Football World Cup 1970 / Mexico
This article covers the Mexican national football team at the 1970 World Cup .
qualification
Mexico was automatically qualified to host the World Cup.
Mexican contingent
Mexican team games
First round
| rank | country | Gates | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
.svg){kind=small} Soviet Union
|
6: 1 | 5 |
| 2 |
 Mexico
|
5-0 | 5 |
| 3 |
 Belgium |
4: 5 | 2 |
| 4th |
 El Salvador |
0: 9 | 0 |
-
Mexico - Soviet Union 0: 0 (0: 0)
Stadium: Aztec Stadium ( Mexico City )
Spectators: 107,000
Referee: Tschenscher ( Germany )
Goals: none
For the fourth time in World Cup history (1930 1: 4 against France, 1950 0: 4 against hosts Brazil and 1958 0: 3 against hosts Sweden) Mexico played the opening game at the 1970 World Cup: this time as the host and for the first time without defeat.
The game against the Soviet Union was also a duel between the two group favorites, who were careful not to lose their first game. So the defensive lines predominated, so that there were hardly any scoring chances. The only significant chances to score on the Mexican side were Horacio López Salgado and Héctor Pulido, whose shots were parried by the Soviet goalkeeper Ansor Kawasashvili .
The Soviets' greatest chance had Anatoly Byschowez , whose tight shot went just a few centimeters past Ignacio Calderón's goal.
-
Mexico - El Salvador 4: 0 (1: 0)
Stadium: Aztec Stadium ( Mexico City )
Spectators: 103,000
Referee: Kandil ( Egypt )
Goals: 1-0 Valdivia (45th), 2-0 Valdivia (46th), 3-0 Fragoso (58th), 4-0 Basaguren (83rd)
Few Mexican soccer players have scored double goals in one game in World Cup history. One of them was Javier Valdivia, who is also the record holder for the short time of the goals scored in a row: the first goal to lead his team 1-0 came in the 45th minute immediately before the half-time whistle, the 2-0 directly after Restart in the 46th minute.
Despite the ultimate victory in Mexican World Cup history, the home side's victory was by no means as easy as the result suggests; because the opening goal had already been preceded by a controversial referee decision.
The Mexican defender Gustavo Peña and the Salvadoran attacker Juan Martinez fought a particularly bitter duel . After the game, Peña approached Martinez, who had injured his eyelid with an elbow check, and jokingly said, "Because of this game, our countries will not start a war." It was a reference to the football war that was one year had previously given in the context of the World Cup qualification between the countries El Salvador and Honduras.
-
Mexico - Belgium 1: 0 (1: 0)
Stadium: Aztec Stadium ( Mexico City )
Spectators: 105,000
Referee: Coerezza ( Argentina )
Mexico's draw against Belgium was enough to make it through the group stage for the first time in World Cup history. The Mexicans, who achieved their best performance during the entire tournament in the first half, were correspondingly motivated. After the "double goal scorer" from the previous game, Javier Valdivia, was fouled by Belgian defender Jean Thissen , Mexico's captain Gustavo Peña converted the penalty to give the hosts a 1-0 lead, which lasted until the final whistle. However, up until then it was hard work for the home side, who were exposed to a permanent assault by the Belgians in the second half. The Belgians had their best chance after a foul by Javier Guzmán on the edge of the box. Mexico goalkeeper Calderón had no chance against Johan Devrindt's free-kick, but 'Kalimán' Guzmán saved the corner for his already beaten goalkeeper and made up for his mistake. After the game, the Mexicans celebrated like never before at a soccer World Cup . Everywhere in the capital, and especially in the city center, one met happy people that evening.
After the preliminary round, Mexico and the USSR were tied and had the same goal difference. Since the rule of more goals scored has only been in effect since the 1974 World Cup, the drawing of lots for the group victory, which went in favor of the USSR. Mexico was only runner-up in the group and had to go to the quarter-finals in Toluca, while the USSR played their quarter-finals in the large Aztec stadium. If the rule of more goals scored had already been in effect in 1970, Mexico would only have finished second behind the USSR without a drawing of lots.
Quarter finals
Italy - Mexico 4: 1 (1: 1)
Stadium: Estadio Luis Dosal ( Toluca )
Spectators: 27,000
Referee: Schürer ( Belgium )
Gates:
0: 1 González (13th)
1: 1 Peña (25th) ET
2: 1 Riva (63rd)
3: 1 Rivera (70th)
4: 1 Riva (76th)
The Italian team proved themselves against the organizer Mexico in Toluca. The Aztec successors had already overcome keeper Albertosi after 13 minutes, but that didn't bother the clever Italians at all. Almost four minutes later the 2-0 came, but this time Albertosi was on the post. The equalizer in the 25th minute was attributed to Domenghini , although it was actually a Peña own goal that deflected the ball unlucky. Across all tournaments, it was the first World Cup conceded goal by the Mexicans after exactly 400 minutes of play; the last goal conceded so far had "el Tri" suffered in the 75th minute of the second round game of the 1966 World Cup by Englishman Roger Hunt .
With a fresh Gianni Rivera for a tired Sandro Mazzola, Italy came out of the cabin and increasingly took over the helm. Three goals between the 64th and 76th minute of the game decided the match for the Italians. Riva, Rivera and again Riva showed that the Italians did not only master the defensive. The next opponent for the Italians was the Germans - the game of the century was to follow.
swell
- La Historia de las Copas del Mundo (Editorial Televisa, Mexico City, 2006)
- The 1970 World Cup at RSSSF.com
| Africa |
 |
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| Asia | ||
| Europe |
Belgium | Bulgaria | BR Germany | England | Italy | Romania | Sweden | Soviet Union | Czechoslovakia |
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| North and Central America | ||
| South America |