World Cup wonder goals: Uwe’s implausible header
Watch Uwe Seeler score an impossible header to help West Germany come from behind and overcome England in the 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico quarter-finals.
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West Germany v England Mexico 1970 | Quarter-finals Nou Camp, Leon
“You don’t stand a chance,” Uwe Seeler whispered to Geoff Hurst as the teams walked out of the tunnel. “Today is our Wembley.” The England striker, hero of their 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany in the previous World Cup final, grinned dismissively. Alf Ramsey now boasted what was widely regarded as a meliorated model of their 1966 side, and the Three Lions duly took a 2-0 lead. A brilliant Franz Beckenbauer goal gave the West Germans a chance, but with less than 10 minutes remaining, Helmut Schon’s men were heading for San Carlos Airport rather than Mexico City. One of the most outrageous headers in World Cup history nevertheless diverted their direction. Karl-Heinz Schnellinger pumped a high, hanging cross into the box. “I had my back to goal,” explained the Hamburger. “I only had one option: to get my head under the ball and aim it up and over the goalkeeper.” Amazingly, it beat Peter Bonetti and sent the contest to extra time, where Gerd Muller finished off England.
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