24 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Paul Breitner
Yugoslavia v West Germany
Germany 1974 | Group B
Rheinstadion, Dusseldorf
“All hell broke loose when we lost [to East Germany],” explained Gerd Muller. “Helmut Schon was livid. The press didn’t hold back. There was a lot of debate over whether [Wolfgang] Overath or [Gunter] Netzer should play, whether the players’ heads were elsewhere.”
One of those players was Paul Breitner, who was being linked with a move from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid and did a lot of talking off the pitch. If that was often contentious, the talking he did on it was often coruscating. Yugoslavia discovered that in their first game in the second phase.
The 22-year-old left-back jinked inside and unleashed a spectacular, swerving strike that flew into the back of Enver Maric’s net and helped West Germany win 2-0.
Highlights: Yugoslavia 0-2 West Germany
Netzer versus Overath
The Frankfurt water fight
