Italy 4-3 West Germany (1970)

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Gerd Müller's header for West Germany in the 110th minute.

The semi-final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup between Italy and West Germany is known in those countries as the "Game of the Century" (Italian: Partita del Secolo; German: Jahrhundertspiel; Spanish: Partido Del Siglo). It was played on 17 June 1970 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Italy won 4:3 after five goals were scored in extra time, the only FIFA World Cup game in which this has happened.

1 The match
2 Match overview
3 Monument
4 Line-ups

[edit] The match

Italy led for the majority of the match, after Roberto Boninsegna scored in the 8th minute. However, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger equalised for West Germany during the 90th minute in injury time. German television commentator Ernst Huberty exclaimed "It had to be Schnellinger!", since Schnellinger played in Italy's professional football league, Serie A, at AC Milan (and with AC Milan he never scored) and previously for A.S. Roma and A.C. Mantova. It was also his first goal in 47 matches. The match's regulation time ended with the score tied 1:1 and was the point when the game's extra time turned into an athletic brawl.

Gerd Müller put West Germany ahead in the 94th minute but Tarcisio Burgnich equalised four minutes later and Luigi Riva put the Italians back in front. Gerd Müller scored again for West Germany to level at 3:3. Yet, as television cameras were still replaying Müller's goal, Italy's Gianni Rivera scored the decisive goal in the 111th minute. Being left unmarked near the penalty area, Rivera connected a fine cross made by Boninsegna, securing the victory for Italy at 4:3.

[edit] Match overview

June 17, 1970 16:00	Italy	4–3 (AET)	West Germany	Mexico City, Estadio Azteca Ref: Yamasaki (Peru) Attendance: 80,000
	Boninsegna 8' Burgnich 98' Riva 104' Rivera 111'		Schnellinger 90' Müller 94', 110'

[edit] Monument

There is a monument commemorating this match in front of Aztec Stadium. On a plaque the following sentence is engraved: El Estadio Azteca, Rinde Homenaje A Las Selecciones De: Italia (4) Y Alemania (3) Protagonistas En El Mundial De 1970, Del "Partido Del Siglo" 17 De Junio De 1970. English: The Azteca Stadium pays homage to the National Teams of Italy (4) and Germany (3), who starred in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, the "Game of the Century". June 17th 1970.