing, both at short andlong range, is very accurate . Midfield play can be quickly turned toattack . When South American players enjoy their football they seemto develop a quicker sense of anticipation of each other's intentions in avariety of inter-passing movements .
It was thought to be a fitting reflection of the comparable strengthof football in South America and Europe that the semi-finals produced
two teams from each continent . Brazil and Uruguay had made long andthorough preparation of their teams, whereas Germany FR and Italy
arrived in Mexico after only a short get-together of players and with noaltitude acclimatisation training or match play at high altitude .
Both Brazil and Uruguay assert that one of the chief factors underlying their success was the thorough and detailed training for physicalfitness . Players performed at near the best of their ability and were
unaffected by the altitude or heat . Germany FR and Italy shared the21feeling of several managers that the heat and the consequent loss of bodymoisture turned out to be a greater problem than altitude .
When the managers/coaches of the four semi-final teams met the
Study Group in London in August 1970, with the World Cup behind
them, they reported that, apart from essential changes of players forinjury or substitution, they had attempted to keep the same team
together for all matches . West Germany called upon 19 players, Italy
used 18, Brazil 16 and Uruguay 15 . A policy seemed to be accepted that
it is essential to keep the same players because they become attuned tomatch play and combine together with more understanding as the competition proceeds . There is always a lingering doubt about the `match
fitness' of reserves who, once the competition starts, are prevented fromhaving match practice outside the competition .
Looking back over the whole series of matches in the 1970 tournamentin Mexico, the Study Group felt that five matches were unforgettable :Brazil-Italy, Brazil-Uruguay, Italy-Germany, Brazil-England andGermany-England .
BrazilBrazil were worthy winners of the 1970 World Cup tournament .
Excepting only the game against England, which was narrowly won
by the only goal, Brazil scored three or four goals in every match .
Many of these goals were brilliantly achieved from clever approach play .
The tally for six matches was 19 goals for Brazil and 8 against .
It was said that the defence was vulnerable, but a team which throws its
players into attack must at times weaken its defensive shield, and, in any
case, there were several games in which the Brazilian defenders played
extremely well.
Czechoslovakia, in the first match, made many scoring openings, but
in the end they lost by the margin of 4-1, mainly due to the remarkable
individual skill of the Brazilian forwards, who together formed a versatileand flexible striking force .
Much of the fine attacking play of Brazil is constructed on simple but
deftly performed 'wall-passes' between two or more players, or on long
and accurate lobs which are then skilfully and quickly controlled andpassed on to a third player who is running into a shooting position .
But each Brazilian player could also strike on his own .
Fast muscle is fundamental to shooting power . The surface area ofcontact with the ball and the speed of the foot at the moment of
impact are the main ingredients of hard shooting. The Brazilians are22

gifted with this quality of muscle, and, additionally, through longpractice, have become skilful in placing and swerving shots.
Though the Czechoslovakian team started well, using good technicalfootball, their rhythm slowed down as the game went on, and retreating
defensive play became a doubtful tactic against Brazilian forwards
renowned for their capacity for individual attack .
Brazil's second match, which was against England, was one of theoutstanding games of the eight finals . Each team showed respect for theother . Throughout the game England defended resolutely and goalkeeper
Banks made one amazing save from a Pele header . England were under
severe pressure when Brazil scored the only goal . Tostao, after a weaving
dribble, lobbed the ball over to Pele who, momentarily controlling it,
drew two English defenders, including the left back, Cooper, and thencoolly stroked the ball into the path of Jair, whose driving shot was
unstoppable. From then on England continually attacked the Braziliangoal, and several long high centres put the goalkeeper and otherdefenders in difficulties, but unfortunately for England, two or three goodchances to equalize were wasted . Inevitably there were some clashes in thegeneral keenness to win possession of the ball, but, on the whole, play
was fair and the game was controlled well by the referee .
Brazil's worst performance in the eighth finals was against Rumania .
They started well, and scored twice in the first 20 minutes, but then they
seemed to lose their grip on the game . Probably their teamwork was
disturbed by changes in midfield due to the injury to Gerson . Rumania,
however, never gave up, and full credit is due to them for this . They
seemed to be determined to show that they were a force to be reckoned
with, and in this they succeeded ; in fact, but for inaccurate andsometimes unlucky shooting, they might have shaken Brazil far morethan in the event they did .
In all games Brazil used a four man zone defence, working in line,with the two inner defenders covering each other. These four defenders
used tactics to slow down opponents as they attacked, waiting foropportunities to intercept or tackle as the ball was inter-passed .
Sometimes these tactics became confused against speedy attacks . The
goalkeeper, Felix, looked insecure on occasions, but the defenders infront of him were the cause of some of his problems . The flank defenders occasionally overlapped by running forward into attacking
positions down the touchline .
The quarter final against Peru was a match of continuous attacks ateach end of the field . Peru had something of the Brazilian style of generalplay, but often their attacks were bunched in close inter-passing play on
the front edge of the penalty area. Chances to squeeze the ball through a23

