For the population at large, sporting events like the World Cup and Wimbledon are highly evocative affairs – rich with memories and stories of success (and failure). What will the sporting summer of 2014 be remembered for?
GORDON Banks’ save for England against Brazil at the Mexico World Cup in 1970 is a case in point.
In Mexico, England not only failed to reach the levels scaled when hosting (and winning) the tournament four years earlier but also lost that group game to Brazil by a goal to nil. For the England team, the tournament was to be a stepping stone on a downward journey from the dizzying heights of Wembley in July 1966 to a failure to qualify altogether for the 1974 and 1978 finals.
But what people in England remember most clearly from 1970 tournament was not the winner but Banks’ save under the midday sun in Guadalajara. But for a few tackles by the peerless Bobby Moore, it was the sole highlight of the Mexico finals for England.
At the time, having dived to his right to repel a bullet header from the all-conquering Pelé, all the thanks the England ‘keeper got was a passing pat on the head from teammate Alan Mullery (although Pelé reportedly told Banks: “I thought that was a goal.” “You and me both,” the ‘keeper replied).
Yet people still speak of that save. For Banks, it is baffling that “people still talk about it.” But we shouldn’t be surprised – that moment encapsulates the magic of sport to some extent and it is lauded, rather implausibly, as “the greatest save ever.” Followers of sports teams of any cloth will tell you that it is the hope that kills you. Banks’ save hinted at a greatness that, for England, was just out of reach. But look, they could’ve done it, couldn’t they? With that ‘keeper, that save.
The summer of 2014 sees a few regular betting favourites in the calendar – Wimbledon, the F1 season and the restart of the football season in Europe. But in the World Cup and Commonwealth Games it also has the opportunity to deliver one of those one-off moments.
Read the full article in the latest issue of iNTERGAMINGi
