How the Banks of England thwarted a lethal raid from Brazil and Pele

It was one of those passages of perfect football that, once seen, are never forgotten. As with so many similar examples, it involved Brazil, this time in the form of Jairzinho and Pele; however, it had an ending that no one expected.

'Banks had denied a football god and, in doing so, had become one himself'

It was June 7, 1970 when Brazil met England in the group stage of the Mexico World Cup finals. A sensational through-ball from Carlos Alberto allowed Jairzinho to leave England’s Terry Cooper in his wake and deliver an inch-perfect cross to the charging Pele who, in turn, made perfect contact, heading the ball towards the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Legend has it that, so sure was he of the result, that the great man yelled ''Goal” before he had even hit the ground. It was Brazil at their very best.

Enter Gordon Banks. Seemingly from nowhere, the England keeper materialised to tip the ball over the bar for a Brazilian corner. Mere words are not sufficient to describe the brilliance of that save. Banks had to move across his six-yard box, dive full-length down and back to get part of his right hand on the ball. Suffice to say, it is universally agreed to be the best save ever. Banks had denied a football god and, in doing so, had become one himself.

After a fairly inauspicious start to his football career, letting in 15 goals in his first two games as a junior, Banks went on to become one the best keepers the world has seen. Arguably, only the great Russian Lev Yashin would challenge him for the title of the best ever. These comparisons are ridiculously subjective, but Banks really was that good.