Published on : 06/07/2020 – 21:58Modified : 06/07/2020 – 22:02
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Fifty years ago, at the 1970 World Cup, England’s goalkeeper Gordon Banks made a masterful save against Brazilian genius Pelé. An incredible parade, which entered the history of football as “the end of the century” and which has crossed the ages to remain, even today, a key moment in the sport.
” I scored a goal for England, but Banks stopped it It is with this formula, which has remained famous, that Pelé helped make the 1970 Brazil-England poster a legendary match. The meeting did not start yesterday and the quality of the images testifies to an era long before super high-definition 4K video and hyper detailed slow motion. Several protagonists of the event are no longer of this world, starting with Gordon Banks himself, killed in early 2019 by kidney cancer.
But despite the past half century, in the great history of football, Brazil-England of June 7, 1970 retains a special place. The story of this meeting between South American artists and the Three Lions is above all that of a summit duel between Pelé, real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, And Gordon Banks.
Pele, a “ gol »Too quickly celebrated
That day, at the Jalisco de Guadalajara stadium in Mexico, host country of the 1970 World Cup, the shock of this start of competition took place. This is the 2nd day of the first round. In Group 2, England, world champion four years earlier at home, faces Brazil, winner of the two previous editions (1958 and 1962). The two nations each won their first match, respectively against Romania (1-0 for the English) and against Czechoslovakia (4-1 for the Brazilians). So at stake: a ticket for the next round and first place in the group.
It’s not going to be a long time before attending the anthology event. In the 11th minute of play, Carlos Alberto sent a long, millimeter pass to Jairzinho, who escaped Terry Cooper on the right side of the English defense and entered the penalty area. At the first post, Tostao is free from any marking. But Jairzinho chooses to center at the far post, where Pelé is prowling.
In the air, Tommy Wright is largely beaten by the Brazilian n ° 10. Pelé, from his height 1.73m, rises and smashes the ball with his head. Years later, the attacker will explain: ” When you are a footballer, you know very well how well you hit the ball. I made this head exactly as I had hoped. The ball went exactly where I wanted it to go. And I was ready to celebrate it. “
The images are very self-explanatory. The leather balloon takes the direction of the English cage. Pelé is already raising his arms, sure of having opened the scoring. ” Gol! “(” Goal ! », He shouts. Only here: opposite him, there is Gordon Banks.
Banks realizes the impossible
Four years earlier, the goalkeeper had been part of the England squad that won the World Cup at home, the first (and still unique) in its history. A very strong moment for this country where football was codified in the middle of the 19th century. The Stoke City goalkeeper is still at the 1970 World Cup. At 32, he is still on top form. And Pelé will realize it.
The Brazilian watches his powerful recovery of the head continue his race towards the back of the nets. The leather bounces on the lawn before the goal line. Spectators shout in the stadium, convinced like Pelé that Brazil opens the scoring. But in fact not: Banks throws himself to the ground behind and, with a right hand cuff, volley the ball along his post and over the crossbar. Pelé will remember the color of the English goalkeeper’s long sleeve jersey: ” This man, Banks, appeared in my field of vision, like a sort of blue ghost (…). He came out of nowhere and he did something I didn’t think was possible. “
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IXEc6BAHpY
The Seleçao players are stunned by the feat of Gordon Banks. ” I couldn’t believe what I had just seen. Even today, when I see these images again, I can’t believe it. I can’t believe how he jumped so far, so fast “Pelé said on February 12, 2019, learning of the death of Banks at the age of 81. On the Mexican lawn, Bobby Moore, the English captain, indulges in a little joke: ” You’re getting old Banksy. You used to block these balloons! “Precisely, in the second period, the goalkeeper is helpless against Jairzinho, who scored the goal of the victory (1-0) and led Brazil to the coronation.
“I am proud that he stopped my head”
The rest of Gordon Banks’ sporting career will be less beautiful. In the next match, he will remain airtight against the Czechs (1-0 victory). But the quarter-final will be played without him. Victim of a violent food poisoning, the guard cannot hold his place against West Germany. Peter Bonetti replaces him. The English will lead 2-0, but a big mistake by Bonetti will revive the Germans, who will eventually tie at 2-2 and win in overtime (3-2).
In 1972 Banks was involved in a road accident that cost him the sight of his right eye and his career at the highest level. He would only replay briefly in the modest and lucrative United States championship a few years later, as well as in Ireland. His name will remain especially associated with his exploit of 1970 against Pelé.
Paradoxically, this legendary face-to-face gave birth to a beautiful friendship between the two men. Often when we talk about one, the name of the other is mentioned too. In his 2019 tribute, Pelé said that Gordon Banks was ” a good and warm man who gave a lot to people ” The Brazilian artist, who has scored over 1,200 goals in his career (according to his own count), went even further: ” I am proud that he stopped my head, because it was the start of a friendship between us that I will always cherish. “
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