1973 DFB-Pokal final
| German Cup Final | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Match programme cover | |||||||
| Event | 1972–73 DFB-Pokal | ||||||
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| After extra time | |||||||
| Date | 23 June 1973 | ||||||
| Venue | Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf | ||||||
| Referee | Kurt Tschenscher (Mannheim) | ||||||
| Attendance | 69,600 | ||||||
The 1973 DFB-Pokal Final, which decided the winner of the 1972–73 DFB-Pokal, took place on 23 June 1973 between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln in the Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf. The sports magazine kicker described it as one of the "best, highest energy, and exciting" DFB-Pokal matches ever played.[1] It was in this match that Günter Netzer infamously substituted himself on.[2][3] Shortly after this, Netzer scored what would be the winning goal for Borussia.
As winners, Mönchengladbach qualified for the 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup.
Background
Gladbach coach Hennes Weisweiler in nine years had raised Gladbach from the second tier of German football to top European football. A large contribution to this success was due to Günter Netzer, who Weisweiler shared a love-hate relationship.[4] However, in the 1972–73 season, Netzer was plagued with weaknesses and injuries, and Borussia finished a somewhat disappointing fifth place in the Bundesliga.[5] Shortly before the match, news broke that Netzer would transfer to Real Madrid in the summer. The day before the final, Weisweiler announced that Netzer would not be in the starting lineup. To Weisweiler, Netzer replied, "that's brave of you". At the same time Netzer had to admit internally that the decision was justified due to concerns over his fitness.[2]
1. FC Köln had made the cup final thrice in the past five years, winning once, and went into the match as a slight favourites.[6]
Route to the final
The DFB-Pokal began with thirty-two teams in a two-legged knockout cup competition. There were a total of four rounds leading up to the final. Teams were drawn against each other, and the winner on aggregate would advance. If still tied, extra time, and if necessary penalties were used to determine the winner.[7]
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | Round | 1. FC Köln | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | 1972–73 DFB-Pokal | Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Freiburger FC | 8–4 | 1–3 (A) | 7–1 (H) | Round 1 | Fortuna Köln | 5–2 | 1–2 (A) | 4–0 (a.e.t.) (H) |
| Schalke 04 | 3–1 | 2–0 (A) | 1–1 (H) | Round of 16 | Hamburger SV | 6–3 | 2–2 (A) | 4–1 (H) |
| 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 5–2 | 2–1 (H) | 3–1 (A) | Quarter-finals | Eintracht Braunschweig | 8–2 | 5–0 (A) | 3–2 (H) |
| Werder Bremen | 7–3 | 3–1 (A) | 4–2 (H) | Semi-finals | Kickers Offenbach | 6–1 | 5–0 (H) | 1–1 (A) |
Match
Summary
Gladbach went ahead 24 minutes in via a goal by Herbert Wimmer, but just before the break, the Köln found an equaliser through Herbert Neumann. Netzer was on the bench, but the Borussia fans demanded he be substituted on. Cameras were trained on him, watching his every movement. At halftime Weisweiler wanted to substitute Netzer on, but he rejected this, saying, "better that it not be me".[5]
In the 58th minute, Gladbach attacker Jupp Heynckes was fouled by Jupp Kapellmann inside the box, and referee Kurt Tschenscher awarded a penalty. Contrary to the old football rule, Heynckes himself took the penalty, and saw it saved by Köln goalkeeper Gerhard Welz. Protests that Welz had moved too early were dismissed by the referee. Further into the second half, Köln twice hit the crossbar via Jürgen Glowacz in the 67th minute and Heinz Flohe in the 81st minutes. In the 86th minute, a shot by Gladbach's Heynckes also hit the woodwork. However, at the end of 90 minutes the score remained level at 1–1, and extra time was required.[8]
As the game went to extra time, Netzer spoke to the exhausted Christian Kulik, asking whether he still felt fit. Upon Kulik expressing doubt, Netzer took his place. This decision to substitute Netzer in was not discussed with Weisweiler.[3] Netzer informed the manager, saying, "I now shall play".[2]
In the 94th minute, Netzer scored what would be the winning goal after a wall pass with teammate Rainer Bonhof.[1][2] Netzer later explained that he took the ball "completely wrong" with the outer instep, thereby out of reach of the keeper Welz.[5] He called it "the luckiest moment of my football career", because it was "meant" to go awry.[9]
Details
      Borussia Mönchengladbach
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 1. FC Köln
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Match rules
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Impact
Netzer's goal was chosen as goal of the month, and he was named German footballer of the year for a second consecutive year.[10][11] Netzer moved to Real Madrid, playing for them unil 1976, where he twice won the Spanish cup and league.[12]
Weisweiler compensated with the loss of Netzer with young players as Borussia went on to win the Bundesliga and the UEFA Cup in 1975.[13]
1. FC Köln did not win the German Cup again until 1977, after Weisweiler had taken over there as coach.[13]
References
- ^ a b Als Netzer sich selbst einwechselte. goal.com
- ^ a b c d „Ich spiel dann jetzt“. wz.newsline.de
- ^ a b Christian Kulik über Netzers Selbsteinwechslung. 11freunde.de
- ^ Interview Günter Netzer: Weisweiler und ich stritten uns zum Titel auf www.express.de
- ^ a b c Günter Netzer: Mein Abschiedsgeschenk. rp.online
- ^ Als Netzer sich unsterblich machte auf einestages.de
- ^ "Modus" [Mode]. dfb.de (in German). German Football Association. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ Dino Reisner: DFB-Pokal: Tore, Dramen, Sensationen aus 60 Jahren Spitzenfußball, Stiebner Verlag GmbH, 2011,S. 63
- ^ Er spielte doch. dfbpokal-walkoffame.de
- ^ Tor des Monats Günter Netzer auf sportschau.de
- ^ West Germany: Footballer of the year auf rsssf.com
- ^ Günter Netzer Biographie auf whoswho.de
- ^ a b Hennes Weisweiler auf rheinische-geschichte.lvr.de