Every FIFA World Cup Ranked From Worst To Best

Like the 1954 World Cup before it, the ‘74 finals should have represented the crowning achievement of a side that defined an entire era of the beautiful game.

But as in ‘54 when a Ferenc Puskas-led Hungary let a lead slip to lose 3-2 to West Germany, so history repeated itself for Johan Cruyff and a Holland side playing what came to be known as Total Football, which theorised that any outfield player could take over the role of another player in the team.

The Dutch were the undoubted team of the tournament, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one en route to the final with Cruyff introducing the world to the “Cruyff turn” during a group stage clash with Sweden.

Facing off against against hosts West Germany, who had suffered a shock defeat to East Germany in the first group stages and narrowly pipped a talented Poland team to a place in the final, an Oranje triumph looked a near-certainty.

Yet despite taking an early lead through a Johan Neeskens penalty on two minutes, Germany found another gear, and levelled up from the spot through Paul Breitner on 25 minutes before Gerd Muller got the winner on 43 minutes.

Trailing for the first time in the tournament, the Dutch floundered and despite chances for either side in the second half, the game ended in another Germany win, with the Oranje fans and neutrals alike left with a lasting feeling of regret.