packed defence by such tactics are lost by the slightest wrong touch orby an intercepting body or foot . Also, because play cannot, under these
conditions, be opened up on the flanks, the opposing defence is able toconcentrate its forces and blunt such attempts at penetration .
Peru dominated the game for 20 minutes at the end of the first half,and got on top again for a short period in the second half. Eventually,
however, the Brazilian attack won the day against talented opponents .
Jair was held on the right flank very effectively yet, towards the end of thegame, when he shifted his position to the left flank, he was able to score .
The semi-final match at Guadalajara between Brazil and Uruguay
produced some of the best football seen in any tournament . Uruguay
opened without any fear of the reputation of Brazil and took commandof the game early in the first half by imposing their own pace andrhythm of play . But again, they seemed to lack goal scoring forwards,
and throughout this tournament they missed the injured Rocha sadly, andthe first goal scored by Cubilla in the eighteenth minute was more theresult of mistakes by the Brazilian defence than anything else . At thispoint Brazil took over and accelerated the pace of the game . Clodoaldo
equalized in the last minute of the first half from a pass by Tostao
which took the Uruguayan defenders by surprise . This gave Brazil a
psychological uplift in their play and in the second half the teamdeveloped combinations of inter-passing which amazed even thoseexperts who had seen many of the great Brazilian performances of thepast . Some of the first-time-passing sequences in movements towards
goal were truly remarkable . The second goal was scored in the seventysixth minute by Jair, and from then on Uruguay threw everything into
attack, which exposed their defence all the more and made possible theBrazilian goal two minutes from time .
Mazurkiewiez, the Uruguayan goalkeeper is considered to be theequal of Banks, England's great goalkeeper, and he well justified that
estimation of him in this tournament and this game . He is athleticallydaring in cutting off high centres and exceptionally accurate in throwing
the ball to start a new attack from defence .
The flair for innovation when team performance is running high iswell illustrated by two movements from Pele late in the game . First, hequickly turned to intercept a long throw from Mazurkiewiez some 40
yards down field, and, without attempting to control the ball, volleyed alow drive which brought a spectacular save from the goalkeeper. Thenhe chased after a loose pass with Mazurkiewiez running out of goal tointercept . Pele's feint took the goalkeeper to the left while the ball ran on,
and then Pele veered round and, with a spin turn, placed a shot throughthe recovering full backs which narrowly missed the post . Both move24

ments were audaciously executed and called for immense skill, timing,
judgment and speed .
The Uruguayans played extremely well, forcing the best out of
every Brazilian player . Felix made a miraculous point blank save from
Cubilla . Alberto, Brito, Piazzo and Everaldo defended supremely well,though occasionally with desperation . Gerson and Clodoaldo wove
patterns of astonishing intricacy in the middle of the field and cleverly
prompted the spearhead forwards . Jair and Tostao produced flashes ofspectacular dribbling and Rivelino used his extraordinary feint play of hisleft foot over the ball to great effect and threatened repeatedly with his
powerful shooting power . But above all Brazil played well as a team toproduce some wonderfully sustained football .
In the final match against Italy, Brazil had complete confidence intheir tactical and technical superiority, and began to express themselves
freely . Italy, on the other hand, seemed a little afraid to carry on with thehighly motivated attacking play they had displayed in their brilliant
encounter with Germany in the semi-final . They kept to their customary
man-to-man marking in the final line of their defence, and as a result
no one seemed to mark Gerson, and when Jair moved over to the left
flank, followed by Facchetti, Carlos Alberto was unimpeded in making
attacking approaches down the right wing . Throughout the game Gerson
and Carlos Alberto were unmarked, which tactically contributed much to
Italy's downfall .
For the first 15 minutes the Italian team held the Brazilian pressure
and were somewhat unlucky not to score from two powerful longdistance shots by Riva and Domenghini . However, in the seventeenth
minute, from a centre by Rivelino, Pele evaded his opponent and, withperfect timing, jumped high to head the ballpowerfully downwards insidede post .
Italy equalized as a result of over-confident play by Clodoaldo
allowing the ball to run loose to Boninsegna who, after a further
mix-up between Felix, Brito and Riva, recovered to shoot the ball into
an empty net .
In the sixty-fifth minute, Gerson, enjoying his freedom, scored a finesecond goal with a long shot from the edge of the penalty area . Then afree kick from the same player was headed back across the goal by Pele
for Jair to run in and score from close range .
From then on the Brazilians were in full cry and further successcould not be denied them, and when the goal came it was the best of thematch. Clodoaldo brilliantly beat five opponents in close space in midfield, and pushed the ball ahead to Jair who had crossed over from theright flank . Jair cut inside Facchetti and passed to Pele, who non25

