Football: Banks face Pelé, the story of a historic parade

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

50 years ago, during the 1970 World Cup, England goalkeeper Gordon Banks made a masterful save against Brazilian genius Pelé. An incredible parade, entered in the history of football as "the stop of the century" and which has crossed the ages to remain, even today, a flagship moment of this sport.

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"  I scored a goal for England, but Banks stopped it  ": it was with this formula, which remained famous, that Pelé helped make the 1970 Brazil-England poster a legendary match. The meeting is not new and the quality of the images testifies to an era long before 4K super high-definition video and hyper detailed slow motion. Several protagonists of the event are no longer of this world, starting with Gordon Banks himself , who died in early 2019 of kidney cancer.

But despite the past half century, in the great history of football, Brazil-England of June 7, 1970 retains a special place. The story of this meeting between the South American artists and the Three Lions is above all that of a summit duel between Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento , and Gordon Banks.

Pelé, a " gol " too quickly celebrated

That day, at the Jalisco de Guadalajara stadium in Mexico, host country of the 1970 World Cup, the shock of this start of competition took place. This is the 2nd day of the first round. In group 2, England, world champion four years earlier at home, faces Brazil, winner of the two previous editions (1958 and 1962). The two nations each won their first match, respectively against Romania (1-0 for the English) and against Czechoslovakia (4-1 for the Brazilians). So at stake: a ticket for the next round and first place in the group.

It will not be necessary to wait a long time before attending the action of anthology. In the 11th minute of play, Carlos Alberto sent a long, millimeter pass to Jairzinho, who escaped Terry Cooper on the right side of the English defense and entered the penalty area. At the first post, Tostao is free from any marking. But Jairzinho chooses to center at the far post, where Pelé is prowling.

#OnThisDay 50 years ago: the greatest save ever 👐

Our England Reanimated series begins with this moment of brilliance from the legendary Gordon Banks! pic.twitter.com/RGDSRaij9R

In the air, Tommy Wright is largely beaten by the Brazilian n ° 10. Pelé, from his height 1.73m, rises and smashes the ball with his head. Years later, the striker will explain: "  When you are a footballer, you know very well how well you hit the ball. I made this head exactly as I had hoped. The ball went exactly where I wanted it to go. And I was ready to celebrate it.  "

The images are very self-explanatory. The leather balloon takes the direction of the English cage. Pelé is already raising his arms, sure of having opened the scoring. "  Gol!  ("  Aim!  "), He shouts. Only here: opposite him, there is Gordon Banks.

Banks achieves the impossible

Four years earlier, the goalkeeper was one of the executives of the England team which won the World Cup at home, the first (and still unique) in its history. A very strong moment for this country where football was codified in the middle of the 19th century. The Stoke City goalkeeper is still at the 1970 World Cup. At 32, he is still on top form. And Pelé will realize it.

The Brazilian watches his powerful recovery of the head continue his race towards the back of the nets. The leather bounces on the lawn before the goal line. Spectators shout in the stadium, convinced like Pelé that Brazil opens the scoring. But in fact not: Banks throws himself on the ground behind and, with a right hand cuff, volley the ball along his post and over the crossbar. Pelé will remember the color of the English goalkeeper's long-sleeved jersey: “  This man, Banks, appeared in my field of vision, like a sort of blue ghost (…). He came out of nowhere and he did something I didn't think was possible.  "

The Seleçao players are stunned by the feat of Gordon Banks. "  I couldn't believe what I had just seen. Even today, when I see these images again, I can't believe it. I can't believe how he jumped so far, so fast,  "Pelé said on February 12, 2019, learning of the death of Banks at the age of 81. On the Mexican lawn, Bobby Moore, the English captain, indulges in a little joke: “  You are aging Banksy. You used to block these balloons!  "Precisely, in the second period, the goalkeeper is helpless against Jairzinho, who scored the goal of the victory (1-0) and led Brazil to the coronation.

"I am proud that he stopped my head"

The rest of Gordon Banks' sporting career will be less beautiful. In the next match, he will remain airtight against the Czechs (1-0 victory). But the quarter-final will be played without him. Victim of a violent food poisoning, the guard cannot hold his place against West Germany. Peter Bonetti replaces him. The English will lead 2-0, but a big mistake by Bonetti will revive the Germans, who will eventually tie at 2-2 and win in overtime (3-2).

In 1972, Banks was the victim of a road accident which cost him the sight of the right eye and his career at the highest level. He will only replay briefly in the modest and lucrative United States championship a few years later, as well as in Ireland. His name will remain especially associated with his exploit of 1970 against Pelé.

Goalkeeping has changed a lot since Gordon and I played. But if he were playing today, he would still be one of the very best. Rest in peace, my friend. https://t.co/NYDiEzY6VZ pic.twitter.com/EOYmMKbgPH

Paradoxically, this legendary face-to-face gave birth to a beautiful friendship between the two men. Often, when one evokes one, the name of the other is also mentioned. In his 2019 tribute, Pelé said that Gordon Banks was "  a good and warm man who gave a lot to people  ". The Brazilian artist, author of more than 1,200 goals in his career (according to his own count), went even further: "  I am proud that he stopped my head, because it started the beginning of a friendship between us that I will always cherish.  "

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