1973 DFB Cup final

The DFB Cup final of the 1972/73 cup season took place on June 23, 1973 between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln in the Düsseldorf Rheinstadion . The kicker described it as one of the "best, most playfully high-quality and most exciting" cup games of all time. It went down in history as the game in which Günter Netzer “switched himself in”. Shortly after this substitution, he scored the 2-1 winning goal for Borussia.

prehistory

Gladbach coach Hennes Weisweiler had led Borussia from the regional league to top European football within 9 years. Günter Netzer, who had a kind of love-hate relationship with Weisweiler, played a major role in this success. In the 72/73 season Netzer, who became a world star in the European Football Championship last year, was plagued by form weaknesses and injuries, so that Borussia only finished a somewhat disappointing 5th place in the Bundesliga. Shortly before the game it became known that Netzer would move to Real Madrid for the next season. The day before the game, Weisweiler announced Netzer that he would not include him in the starting lineup. Netzer replied: “But that's brave of you.” At the same time, however, he had to admit inwardly that this decision was justified in view of his weakness of form.

1. FC Köln had reached the cup final three times in the past five years, of which they won once. As runner-up, albeit eleven points behind FC Bayern Munich and four points ahead of Bundesliga fifth Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC went into the match as the slight favorite.

The game

Borussia took the lead in the 24th minute through Herbert Wimmer , but before the break, Cologne were able to equalize through Herbert Neumann . Netzer was on the bench, but the fans kept calling for him to come on. A camera team had set up right in front of him and watched his every move. Weisweiler wanted to replace him at halftime, but Netzer refused: "It doesn't get any better with me either".

When Gladbach's attacker Jupp Heynckes was fouled by his opponent Jupp Kapellmann in the 58th minute , referee Tschenscher whistled a penalty. Contrary to the old football rule, the fouled competed himself and promptly missed. Protests that Cologne goalkeeper Welz moved too early did not help. In the regular playing time there were then two crossbars from Cologne ( Jürgen Glowacz , 67th minute, and Heinz Flohe , 81st minute) and a post for Gladbach (Heynckes in the 86th minute), but no more goals were scored.

When the game went into extra time, Netzer went to the totally exhausted Christian Kulik and asked him if he was still feeling fit. He said no and Netzer took his place. It was not clear to Kulik, however, that this had not been discussed with Weisweiler. Netzer informed the trainer succinctly: "I'll play now".

In the 94th minute of the game, Netzer scored the 2-1 winner with his second touch after a one-two with Rainer Bonhof . Netzer later stated that he hit the ball "completely wrong", namely with the outside span , and that this made him inaccessible to the opposing goalkeeper Welz. He described this as "the greatest happiness of my life on the football field", because it was actually "pre-programmed" that "it would go wrong".

Game dates

pairing	1. FC Cologne - Borussia Mönchengladbach
Result	1: 2 n.V. (1: 1, 1: 1)
date	June 23, 1973 at 4:00 p.m.
Stadion	Düsseldorf Rheinstadion , Düsseldorf
spectator	69,600
referee	Kurt Tschenscher ( Mannheim )
Gates	0: 1 Wimmer (24th) 1: 1 Neumann (40th) 1: 2 Netzer (94th)
1. FC Cologne	Gerhard Welz , Herbert Hein , Herbert Neumann , Wolfgang Weber , Bernhard Cullmann , Heinz Simmet , Jürgen Glowacz (71st Rainer Gebauer ), Heinz Flohe , Hans-Josef Kapellmann , Wolfgang Overath (71st Harald Konopka ), Hannes Löhr Trainer: Rudi Schlott
Borussia Monchengladbach	Wolfgang Kleff , Heinz Michallik , Berti Vogts , Klaus-Dieter Sieloff , Rainer Bonhof , Dietmar Danner , Herbert Wimmer , Christian Kulik (91st Günter Netzer ), Henning Jensen , Bernd Rupp (117th Uli Stielike ), Jupp Heynckes Trainer: Hennes Weisweiler
yellow cards	Jürgen Glowacz - Jupp Heynckes
particularities	Welz saves Heynckes' penalty kick (58.)

Effects

Netzer's goal was voted “ Goal of the Month ” and he himself was voted “ Footballer of the Year ”. He stayed with Real Madrid until 1976, where he won the cup and the championship twice.

Weisweiler was able to compensate for Netzer's departure with young players and won both the championship and the UEFA Cup with Borussia in 1975 .

1. FC Köln was only able to win the DFB Cup again in 1977 after Weisweiler took over as coach there.