chalantly held the ball, and then feinted to make a break and somesmerized three defenders, who moved to bar his way to goal. But
instead he stroked the ball into the path of Carlos Alberto, who,
running in at great speed on the right flank, hit a fast low shot acrossAlbertosi into the far side of the net .
At the end of the game hordes of Brazilian supporters flooded onto
the field to hail their heroes and proclaim their delirious pleasure not
only for the feat of winning the trophy for the third time, but also forthe manner in which it had been achieved. Though this demonstration
delayed the presentation ceremony the interruption was accepted good
humouredly by officials, who seemed to feel, with everyone who waspresent, that such an outburst was well justified and would, in any
case, have been impossible to contain .
PLAYERS TAKING PART IN BRAZIL'S SUCCESS WERE :FELIX (6 matches)
ALBERTO (6 matches)
BRITO (6 matches)
JAIR (6 matches)
GODOALDO (6 matches)(Substitute : EDU 73 Minutes)
TOSTAO (6 matches)
PIAZZA (6 matches)
EVERALDO (5 matches)(Substitute : MARTIN 56 minutes)
FONTANA (I match)
MARTIN (I match)
GERSON (4 matches)
RIVELINO (5 matches)(Substituted twice :PAULO CEZAR 73 minutes and67 minutes)
PELE (6 matches)
PAULO CEZAR (2 matches)
Italy
After two training matches in Toluca (2,680 metres), Italy picked its bestteam for the first match which was against Sweden . The exclusion ofRivera caused great controversy despite the fact that Mazzola, who hadtaken his place, played extremely well in this game . Sweden's tacticalorganisation was good, but individual technical skill was not sufficient toovercome the well-drilled man-to-man marking defensive system of the
Italians supported by a very fine goalkeeper in Albertosi .
The single goal of the match was scored by Domenghini from 20
metres distance, and when they left the field, Italy could consider
themselves fortunate winners ; this was the first time in 58 years that
Italy had defeated Sweden . The English referee, Taylor, controlled thegame well, but he was twice unlucky in his application of the advantage
26

