The Second Round comprised two groups of four teams each playing a further three round robin games with the two winners meeting in the final and the runners up playing in the third / fourth place playoff.
PART TWO – 26TH JUNE TO 7TH JULY 1974
Wednesday 26th June 1974
Group A – HOLLAND 4 ARGENTINA 0 – Gelsenkirchen
A superb attacking display by the Dutch and from Johan Cruyff in particular spectacularly destroyed Argentina’s hopes of further progression and firmly made this Holland team favourites to reach the final.
Group A – BRAZIL 1 EAST GERMANY 0 – Hanover
Brazil squeezed past the dark horses of East Germany when Brazilian veteran Rivellino scored a free kick, smashing it through the German wall.
Group B – WEST GERMANY 2 YUGOSLAVIA 0 – Dusseldorf
The hosts scored a goal in each half from Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller as the they ran out comfortable winners.
Group B – POLAND 1 SWEDEN 0 – Stuttgart
In a tight game Sweden conceded their first goal of the tournament as they lost 1-0 to the Poland side now showing how their advancement to the tournament ahead of England was no fluke. Grzegorz Lato scored on the only goal of the game and his fifth goal of the tournament.
Sunday 30th June 1974
GROUP A – ARGENTINA 1 BRAZIL 2 – Hanover
Brazil took a first half lead through Rivellino however Argentina drew level by half time , Jarizinho scored the winning goal in the second half.
GROUP A – HOLLAND 2 EAST GERMANY 0 – Gelsenkirchen
A goal in each half gave Holland the win that ensured they would only require a draw against Brazil in their final group game to reach the final.
GROUP B – POLAND 2 YUGOSLAVIA 1 – Frankfurt
Poland continued to their campaign with a win over Yugoslavia , Kazi Deyna their inspirational captain scored a penalty in the first half before Yugoslavia equalised before half time. Lato once again scored the winning goal.
GROUP B – WEST GERMANY 4 SWEDEN 2 – Dusseldorf
In an entertaining game , Sweden took a shock lead through Ralf Edstrom , before West Germany scored twice in a minute early in the second half through Wolfgang Overath and Rainer Bonhof. Sweden responded immediately to make it 2-2 when Roland Sandberg put doubts in German minds about reaching the final. Germany went on to win when Jurgen Grabowski scored with 15 mins remaining and as Sweden pushed for the equaliser, Uli Hoeness netted a late penalty to give the hosts a 4-2 win. This left West Germany needing a draw against Poland to reach the final
Wednesday 3rd July 1974
GROUP A – ARGENTINA 1 EAST GERMANY 1
With both countries eliminated after losing their opening two matches this was a tame 1-1 draw.
GROUP A – HOLLAND 2 BRAZIL 0
This was played like a World Cup semi final with the winners progressing to the final , but the Dutch only requiring a draw.
A goal by Johan Neeskens early in the second half all but ended Brazilian hopes and when Johan Cruyff added a second , Holland were into their first World Cup Final.
GROUP B – WEST GERMANY 1 POLAND 0
West Germany confirmed their place in the World Cup Final although only needing a draw when Gerd Muller scored in later stages , it ensured the hosts would play in the final.
GROUP B – SWEDEN 2 YUGOSLAVIA 1
Sweden won the dead rubber 2-1, having exchanged first half goals , a late winner by Conny Torstensson gave the Swedes third place in Group B
GROUP A
1 Holland 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 6
2 Brazil 3 2 0 1 3 3 0 4
3 East Germany 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
4 Argentina 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
GROUP B
1 West Germany 3 3 0 0 7 2 +5 6
2 Poland 3 2 0 1 3 2 +1 4
3 Sweden 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 2
4 Yugoslavia 3 0 0 3 2 6 −4 0
Saturday 6th July 1974
Third Place Playoff – BRAZIL 0 POLAND 1 – Munich
Grezegorz Lato scored his 7th goal of the tournament as he ended top scorer as Poland claimed Third Place
Sunday 7th July 1974
FINAL WEST GERMANY 2 HOLLAND 1 – Munich
The 1974 World Cup final had an incredible opening when English referee Jack Taylor awarded Holland a penalty when Johann Cruyff was brought down inside the penalty area in the first minute. John Neeskens converted to put Holland 1-0 ahead after 2 mins. Germany were then also awarded a penalty which Paul Breitner netted after 25 mins to make the score 1-1
The decisive moment came in the 43rd minute as the teams approached half time , the German striker Gerd Muller turned sharply and fired the ball into the corner of the net to give the hosts a 2-1 victory.
Football is Academical 