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Muller scored the winning goal in the 1974 final. Allsport UK /Allsport |
Muller's predatory instincts earned him the nickname, "Der Bomber." Certainly nobody has been deadlier with a football than the West German striker.
In 62 internationals he scored 68 goals, and the 14 he banged in during the 1970 and 1974 tournaments make him the most prolific goalscorer in the history of the competition.
In Mexico in 1970 Muller was unstoppable. He scored the winner against Morocco in West Germany's opening game and then blasted successive hat tricks against Bulgaria and Peru. In the quarterfinals against England, Muller scored the winner as West Germany came from two goals down to win 3-2.
Muller scored twice more in the classic semifinal against Italy, but the West Germans went down 4-3 after extra time. The goals only dried up in the third-place playoff, which West Germany won 4-3 from Uruguay, but Muller comfortably finished as top scorer with 10 goals and also won the European Footballer of the Year award.
In 1974, Muller was far less prolific but he saved the most important goal of his international career for last. Having scored just three times as West Germany reached the final, Muller wriggled free of the Netherlands' tight marking and fired home an opportunist shot that gave the host nation a 2-1 lead.
It was typical of the hundreds of goals Muller had scored at the Olympic Stadium for Bayern Munich. The only difference was that it won the World Cup for West Germany.