rule . In the second incident he blew instantaneously for a foul on
Kindvall, the Swedish centre-forward, just outside the penalty area, but
Kindvall managed to recover and retain the ball, and had, therefore, an
excellent chanten of scoring an equalizer denied him. The direct freekick which had to be awarded by the referee was easily cleared .
In the second match Italy played Uruguay, who had also won theirfirst match against Israel . It was therefore important that neither teamshould lose this match, and this aim clearly decided the tactics of bothteams . The resulting game obviously disappointed the spectators, for there
were very few highlights, yet the discipline of the two sets of players in
keeping to a set tactical plan was quite exceptional ; both held tightdefences, crowded the midfield with close inter-passing play and madeno risky attacks .
After a win against Sweden and a tie against Uruguay, the Italianteam required only one more point from their game against Israel to win
Group 2 and qualify for the quarter finals . Yet if they lost against
Israel, all four teams in the group would have ended up with equal
points and the Italians might have been threatened with elimination .
The humiliating defeat by North Korea in 1966 could not have beenforgotten by the Italians and they must have felt extremely nervous
about this last match . On the other hand, Israel, the outsiders in thegroup, had nothing to lose and everything to gain, and they played without
signs of nervous stress . Israel began with self-confidence, showing good
defence and attacking verve . Italy opened cautiously, and continued witha packed defence and crowded mid-field play, using only Riva andBoninsegna as spearhead attackers . Boninsegna is an inexhaustible
fighter and Riva uses his explosive starts and powerful sprints to try
to force his way past two or three defenders . He persists, and seizes
every opening to shoot at goal . Valcareggi, the Italian manager,
brought in Rivera as a substitute for Domenghini in the second half,
but Mazzola was undoubtedly the best player in the Italian team inthis match . A draw was deserved though both teams missed several
chances .
Italy thus became the winners of Group 2 having scored only one
goal in three matches .
The game against Mexico was a further test of the mettle of the
Italians. Stimulated by 30,000 enthusiastic supporters at Toluca, theMexico team started with vigorous attacking play. Using a basic 4-3-3
formation, they pressed on with continuous attacks and for the first
20 minutes their goalkeeper, Calderon, was never seriously challenged .
In the twelfth minute Gonzalez scored for Mexico . However, the selfconfidence of the star Italian players began to return and overcome the27obvious partisanship of the spectators . From the first few attempts to
attack it was clear that the Mexican defence was unfirm . The equalizing
goal by Domenghini was rather lucky in that it was deflected by adefender .
At half-time Mazzola was replaced by Rivera, a switch which
determined the result of the match . Rivera took the strings of midfieldapproach play into a firm grasp, and his passes were so well-timed andaccurately measured that play was completely transformed . Here was aclear illustration of how a single player by cool reading of the game canharmonize the play of other colleagues round him . Both goals by Riva
were prepared by Rivera, and he himself scored one on his own . The
Italian team had at last shown something of their extraordinary qualities
as footballers .
The semi-final against Germany FR was a most exciting anddramatic game ; it was not particularly outstanding in a technical ortactical sense, but it was full of drama, suspense and incident whichhighly engaged the emotion of the spectators .
The first half was marked by caution on both sides ; both teams
adopted man-to-man marking and used a cover centre-back behind thelast line of defenders . Surprisingly, Italy scored the first goal when theball fell to Boninsegna from a rebound from Schnellinger's chin . Surrounded as he was by defenders, Boninsegna's shot left the goalkeeper
unsighted.
The Germans attacked more than Italy, but though Muller caused
several moments of anxiety the Italian defence held out until half-time .
Rivera again substituted in the second half for Mazzola, and Libuda
came on in place of Loehr of Germany FR . The Germans got well on
top, and several times the Italian defence almost capitulated ; as the gamewent on, Italy seemed to grow more desperate . The equalizer from
Schnellinger in injury time was as though written for a story book. A crossfrom Grabowski cleared all the Italian defenders and dropped into thesix-yard area, with Schnellinger running in from deep . He made to volleywith his left foot and, while in mid-air, pivoted to volley it into goalwith the inside of his right foot.
The spectators may have felt that the last 20 minutes of the second
half were excitingly tense and dramatic, but the next 30 minutes musthave seemed almost unbelievable . Four minutes after the re-start, Seeler
headed down to Muller, who beat the goalkeeper for the ball and put itover the goal line .
Four minutes later the dispirited Italians were cheered by Burgnich
seizing on a defensive mistake by Held and volleying the ball past Maier,in the German goal . Five minutes later, Riva rounded Schnellinger to28

drive past the advancing Maier to give Italy the lead once more . Then,
immediately the teams turned round for the last 15 minutes, the Germans
created havoc in the Italian defence, and Seeler headed from a cornerfor Muller to divert the ball into the Italian net-a piece of sheer
opportunism . For the Germans it was a tragedy when Schultz lost a tackle
on Boninsegna who running in towards goal, then pulled a back pass forRivera to pick his spot, using the side of his foot, to score the winninggoal . One could ask where the discipline of tactical defence was in either
team, but the players were motivated to make every effort in attack in agame which, in the last stages, was never allowed to settle down toordinary levels of football . It was a fantastic game by any standards!
Federal Republic of Germany
On all counts, Germany's first match of the tournament against
Morocco appeared to be a foregone conclusion . Yet everyone wassurprised . Morocco made no pretence ; they were going to defend at all
costs . Three players were always close to Muller and even when Morocco
were taking corners five defenders stayed upfield to keep a close eye on
two German forwards .
In the first half Germany FR had the clear run of three-quarters of
the field, but they did not strike a rhythm, and their over-long passes
were inaccurate, allowing the Moroccans to obtain possession of theball, and then hold the game in suspense with sequences of short interpassing which the Germans did nothing to prevent . When Moroccoscored their first goal Germany FR lost control of the game and,indeed, Morocco almost scored again . In the second half a good
opportunist goal by Seeler brought fresh life to the German team, andthen a second goal came from a fortunate rebound from the crossbar, but
Germany had had a very disappointing game .
In their second match, which was against Bulgaria, Germany FR
looked a different side altogether . The Bulgarians had made manychanges, and started using a 4-2-4 formation with slow build-up in midfield and long passes to the centre forward . Bulgaria scored thefirst goal from a set-piece free kick which was cleverly executed withan attacker running in behind the wall of defenders .
Germany FR equalized through Libuda, who played extremely well,helping Muller to the second goal, and then gaining a third forGermany when he was brought down inside the penalty area early inthe second half. Muller scored from the spot . The spirit of the
Bulgarians seemed to die with this third goal, and Seeler and Muller
were able to add further goals .
29

