1970: Fourteen teams qualified for the showpiece in Mexico to join the host nation and defending champions England. Minnows El Salvador, Israel and Morocco made their debut on the big stage.
The tournament is fondly remembered for epic matches, players with flair and arguably the best national side to have graced a World Cup — the Brazil team led by Carlos Alberto that included players such as Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho, Rivellino, and Tostao and they achieved a perfect record of six wins form six.
The group-stage clash between defending champions England and Brazil lived up to its billing and is still remembered for goalkeeper Gordon Banks’ save from a Pele header on the six-yard line — it is still regarded as one of the best saves ever.
The tournament was glorified to a higher extent by the semi-final match between Italy and West Germany, in which five goals were scored in extra-time, and Franz Beckenbauer played on with a broken arm as Germany had used up all their substitutions. Italy were the eventual 4—3 winners, but were defeated 4-1 in the final by Brazil, who became the first nation to win three World Cups, and were awarded the Jules Rimet trophy permanently for their achievement.
