Rivera said Beckenbauer “filled the field with his ideas” and recalled his sportsmanship after Rivera scored the winning goal in the 4-3 match of the century against West Germany at Mexico 1970.
Talking to ANSA on the phone, Rivera, 80, said, “He was the greatest German footballer of all time. But be careful, he was not a libero.”
“He was a player who occupied a lot of field space, from in front of the defence to behind the striker.
“And into all that field he put his many ideas.”
On the match of the century, where Italy beat West Germany 4-3 at the Atzeca, Rivera recalled, “He was there too, there in front of the goal, when I scored the 4-3.”
“I remember his face, more pissed off than him was only the goalkeeper, (Sepp) Maier.
“But then at the end of the game he said goodbye to us. He was a great gentleman, also off the pitch.”
ANSA
