10 Greatest Comebacks in World Cup Knockout History

#3 1970 World Cup Quarter-final: West Germany 3-2 England

Volume 2. Page: 34. Picture 5. Football. 1970 World Cup Quarter Final. Leon, Mexico. 15th June 1970. West Germany 3 v England 2. England+s Brian Labone (left) and Francis Lee (centre) challenge West Germany+ Klaus Fischel, Franz Beckenbauer, goalkeeper

Where England’s misery really started. The Three Lions have a checked history in the World Cup as fifty-two years of disappointing tournaments since 1966, several of which were at the hands of Germany. On 14th June 1970, the opposite was true. England were defending World Cup champions, having defeated Germany 4-2 in the final. 67 minutes into the game, it seemed as if history was going to repeat itself. Goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters had given England a comfortable 2-0 lead.

It took one of the greatest players in history Franz Beckenbauer to spur an improbable comeback. The German defender dribbled past an English player before rifling home a goal outside the box. But Die Mannschaft were not happy with a consolation goal as striker Uwe Seeler scored a scruffy equalizer. In extra-time, Germany pushed for a winner as Jurgen Grabowski’s cross was headed back across the box for a Gerd Muller tap-in.

Thus, ended a remarkable comeback- Germany had recovered from 2-0 to reach the semi-finals while also eliminating the defending champions (and avenging 1966) at the same time. Germany’s World Cup came to an end in the aforementioned game against Italy, where they were at the receiving end of a similarly remarkable comeback.

Nonetheless, this comeback in retrospect feels bigger than that particular tournament- since then Germany have become footballing giants while the English national team has transformed from perennial contenders to perennial disappointments (though that might change in Russia).