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The Greatest Show on Earth: The 1970 World Cup
No dia 21 de junho de 1970, a Taça Jules Rimet disse adeus às Copas do Mundo, assim como deram adeus os mexicanos e outros apaixonados por futebol ao mais belo Mundial da história. Um torneio de despedidas, e que desde o instante de seu apito final abraçou a eternidade.
Hoje, passados mais de cinquenta anos, seguem guardados na memória os lances que deram cor e movimento ao maior espetáculo que o futebol já concebeu. Como o gol que Pelé tentou do meio de campo ou seu drible de corpo em Mazurkiewicz, inimitável prenúncio de outro inesquecível quase gol do Rei; a defesa mais bonita de todos os tempos; o jogo do século, entre Alemanha x Itália; a goleada da seleção brasileira sobre os italianos na final, coroada com o gol de Carlos Alberto, feliz encontro entre o futebol e a arte.
Em "México 70", Andrew Downie faz mais do que apenas relatar esses episódios já tantas vezes ecoados. Com entrevistas inéditas e uma vasta pesquisa em arquivos e biografias, o autor dá voz aos verdadeiros protagonistas. São eles, os jogadores, que compartilham o que viveram nas concentrações e nos campos do México durante o Mundial.
Uma história oral narrada através dos depoimentos de participantes das dezesseis seleções, incluindo, é claro, os brasileiros tricampeões do mundo, responsáveis por estabelecer no Estádio Azteca, naquele 21 de junho de 1970, os limites do inalcançável em termos de beleza no futebol.
Hoje, passados mais de cinquenta anos, seguem guardados na memória os lances que deram cor e movimento ao maior espetáculo que o futebol já concebeu. Como o gol que Pelé tentou do meio de campo ou seu drible de corpo em Mazurkiewicz, inimitável prenúncio de outro inesquecível quase gol do Rei; a defesa mais bonita de todos os tempos; o jogo do século, entre Alemanha x Itália; a goleada da seleção brasileira sobre os italianos na final, coroada com o gol de Carlos Alberto, feliz encontro entre o futebol e a arte.
Em "México 70", Andrew Downie faz mais do que apenas relatar esses episódios já tantas vezes ecoados. Com entrevistas inéditas e uma vasta pesquisa em arquivos e biografias, o autor dá voz aos verdadeiros protagonistas. São eles, os jogadores, que compartilham o que viveram nas concentrações e nos campos do México durante o Mundial.
Uma história oral narrada através dos depoimentos de participantes das dezesseis seleções, incluindo, é claro, os brasileiros tricampeões do mundo, responsáveis por estabelecer no Estádio Azteca, naquele 21 de junho de 1970, os limites do inalcançável em termos de beleza no futebol.
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Hardcover
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 6, 2021
Clearly for football enthusiasts, this book takes you back to 1970 in more ways than one.
A match-by-match account of what for many was the greatest ever World Cup, graced by the greatest team ever to take to the field with the greatest player ever to play the beautiful game.
In an easy-to-read format, the author keeps the introductions, mid-match and half-time commentaries brief, and lets the players from the 16 national teams who travelled to Mexico in the summer of 1970 tell the story in their own words.
South Americans complain about the altitude of several stadiums, Europeans complain about the altitude and the heat. Players recall the preparations, the heroic feats, the disastrous mistakes, the joy or the bewilderment in the dressing room after decisive matches.
Longer chapters are dedicated to the most memorable games — Brazil vs England, Brazil vs arch-enemy Uruguay, Italy vs Germany in the “Match of the Century,” Germany’s stunning 3-2 comeback win over England avenging the 1966 final, and of course Brazil’s 4-1 romp over Italy to win the cup for a third time and keep the Jules Rimet trophy. But the book also covers the trials and achievements of lesser-known teams like El Salvador, Bulgaria and Israel, the Peruvian players’ worries about the devastating earthquake that hit back home, and host Mexico’s bitter disappointment at not making it to the semi-finals after a second-half collapse against Italy.
And in the age of internet, when many of the games or at least the highlights can be viewed online, the author recovers the lost art of bringing football alive through prose. Well worth the read.
A match-by-match account of what for many was the greatest ever World Cup, graced by the greatest team ever to take to the field with the greatest player ever to play the beautiful game.
In an easy-to-read format, the author keeps the introductions, mid-match and half-time commentaries brief, and lets the players from the 16 national teams who travelled to Mexico in the summer of 1970 tell the story in their own words.
South Americans complain about the altitude of several stadiums, Europeans complain about the altitude and the heat. Players recall the preparations, the heroic feats, the disastrous mistakes, the joy or the bewilderment in the dressing room after decisive matches.
Longer chapters are dedicated to the most memorable games — Brazil vs England, Brazil vs arch-enemy Uruguay, Italy vs Germany in the “Match of the Century,” Germany’s stunning 3-2 comeback win over England avenging the 1966 final, and of course Brazil’s 4-1 romp over Italy to win the cup for a third time and keep the Jules Rimet trophy. But the book also covers the trials and achievements of lesser-known teams like El Salvador, Bulgaria and Israel, the Peruvian players’ worries about the devastating earthquake that hit back home, and host Mexico’s bitter disappointment at not making it to the semi-finals after a second-half collapse against Italy.
And in the age of internet, when many of the games or at least the highlights can be viewed online, the author recovers the lost art of bringing football alive through prose. Well worth the read.
July 9, 2025
I saw this at Blackwell’s in Oxford, England and had to cop.
I really enjoyed reading this. Downie’s compilation of footballer’s recollections and commentator snippets pleasantly exposed me to a different era of football, simultaneously reinforcing Pelé’s staying power as one of the best of all time (if not the best). Growing up, it was always Messi versus Ronaldo, but reading on the conditions of this tournament, the heat, altitude, and totalitarian regime terrorizing Brazil back at home, one must give Pelé his flowers.
With star-studded names accompanying Pele such as Rivellino, Jairzinho, and Gerson, it’s no wonder the Seleçao took home the Jules Rimet trophy.
The photo of the reigning champions, the English in between games enjoying a cigarette, and washing it down with a pint tells you all you need to know about this era of football.
Fun read.
I really enjoyed reading this. Downie’s compilation of footballer’s recollections and commentator snippets pleasantly exposed me to a different era of football, simultaneously reinforcing Pelé’s staying power as one of the best of all time (if not the best). Growing up, it was always Messi versus Ronaldo, but reading on the conditions of this tournament, the heat, altitude, and totalitarian regime terrorizing Brazil back at home, one must give Pelé his flowers.
With star-studded names accompanying Pele such as Rivellino, Jairzinho, and Gerson, it’s no wonder the Seleçao took home the Jules Rimet trophy.
The photo of the reigning champions, the English in between games enjoying a cigarette, and washing it down with a pint tells you all you need to know about this era of football.
Fun read.
April 20, 2022
Not great.
December 29, 2025
Incredible book about the incredible Brazil 70 and some stories that I have never heard before
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews