World Cup wonder goals: Breitner’s belter by the Rhine
Watch Paul Breitner score a spectacular swerver for West Germany against Yugoslavia in 1974.
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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