World Cup 1974 highlights. The 1974 FIFA World Cup remains one of the most influential tournaments in football history, marking the definitive shift toward the modern game. Hosted and won by West Germany, it was the stage where "Total Football" met clinical efficiency. 1974 World Cup: The Statistics Tournament Winner, West Germany (2nd title) Runner-up, Netherlands Total Goals Scored, 97 goals Top Scorer, Grzegorz Lato (Poland), 7 goals Total Attendance, 1,865,753 Key Highlights for the Reel 1. The Revolution of Total Football Led by Johan Cruyff, the Netherlands introduced a fluid system where any player could take over the role of any other player on the pitch. Their 4–0 demolition of Argentina and 2–0 win over Brazil remain iconic displays of tactical superiority. 2. The Cruyff Turn In a group stage match against Sweden, Johan Cruyff debuted the "Cruyff Turn," a piece of skill that is still a fundamental part of coaching today. 3. The Final: West Germany 2–1 Netherlands The Dutch to...