Brazil 1974
Brazil arrived at West Germany 1974 as defending champions, but this was a pale shadow of the magical 1970 side. Pelé had retired from international football, Tostão was gone, and Gérson and Carlos Alberto were absent. Coach Mário Zagallo hero of '58 and '70 tried to build a new team around Jairzinho and Rivelino, but the creative spark was missing. Brazil advanced from their group but played with an uncharacteristic physicality that drew criticism a far cry from the jogo bonito of four years earlier. In the second group phase, a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands and their dazzling Total Football ended any realistic hopes. Brazil finished fourth their worst result since 1966. The tournament marked the end of an era: the team that had enchanted the world in 1970 was gone, and Brazil would need a new generation to recapture the magic.
