Noticia nº73.378

/noticias.info/ by FIFAworldcup.com

When you watch archive footage from the 1974 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, it is sometimes difficult to believe your eyes. Has it really been only 32 years since Franz Beckenbauer could walk around undisturbed, only noticed by a handful of journalists?

Flashback
In 1974, the world economy was still reeling from the effects of the previous year's oil crisis. Europe's political landscape was dominated by the division of Germany into East and West and the FIFA World Cup host city of Leipzig was still firmly behind the Iron Curtain.

However, 'Little Paris', as it was dubbed in the 18th century when it became the centre of a classical literary movement, is now a symbol of the historic changes over the last three decades, with its revitalised Zentralstadion set to host five fixtures this summer.

High-tech stadiums ensure maximum comfort
Sixteen teams arrived in Germany in 1974 to compete for the world title, whereas 32 nations will be battling it out this year. Spectators will watch 64 games in 12 high-tech arenas, including nine completely new stadiums. In 2006, all of the venues will provide the ultimate in spectator comfort, far removed from the conditions fans had to endure back in 1974, when they stood on the terraces, often at the mercy of the elements.

"Compared with today, the 1974 tournament was like the stone age in terms of stadiums," said Organising Committee Vice-President Wolfgang Niersbach. OC President Franz Beckenbauer takes a similar view: "It's like night and day. Many of the games weren't even sold out."

While 1.7 million people watched the 38 games of the finals across nine venues in 1974, the figure this summer will be more than three million. In 1974, the public purse contributed the equivalent of Euro 120 million to the tournament, whereas 2006 will see around Euro five billion of public money invested in improvements in infrastructure.

Number of teams
A total of 194 countries, the highest figure ever, set out on the long road to qualification on 6 September 2003, contesting an astounding 847 qualifying games. In 1974, 98 associations competed for only 14 qualifying berths. Back then, the world champions Brazil and hosts Germany qualified automatically, whereas this time Carlos Alberto Parreira's men had to come through South American qualification to secure their finals place.

Each of the 32 national sides receives Euro 4.5 million for participating in 2006. In total, FIFA will pay out around Euro 170 million in appearance fees and bonuses. The world champions can look forward to an award of Euro 16.5 million in addition to the FIFA World Cup Trophy. The 16 nations that took part in 1974 could only dream of such riches.

Horst R. Schmidt, General Secretary of the German Football Association and Senior Vice-President of the OC, was also involved in organising the 1974 tournament: "The organisation of the FIFA World Cup is now on a scale that was unimaginable in 1974."

Huge media event
The huge changes in the intervening period become even clearer when you consider the development in terms of the media. In 1974, 4,616 media representatives from 72 countries were accredited, while the figure will be well over 10,000 in 2006. Back then, match reports were still written up on typewriters or transcribed by telephone to the editorial team at home, whereas data is now electronically transmitted around the globe in a matter of seconds. In the early 1970s, colour TV transmission represented one of the few technological breakthroughs, while today's fans can now take in video highlights on the internet or their mobile phones.

Things have also changed somewhat for the supporters. At one time, fans were more likely to meet in someone's house or at the local pub to watch the games on TV. Nowadays, it is commonplace for thousands of them to meet in public spaces to see the action on giant screens.

However, there is one thing that has not changed, namely the immense pressure of expectation on the German team to clinch the trophy in front of their home fans.