Miracle of cordoba

The Miracle of Cordoba is the name by which a famous game of football that occurred between West Germany and Austria on 21 June 1978 at the conclusion of the second round of the 1978 FIFA World Cup is known. The game is fondly remembered by fans of the Austrian national team for being the first time in 47 years that Austria had defeated Germany (or post-partition, West Germany). The game is sometimes remembered by the losing nation as "The Disgrace of Cordoba."

The score of the game was 3-2, in favor of Austria.

The result was extremely unexpected, as the Austrians went into the game as very considerable underdogs against a West German team known for the skill and efficiency of their players. The West German team contained a number of players who contributed to their country winning the 1974 World Cup.

With only a few minutes to go in the game, and with the score tied at 2-2, the Austrian forward Hans Krankl scored a goal to give Austria the lead. The commentary provided during the last few minutes of the game by Edi Finger, and in particular his exclamation following Krankl's goal "Tor! Tor! Tor! Tor! Tor! Tor! I werd narrisch!" are familiar to most Austrians from being repeated many times on radio and television. Although the Cordoba game was not a World Cup final, in Austrian popular culture Finger's commentary is comparable with Herbert Zimmermann's famous commentary at the end of the 1954 World Cup Final, between West Germany and Hungary, the game often called The Miracle of Bern.

A translation of Finger's commentary follows:

Coming now into the penalty area. He shoots! Goal! Goal! Goal! Goal! Goal! Goal! I am going crazy!. Krankl has shot truly. It is 3-2 for Austria! Ladies and gentlemen, we are hugging each other here, my co-commentator, Rippel, our producer, Posch ... 3-2 for Austria, thanks to a great goal by Krankl. It went over. And just wait a minute, ladies and gentlemen, just wait a minute and perhaps we can pour ourselves a small celebratory glass of wine. That is what we have just seen. Now they are standing before the South American [crowd] . Now I believe we will win. However, the Germans attack again. It is headed away in defence. The ball goes to the left, to Pezzey ... There are still two minutes to go, and the Austrians do not have the ball. Anything can still happen. There is an attack on the wing, towards the penalty area, but Kreuze repels it.

Germay again at the ball. A possibility for Abramczik. And? It is off to the side! Oh, Abramczik, Oh I could just hug Abramczik for it. It has us still in the lead. He definitely had an opportunity. He tried bravely. 30 seconds remaining. 3-2 for Austria. After 47 Years, ladies and gentlemen, the Austrian national team is in the lead 3-2, thanks to a world class team performance against the Federal Republic. 45 minutes have passed on the clock but still Referee Small from Israel has not blown the whistle. Germany get hold of the ball again, but Prohaska kicks it out. And now it it is over! Ended, concluded, past, done! Germany has been struck. Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in 47 years, Austria has defeated Germany.

References

*http://www.historisch.apa.at/cms/apa-historisch/dossier.html?dossierID=AHD_19780621_AHD0001
*http://sport.orf.at/030213-38509/38510bigstory_txt.html