THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
THE IDEA
The final gets the glory, but the semi-final is where the World Cup loses its mind. Five nights football never recovered from.
2014 AND 1982
In Belo Horizonte, hosts Brazil lost 7-1 to Germany after conceding four goals in six minutes and trailing 5-0 at half-time: the Mineirazo. In Seville, France led West Germany 3-1 in extra time and let it slip to 3-3. The German keeper, Schumacher, knocked out Battiston with no foul given, and the World Cup held its first penalty shootout. West Germany won 5-4.
1970 AND 1990
At the Azteca, Italy beat West Germany 4-3 after five goals in extra time, with Beckenbauer playing on with his arm strapped to his chest: the Game of the Century. In 1990 England lost to West Germany on penalties in Turin, with Gascoigne in tears after a booking that would have ruled him out of the final, while in Naples hosts Italy went out to Maradona's Argentina the same way.
2006
In Dortmund, Grosso scored in the 119th minute and Del Piero in the 120th. Two goals in ninety seconds ended the hosts' dream.
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THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.