world cup 1974

The 1974 FIFA World Cup was the tenth FIFA World Cup and was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. West Germany claimed their second title defeating the Netherlands 2–1 in the final at the Olympiastadion, Munich

The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded. The previous trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, was awarded permanently to Brazil following their third title in 1970.


Host selection

Italy, Spain, Netherlands and West Germany expressed an interest to bid for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, but following the withdrawl of Italy and the Netherlands, West Germany agreed a deal with Spain by which Spain would support West Germany for the 1974 tournament, and in return West Germany would allow Spain to bid for the 1982 World Cup unopposed.

The hosting rights for the 1974, 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cup tournaments were awarded at the FIFA Congress in London, England on 6 July 1966.

Ninety nine1 countries entered the qualifying competition.

The hosts, West Germany, and the defending champions, Brazil, qualified automatically. Of the remaining 14 places, eight were allocated to Europe (UEFA), two to South America (CONMEBOL), one to the North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF), one to Africa (CAF) and one place to the Asian (AFC) and Oceania (OFC) qualifiers whilst one team from UEFA would face one CONMEBOL team in an intercontinental play off for the final place.


Qualifying

Thirty three European teams entered the 1974 FIFA World Cup with hosts, West Germany, qualifying automatically. The remaining 32 teams were drawn into four groups of three teams and five groups of four teams. The group winners would qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final, except for the winner of Group 9, which would advance to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.

Wales were drawn in Group 5 alongside England and Poland who Wales would meet for the first time.


Uefa qualifying Group 5

no.datescorescorers (wales)venue 
30415/11/1972Wales 0-1 England Ninian Park, CardiffWCQ
30524/01/1973England 1-1 WalesToshackWembley Stadium, LondonWCQ
30628/03/1973Wales 2-0 PolandL James, HockeyNinian Park, CardiffWCQ
 06/06/1973Poland 2-0 England Stadion Śląski, ChorzówWCQ
31026/09/1973Poland 3-0 Wales Stadion Śląski, ChorzówWCQ
 17/10/1973England 1-1 Poland Wembley Stadium, LondonWCQ

Group standings
  PWDLFAPts2
1.Poland4211635
2.England4121344
3.Wales4112353

Wales and the 1974 World Cup

Wales were drawn in Group 5 alongside England and and Poland who Wales would meet for the first time.

Despite losing the opening match of the campaign against England, Wales took heart from a 1-1 draw in the return match against England at Wembley Stadium before being buoyed further by a 2-0 home win over Poland.

Following Poland's 2-0 win over England, Wales went into their final game in Chorzów knowing that victory would almost guarantee their place in West Germany. However the Poles extracted revenge for their defeat in Cardiff with a 3-0 win in a match which saw Trevor Hockey become the first player to be sent off for Wales.


Players used during qualifying

Manager Dave Bowen selected just 17 players during the campaign with Gary Sprake, Leighton James and Rod Thomas playing every minute of all four matches whilst Trevor Hockey, John Mahoney and Peter Rodrigues played some part in all four matches, however Hockey become the first player to be sent off for Wales in the final group match in Poland.

Dave Roberts won his first cap in the home game against Poland.

PlayerENGENGPOLPOL
Wyn Davies 90 90
Mike England9090 90
Brian Evans90 9078
Terry Hennessey 90  
Trevor Hockey90909039 red
Leighton James90909090
John Mahoney90909084
Malcolm Page10   
Leighton Phillips 90 6
Gil Reece 30 12
Peter Rodrigues80609090
Dave Roberts  90 
John Roberts90 9090
Gary Sprake90909090
Rod Thomas90909090
John Toshack909090 
Terry Yorath90 9090

Notes

1Of the 99 countries who entered Ceylon, Gabon, India, Jamaica, Madagascar, Philippines and Venezuela withdrew whilst the Soviet Union were disqualified from the intercontinental play off for refusing to play against Chile in the Estadio Nacional de Chile in Santiago.

22 pts for a win / 1 pt for a draw