World Cup Group Stage June 7 1970

Brazil v England

Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara
Brazil 1 (Jairzinho 59)
England 0

Brazil: Felix, Carlos Alberto, Piazza, Brito, Everaldo, Coldoaldo, Paulo Cesar, Jairzinho, Tostao (Roberto), Pele, Rivelino.

England: Banks, Wright, Cooper, Mullery, Labone, Moore, Lee (Astle), Ball, R. Charlton (Bell), Hurst, Peters.

Referee: Abraham Klein (Israel)
Yellow Card: Lee

The abiding memory of this memorable match is of Gordon Banks's miraculous save from Pele's header. It came in the tenth minute of a game which many have described as the 'real' Final of the 1970 World Cup. England's heroic display in temperatures almost reaching 100 degrees certainly outshone that of Italy against Brazil in the Final that was to follow.

Pele was already shouting 'Goal' as he powered in his famous header from Jairzinho's cross, but somehow Banks hurled himself across goal to palm the ball over the bar. That save, coupled with the fact that Brazil were without the injured Gerson, gave England fresh hope and impetus which created several clear-cut chances.

Geoff Hurst missed a golden opportunity when he presumed he was offside and shot weakly after being put clear of the Brazilian defence. And early in the second half Francis Lee, with the goal at his mercy, headed straight at Felix.

Those misses were to prove costly after 59 minutes, when Jairzinho scored the only goal of the game. Tostao was creator-in-chief. He beat three England defenders down Brazil's left before passing to Pele, who laid the ball off perfectly into the path of Jairzinho.

Sir Alf Ramsey sent on Jeff Astle as a late substitute, and he missed horribly, shooting over the bar after a mistake in the Brazilian defence. England had other near-misses, including an effort by Alan Ball which grazed the bar.

In a team of thwarted heroes, skipper Bobby Moore was outstanding. He and his team-mates each lost at least ten pounds in the searing heat, a statistic which brought criticism on the heads of the World Cup Committee for sacrificing players to the demands of European television.