The crucial match of this particular group in Leon was between
Germany FR and Peru, which turned out to be an intriguing battle ofintelligence between the good defensive play of Germany FR matchedagainst the adventurous forward attack of Peru . The deciding factor was
Peru's own weak defence, which allowed Muller great freedom, which hegratefully used by scoring a first half hat-trick. Any other team would
have collapsed completely, but Peru kept at it and scored from a freekick just before half-time . With only 20 minutes left, the game changed
dramatically and several times Peru went near to scoring. This was Peru
playing at its best, but on the whole Germany FR deserved to win .
In the quarter finals Germany FR met England on a very hot day .
Throughout the first half England dominated the play, every man
working for the other and denying Germany FR even a glimpse of goal .
England used a basic 4-4-2 formation and the Germans attempted tomark man-to-man, with Schnellinger covering freely behind the defence .
This meant that the German defenders were pulled all over the place
and the English full-backs were able to make repeated runs down theflanks where there was ample free space . The first goal to Englandcame from a cross by Newton, the full-back, to Mullery, who scored.
Soon after half-time a second goal came from a similar run by Newton
on the right flank and Peters scored from the cross .
England then began to play the ball around in a negative but
energy-conserving fashion in midfield-one sequence carried at least 18
passes . Finally a short pass was intercepted and Beckenbauer went
through to score with a quick low shot past Bonetti's diving body .
England were stunned, but might have scored a third time from a Hurst
header which scraped the far post . Germany FR then took control of
the game and, through a back header from Seeler, which he was lucky
enough to drop under the bar with Bonetti stranded, Germany FR wereundoubtedly fighting to come back and win . Ironically, here were thesame two teams again facing extra time as in the World Cup final in
London .
Grabowski had been substituted for Libuda in the second half andBell was put on for Charlton after Germany FR's first goal . In thetwentieth minute Hunter was sent on for Peters, and at this stage
Newton seemed to be injured . Later he failed to cut out a cross fromGrabowski which Loehr headed back across the goal for Muller to makethe winning score . From their first goal Germany FR had gone fromstrength to strength, whereas England seemed to be dispirited by goals
which they felt came from defensive errors . Pulling back a two-goal lead insuch fashion and then winning in extra time after a gruelling game wasindeed a remarkable achievement for the German team .
30

Uruguay
The match for third and fourth places in the World Cup final competition seldom produces a great game . Maybe this is because it does notassume anything of the importance of the final, but in this case
Uruguay and Germany FR were somewhat spent in body and spirit after
their respective tremendous efforts in the semi-finals .
Germany made changes, putting in Wolter for Maier as goalkeeper,and Weber for the injured Beckenbauer . The pace of the game was slow,
but the German team did its best and in this display Overath proved that
he is one of the greatest midfield players in the world . The Uruguayan
team were unlucky at least not to have shared honours with Germany
FR for they had five times as many goal chances .
In all Uruguay scored four goals in six matches, and two of thesewere against Israel, a clear reflection on their limited goal scoring ability .
In the second half of this game they dominated play and, though theWest German defence was at times desperately stretched, it managed tohold out . When all else failed, young Ancheta, one of the world's best
defenders, went up into the Uruguayan attack, and Wolter had to makea wonderful save from his strong header . The single goal, by West
Germany, was typical of their now basic approach play-a cross from
Libuda, which Seeler headed to Muller, who then passed backwards into
the path of Overath for him to shoot past Mazurkiewiez.
Uruguay have individual ball control on a par in technical skill andexpression with that of other South American countries . They are mastersof slow bunched play in midfield and one wonders what greatness they
could attain if they worked at the rate of European teams and weremore precise in their shooting.
El Salvador, Morocco and Israel were thought to be out of their classin the final of such a competition, but credit must be given to them fortheir performances . Though El Salvador were soundly beaten in theirmatches, they were not the easy victims one expected. Morocco also
might have made the biggest impact in the final series of matches when
they played Germany FR, and Israel are justifiably proud of the matchesdrawn against Sweden and Italy . Sweden must have been bitterly disappointed, for, after losing narrowly to Italy and drawing with Israel,
they had to win by at least two goals against Uruguay to qualify. Though
they won this crucial match it was by a single goal, scored in the last
moments of the game, which was not enough .
USSR, too, could feel rankled by failing in the quarter finals. They
had emerged from a difficult inaugural match against the host country
and went on to take the first place in Group 1 . The win against
31

