1972 European Cup Final

1972 European Cup final
Match programme cover
Event1971–72 European Cup
Ajax Inter Milan
Netherlands Italy
2 0
Date31 May 1972
VenueDe Kuip, Rotterdam
Man of the MatchJohan Cruyff
RefereeRobert Héliès (France)
Attendance61,354
← 1971
1973 →

The 1972 European Cup final was a football match held at De Kuip, Rotterdam, on 31 May 1972, that was contested between AFC Ajax of the Netherlands and Internazionale of Italy to determine the champions of the 1971–72 European Cup. Ajax defeated Inter by a score of 2–0 to claim their second successive European Cup victory, following their triumph in the 1971 final. Two second-half goals from forward Johan Cruyff provided the margin of victory for the Dutch side.

This game has been cited as Total Football's greatest moment. Ajax dominated much of the game as Inter defended desperately with their catenaccio strategy.[1][2][3]

Route to the final

Further information: 1971–72 European Cup
Ajax Round Inter Milan
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
East Germany Dynamo Dresden 2–0 2–0 (H) 0–0 (A) First round Greece AEK Athens 6–4 4–1 (H) 2–3 (A)
France Olympique de Marseille 6–2 2–1 (A) 4–1 (H) Second round West Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach 4–2 4–2 (H) 0–0 (A)
England Arsenal 3–1 2–1 (H) 1–0 (A) Quarter-finals Belgium Standard Liège 2–2 (a) 1–0 (H) 1–2 (A)
Portugal Benfica 1–0 1–0 (H) 0–0 (A) Semi-finals Scotland Celtic 0–0
(5–4 p) 		0–0 (H) 0–0 (a.e.t.) (A)

Match

Mauro Bellugi and Piet Keizer

Details

Ajax Netherlands2–0Italy Inter Milan
Cruyff 47', 78' Report
Attendance: 61,354
Ajax
Inter Milan
GK 1 Netherlands Heinz Stuy
RB 3 Netherlands Wim Suurbier
CB 4 Netherlands Barry Hulshoff
CB 12 West Germany Horst Blankenburg
LB 5 Netherlands Ruud Krol
CM 7 Netherlands Johan Neeskens
CM 15 Netherlands Arie Haan
CM 9 Netherlands Gerrie Mühren
RW 8 Netherlands Sjaak Swart
CF 14 Netherlands Johan Cruyff
LW 11 Netherlands Piet Keizer (c)
Manager:
Romania Ștefan Kovács
GK 1 Italy Ivano Bordon
RB 2 Italy Mauro Bellugi
LB 3 Italy Giacinto Facchetti
DM 4 Italy Gabriele Oriali
CB 5 Italy Mario Giubertoni downward-facing red arrow 12'
SW 6 Italy Tarcisio Burgnich
RW 7 Brazil Jair da Costa downward-facing red arrow 56'
CM 8 Italy Gianfranco Bedin
CF 9 Italy Roberto Boninsegna
CM 10 Italy Sandro Mazzola (c)
LF 11 Italy Mario Frustalupi
Substitutions:
MF 14 Italy Mario Bertini upward-facing green arrow 12'
MF 16 Italy Sergio Pellizzaro upward-facing green arrow 56'
Manager:
Italy Giovanni Invernizzi

See also

References

  1. ^ Liew, Jonathan (27 November 2015). "From 2-3-5 to gegenpress: how football's tactical fads have come and gone". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  2. ^ Siregar, Cady (13 December 2018). "What is Total Football? Famous tactics explained: the clubs, countries & players to use it". Goal.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  3. ^ "1972 final highlights: Ajax 2-0 Inter". UEFA.com. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
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