Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Scott Somenthal
Guest(s)
Release Date
13 April 2023
Duration
64 min
In this triple-header episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by Scott Somenthal to explore three iconic World Cup stories — Brazil’s majestic triumph in 1970, Algeria’s revolution in 1982, and Wales’ golden adventure in 1958.
Brazil 1970 remains football’s most iconic masterpiece — a team so elegant, creative, and complete that they seemed to play in higher definition than anyone else. With Pelé at his peak, Jairzinho unstoppable, Tostão inventive, Gérson commanding, and Carlos Alberto leading from the back, Brazil’s World Cup in Mexico was a cinematic experience as much as a sporting one.
Under coach Mário Zagallo — himself a veteran of Brazil’s earlier triumphs — the Seleção embraced fluidity, teamwork, and attacking artistry. The 4-2-4 formation evolved into a fluid 4-3-3, built on movement and improvisation. They dominated every opponent, defeating Czechoslovakia, England, Romania, Peru, Uruguay, and finally Italy — crowned by Carlos Alberto’s legendary goal in the final, the defining image of futebol arte.
Yet behind the beauty lay discipline and intelligence. Zagallo’s men pressed, rotated, and adapted — a harmony of minds as much as feet. Pelé’s header, Jairzinho’s relentless runs, and Gérson’s orchestration reflected a team in perfect balance.
This episode revisits not just their goals and glory, but their deeper legacy: how Brazil 1970 changed how the world saw football. It was sport reimagined as art, joy, and identity — a moment when the game became beautiful forever.
Takeaways
Brazil 1970 set the standard for attacking football excellence.
Their balance of creativity and control remains unmatched.
Pelé’s leadership defined the golden ideal of the footballer.
The final goal vs Italy became football’s eternal masterpiece.
Brazil 1970 embodied joy, artistry, and global cultural power.
Brazil 1970: The Team That Made Football Beautiful
Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team are still the gold standard for footballing beauty — a team that played like poetry in motion.
Under Mário Zagallo, Brazil combined tactical control with creative freedom. Built around the genius of Pelé, Gérson, Rivelino, and Jairzinho, the Seleção turned every match in Mexico into a masterclass in movement and imagination. Their 4–1 victory over Italy in the final — crowned by Carlos Alberto’s iconic goal — remains football’s most replayed moment of perfection.
Pelé’s charisma, Jairzinho’s power, and Gérson’s orchestration created a symphony of footballing art. Yet their brilliance was rooted in discipline: Zagallo’s 4-3-3 structure gave each player licence to express themselves within harmony. They attacked as one, defended as one, and elevated the game itself.
For fans and historians alike, Brazil 1970 weren’t just champions — they were the dream realised. A team that didn’t just win the World Cup, but defined how the world believes football should be played.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Brazil’s preparation and team selection for Mexico 1970
The influence of Mário Zagallo and tactical innovation
Pelé’s final World Cup and legacy as the game’s symbol
The iconic final vs Italy and Carlos Alberto’s goal
Brazil’s cultural impact and global legacy
Pelé’s opening goal vs Czechoslovakia
Gordon Banks’ miracle save in the Brazil–England match
Jairzinho scoring in every game of the tournament
The 3–1 semi-final win over Uruguay
Carlos Alberto’s stunning goal in the final vs Italy
Pelé lifted in triumph — the global image of joy
Notable Manager
Notable Players
Pelé, Jairzinho, Gérson, Tostão, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto Torres, Clodoaldo, Everaldo, Piazza, Félix, Brito, Paulo César Lima
Style of Play
4-3-3 Formation, Total Fluidity, Possession and Movement, Rotational Attack, Creative Freedom, Futebol Arte
Brazil 1970 were the perfection of futebol arte — the art of football expressed through movement, imagination, and improvisation. Playing a fluid 4-3-3 that morphed between 4-2-4 and 4-5-1, they combined positional interchange with effortless rhythm.
Mário Zagallo’s philosophy was simple yet revolutionary: structure without rigidity. Gérson orchestrated from midfield with precision passing, dictating tempo and transitions. Rivelino and Clodoaldo offered creativity and control, freeing the attacking quartet — Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, and Carlos Alberto — to rotate fluidly across the pitch.
Pelé was the fulcrum — not just a scorer, but a playmaker who drifted deep to link phases and draw defenders. Tostão’s intelligence complemented him perfectly, while Jairzinho’s pace and power provided constant penetration. Brazil’s passing patterns were hypnotic — triangles, overlaps, and switches that created space through rhythm and intuition rather than rigid patterns.
Defensively, they pressed selectively, using athleticism and anticipation rather than pure structure. Their transitions were seamless — one touch could transform defence into attack. The culmination of this artistry came in the 4–1 final win over Italy: a 9-pass sequence ending with Carlos Alberto’s thunderous finish.
Brazil 1970’s beauty wasn’t spontaneous chaos; it was carefully choreographed freedom — the harmony of genius within a disciplined framework. They remain the benchmark for what football can be when talent and trust coexist perfectly.
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