Belgium was their best performance when they revealed tremendous
shooting power . The quarter final against Uruguay was spoiled by aseries of fouls, including dangerous tackles, player holding and tripping .
USSR had only themselves to blame for not taking the lead, particularlyin the first half when Kbmelnitski missed on open goal . Laurens Van
Ravens kept the game under tight control, but the Uruguayan goal by
Esparrago was contested by the USSR players who clearly thought thatthe ball had already gone out of play over the goal-line before it wascentred to Esparrago .
Mexico, the host country, had prepared its team with the same
thoroughness they had given to the organization of the tournament .
In trying to fulfil the hopes of the Mexican people, the pressure on theplayers could be assessed from the nights of ecstatic jubiliation andchanting demonstration seen in the streets of Mexico City following each
Mexican success . Mexico played well enough to reach the quarter finals
for the first time in their history but then had to concede to the greater
experience and talent of Italy .
The opening game, played before a crowd which exceeded the official
capacity of the stadium which was given as 107,000, on a day of brightsunshine, saw the Mexican style of play, using a flexible 4-3-3 formationin which the defence was resolute and quick in the tackle, althoughoccasionally it looked anxious and rather desperate . When in possession
there was a slow build up in the middle of the field, then a quick
break away, then slow interpassing again . There was no attempt at
continuous attack, perhaps out of respect for the capabilities of the
USSR team . As the game went on it became more of a stalemate,shown by the fact that there were only four good shots at goal in thewhole game .
To be certain of qualifying, Mexico had to win against Belgium .
Both teams used a six man defensive screen, but whereas Belgium seldom
attacked with more than three forwards, Mexico often used four, five andsix players . In this respect Mexico deserved to win, for, though the Belgian
players have strength and stamina, they did not show the spirit to developthese qualities to the degree that they usually do . They had only two
good chances to score . Mexico had few more . Many shots were hopefully
made from 25 to 30 metres . Unfortunately the penalty from which thewinning goal was scored by the Mexican captain Pena was hotly disputedby the Belgian team . Once again the Mexican team were inclined to passsquare and backwards when there were chances of a forward through pass .
Seldom did they use the long ball in attack. Towards the end of the gameplay deteriorated as the Mexican team became anxious to hold on to theirslender lead and win the game . Mexico and USSR gained five points
32each in their group, and leadership of the group was decided by adrawing of lots, which fell to USSR, and Mexico had to travel to playin Toluca for the quarter final where they were defeated by Italy .
TRAINING PLAN OF THE BRAZILIAN TEAM
Objective of the plan
To define in general terms the directives for the physical, technical andtactical training and psychological preparation of the Brazilian footballteam chosen to play for the Jules Rimet in Mexico during June, 1970.
Training aims
Time available-from February 12, when the players are called together,
the period of time available for training will be up to the eve of thefirst match which will begin on June 3 . Thus we can count on 19 weeks
work ; the last four of which are taken up by the actual competition .
The sole aim of all training will be to bring the players to theirabsolute peak during the fifteenth week of work.
Periods of Training :PeriodLocality

Objectives

First week

Rio de Janeiro

Players report
Medical checks
Physical aptitude tests
Commencement ofTraining
Training Camp

Second to Sixth week

Rio de Janeiro

Basic Conditioning(Sessions of long andmedium intensity)

Seventh to Eighth week

Rio de Janeiro
Brasilia-Manaus
Bogotá-Guadalajara

Preparation
Trip to Mexico (with stop)
Settling in

Ninth to Twelfth week

Guadalajara

Adaptation to altitude33

(First step-1,680 m)
Period of conditioning(First phase) shorter andmore intense sessions
Sixteenth to Nineteenth
week

Guadalajara-Mexico

Competition period
Moderated sessions tomaintain condition andrecreation

General Timetable :Daily and weekly schedules
Taking the general as a basis plan, a detailed weekly schedule will beestablished within which activities will be meticulously planned to conform whenever possible to the general scheme, but in such a way that
adjustment can be made to suit conditions which may momentarily arise
and to fit in with necessary requirements in connection with journeys,
matches, medical or administration problems, bad weather, etc .
These detailed schedules are to be submitted to the President of theTechnical Commission at least a week in advance .
Timing and rota of training sessions
In principal, training will be divided into two sessions daily, each one
consisting of two hours .
In the morning training will be technical, with ball work, as thenervous system will be duly rested after a night's sleep, the players
will more easily assimilate the work, which aims to establish andperfect the reflexes and neuro-motor coordination .
In the afternoon, when the system has been more nourished, andthereby has greater reserves of energy the players will adjust better tophysical exertion .
As regards intensity, the `three day cycle' will be operated when
hard, medium and moderate sessions alternate successively . Duration andintensity will also be varied . This will facilitate assimilation, according
to experimental tests carried out by the Russian Ozolin .
34

Adaptation to the conditions of the place of competition
Altitude adaptation
Acclimatisation will take place by degrees, an initial period of fourweeks in Guadalajara (1,680 metres), and a period of three weeks at
Guanajuato (2,050 metres), so that adaptation may be attained in case wereach the finals in Mexico City (2,240 metres) . It must be emphasizedthat the physiological adaptation acquired will be maintained for 20 to
30 days, and we will thus attain our objective . Furthermore upon
returning to Guadalajara the team should be in excellent physical condition as this has been acquired at a high altitude .
The training sessions at altitude will be adapted as necessary to theconditions, especially as regards recuperation periods which will be
increased .
Adaptation of the biological rhythm
As Mexico has a four hour time differential from the Western region ofBrazil, a pre-arrival adaptation will be required for the body to acclimatize
to Mexican conditions . This will be obtained by a gradual and progressive
retarding of the players meal times and bed times until the time differential has been overcome .
Adaptation to sun radiation and heat
There should be no problem for our players to adapt to the sun and
the Mexican summer . The same cannot be said however, of our
European opponents, coming from a temperate climate .
Physical preparation
Objectives of physical preparation
The objective being the greatest possible development of the basic andspecific physical qualities of the players, this is a most importantcomponent in the context of general training of the team ; the main
aspects are :(a) Organic Preparation-To include those sessions which aim to improve the heart, circulatory and respiratory systems of theplayers, increasing the capacity to absorb and transport the necessary
oxygen to the muscles during long periods of physical exertion(aerobic) . Efforts will also be made to increase the resistance toworking without oxygen (anaerobic) by increasing the reserves ofalcali of the players .
35

(b) Neuro-muscular preparation-A series of exercises destined to perfect
speed of the players, to increase potential and the localized strengthof groups of muscles to increase flexibility and mobility of articulationand coordination of movements .

Methods to be used in Physical Training
Objective

Physical Qualities

Methods to be used

Bodily Training

EnduranceLong DistanceStamina(Cooper Scale)Interval Training
Time Training
Circuit Training
Sessions of Tactical andTechnical Training (TRN)

Strength
EnergyMuscular Stamina
Flexibility
Coordination

Circuit Training
Speed Work
Periods of :Natural Gymnastics
Acrobatic Gymnastics
Medicine-ball
Elastic Rope
Sessions of Tactical andTechnical Training (TRN)

Neuro-MuscularPreparation

Recreation Activities

Team Games
Walks
Cycling
Swimming

NOTES
In previous tests on the Brazil team the excellent muscular formations of the players was noted . Thus weight-lifting will not be
included for muscular preparation, especially because of the time
factor resulting in the player finding difficulty in adapting his newfound strength . However in exceptional cases of recuperation orcompensation work with weights could be employed .
36

2 . As the competition is to be held at an altitude higher than ours,
where oxygen is present at partially reduced pressure, special
emphasis will be given to the bodily training of the players, as there
is no doubt that their better adaptation to altitude will depend on
their physical preparation .
3 . So that the different types of training can be learned more quickly
and efficiently, the showing of films and slides of the different
exercises has been organized . This will facilitate their correct execution
by the players in the shortest possible time, in accordance with theadvanced teaching methods .
The basic principles of physical training
Only the most modern physical training methods will be used :(a) Biological individuality-No two individuals are exactly alike therefore these will be adapted to individual assimilation and capacity .
(b) Principle of overloading-The body will only develop if it is subjected
to a strain (load) greater than that to which it is accustomedotherwise the physical condition remains static .
(c) Stress Theory-The body does not react to weak stimulation but if
it is too strong it will be harmful . The range of stimulation
should be worked out individually .
Tests of Physical Aptitude
An evaluation of the initial conditions will be made from the tests ofphysical aptitude, which afford the trainers a speedy method of
measuring the average state of development of the physical qualities of
their athletes allowing them to discover the weak and strong points andto establish the individual commitments .
The ranges of tests to be used are as follows :Test

Execution

Verification

1-Cooper Test

12 minutes Run

Endurance

2-Speed Tests

50 metre Sprint withlaunched start

Speed ofposition

3-Circuit Training

Arm, leg and abdominal
exercises . `Burpee Test'

Strength
Localized muscularstrength
Staminaalterationof37

4-Flexibility Test

Leg side, front and backstretching . Spinal flexing

Muscular flexibility
Ease of articulation

5-Lartigue Test

Pulse at rest after 30 leg
bends

General bodily condition
Acclimatisation

Progress and Register of Training
During training, tests will be repeated periodically, each result will becompared to the previous ones, thus providing an evaluation of thework carried out . Trainers can then be guided on the load to be used andcan also have advance warning of overtraining or fatigue, which would
call for modification in the plan or even its temporary suspension . Thus
individual and group records are to be maintained up-to-date, on cards
whose information is confidential and can only be accessible to themembers of the Technical Commission or the trainers .
Technical preparation
Objective of the technical preparations
Technical preparations will include ball practice which will allow theplayers to perfect the execution of the fundamentals (basic movements)of football with the maximum efficiency and precision and with theminimum of effort and will also permit the initial tactical developmentof a collective sense, essential to modern football .
Methods to be used
Basically the sessions will consist of continual repetitions in the mostvaried conditions possible (individually-in groups, six a side games,etc.) of all the fundamentals of football (passing, shooting, ball control,
free kicks, tackling, saves, etc .) with special emphasis on those relating
to the position of each player . It must also be mentioned the marked
contribution made by these exercises to the physical training as they all
require considerable physical movement .

Resume of technical training
Disposition

Full Backs
Forwards

Mid Field

SingleBall control and balldomination
Carrying the ball
Body movements

Flexibility
Handling
Throwing out
Clearing by hand and feet
Goal kicks

Two or Three

Passing (ground; high, etc.)
short and long
Dribbling
Tackling
Sliding tackle
Heading
Wall passes

Saving (short, long andmedium range, low,
medium and high shots)
Turning the ball
Handling
Throwing out

Groups

Shooting-dead and moving
ball
Centres, corners, headers .
Flaying on and off the ballLong distance passes
Free kicks direct at goal
Forward and defensive
organisation
schemes (to a plan)

General training of savingin goalComing out of goal (high,low and medium corner)
Formation of the walls
Returning ball with handand feet
Positioning

Reduced team practice(organized inaccordance with thetactical plan)

Three vs Two, Four vs Three Putting the ball into play
Two vs One, etc.
with feet and hands
Forward vs Defence; Marking Organizing the defence
and covering (schemes)
offensive scheme ; field
Placings

Goalkeepers

Tactical preparation
As this is the complement to, and culmination of, the physical andtechnical aspect which results in the best use being made of theindividual characteristics of each player, the tactical training will
harmonize, each within a whole, as called for in the modern approachto the game .
It will be managed by the Tactical Manager (Zagallo), whose responsibility it will be to establish the system of collective action of the team,39

by means, not only of team training, but also by playing games with
reduced teams (six a side, etc .), explanatory talks, and films about thetactics to be employed .
Psychological preparation
The psychological reaction of the players will depend on various factors,
among which are the good physical technical and tactical condition of
the team, the atmosphere in the training camp, relations between players,
managers, trainers and directors . It will depend on adequate and healthy
recreation at free time and on the personal home and social circumstancesof each player .
Considering that, managers, trainers, and players are all experienced
and counting on the support of an efficient administration it would appear
likely that the psychological condition of the team will be the best
possible to cope with both with training imposed and the competition
proper .
Administrative questions
Places of training .
Equipment necessary .
Trips, tours, etc.
Training camps .
Any other items .
Medical control
As provided for in the report from the Medical Department .
The Training Commission

Rio de Janeiro, GB
February 12, 1970 .