World Cup '74 Portrait #119 (Eberhardt Vogel: East Germany)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #118 (Alberto Quintano: Chile)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #117 (Dirceu: Brazil)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #116 (Willie Morgan: Scotland)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #115 (Kiril Ivkov: Bulgaria)

graphite & putty eraser/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #114 (Franco Causio: Italy)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #113 (Zdzislaw Kapka: Poland)

graphite & putty eraser/30x21cm

Other News

Back in the present, what a dreadful start to the new European football season it's proving to be, with TOoT's huge favourites Ferencvaros tonight being eliminated from the infant stages of the Europa League, following on from the mighty Stromsgodset's premature departure last night from the Champions' League: in an ideal world, these two clubs should be the finalists in either of those competitions, preferably the latter - if only...

World Cup '74 Portrait #112 (Ivan Stoyanov: Bulgaria)

graphite & putty eraser/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #111 (Jerzy Gorgon: Poland)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

World Cup '74 Portrait #110 (Julio Crisosto: Chile)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Badge of the Day #98 (Karl-Marx-Stadt)

Being the very latest addition to the European football club collection, as a tangible signifier of the former East Germany & (one of) its sporting institutions, this wonderful, hauntologically, political-philosophically rich object from the early 1960s representing the lost name of SC Karl-Marx-Stadt is, of course, irresistibly essential.

Back on the Grid Again

Today, our attention has been attracted to the enduring subject of grids (that, amongst other things, formed the basis of one of the versions of the World Cup ’74 portraits series), via the back page of the July/August edition of 'Modern Painters', in the form of Catherine Lee’s ‘Being Here / Being There’ exhibition.  Good stuff.

World Cup '74 Portrait #109 (Franz Beckenbauer: West Germany)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

This latest drawing in the Project features Franz Beckenbauer, one of the relatively few memorable names from the 1974 World Cup (transferring quickly to the school playground, aka ‘Baking Powder’), who, as a long-established international with a fine World Cup pedigree (having played in 6 matches at each of the 1966 & 1970 Finals, & scoring 4 goals during the former) & one of the stars of the West Germany squad, was represented in both the FKS & Panini sticker albums, & went on to captain the West Germans in all seven of their matches as they proceeded to win the tournament.

Within a few years, & with a changing focus of obsessive interest, from football to music, a certain likeness between ‘Der Kaiser’  & The Stranglers’ Hugh Cornwell would become apparent…

World Cup '74 Portrait #108 (Juan Masnik: Uruguay)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today’s randomly-chosen subject is Juan Masnik, who was represented in both the FKS & Panini ‘World Cup ‘74’ sticker albums, & selected for inclusion in the Uruguay squad for the tournament, during which he subsequently appeared in all three of his country’s matches, captaining the team against Holland then coming on as a substitute against Bulgaria (after 73 minutes) & Sweden (immediately following half-time).

World Cup '74 Portrait #107 (Mana Mambwene: Zaire)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today featuring a representation of Mana Mambwene (alternatively Mambuene in the official FIFA records, or Mamuwene on Wikipedia), who, after inclusion in the FKS ‘Wonderful World of Soccer Stars World Cup 1974’ sticker album, appeared in each of Zaire’s three matches/defeats in the tournament.

World Cup '74 Portrait #106 (Christo Bonev: Bulgaria)

graphite & putty eraser/30x21cm

After a day’s lull, this most recent drawing in the Project has as its subject Christo (Hristo) Bonev, photo stickers representing  whom were featured in both the FKS & Panini albums published to commemorate the 1974 World Cup, & who was selected as a member of the Bulgaria squad for the Finals, at which he went on to captain his country in each of the three matches they played at the tournament, scoring the goal against Uruguay that, but for a late equalizer, almost gained the Bulgarians their first victory at a World Cup Finals (for which, & having first qualified back in 1962, they would eventually have to wait a further 20 years on from ’74 & a total of 17 matches). 

World Cup '74 Portrait #105 (Edu: Brazil)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today’s subject is Edu, previously unknown to me until encountering the sticker representing the player in the FKS ‘Wonderful World of Soccer Stars World Cup 1974’ collectors’ album, who was selected as a member of the Brazil squad for the Finals, during which he appeared once, in the concluding First Round group match, the 3 – 0 win against Zaire with which the Brazilians just pipped Scotland to a place in the second phase.

We're Not in 1974 Anymore...

Darn it. So, there is to be no repeat(esque) in 2014 of the 1974 World Cup Final to tie in with the current drawing project (the current Germany, already qualified, being, to all intents & purposes, in terms of colours & history, the old West Germany of that time, & only Toni Kroos of the team/squad seems to have been born in the East, even: those, by birth, from further east again, in Poland, are better represented, in the form of Podolski & the record-setting Klose), but how close such an eventuality came, with only the familiar ‘lottery of penalties’ thwarting what was beginning to seem like the will of TOoT in arranging such a pleasing coincidence through the sheer force & designs of art. Perhaps it was instant karma, though, that Holland should lose the semi-final shoot-out after Tim Krul’s ugly, boorish antics helped them prevail at the same deciding stage of the game against Costa Rica in the previous round.

For all that the match might most kindly be described as attritional (not necessarily unexpectedly, given that Holland managed to score a total of 2 goals squeezed into 3 minutes of the 5 ^1/2 hours ‘football’ they played over the course of the 3 knockout rounds, & one of those a penalty indeed, & Argentina came into the semi after a pair of ground-out 1 – 0 wins in the eighth- & quarter-finals), it was a glorious aesthetic spectacle to admire in that both teams turned out, resplendently, in their traditional & classic first-choice kits, the orange-white-orange Dutch combo, & the sky blue & white stripes with black shorts of Argentina: nice, & something of a rarity in this tournament.

[image sourced from The Guardian]

World Cup '74 Portrait #104 (Benno Magnusson: Sweden)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

The latest subject to be featured is the previously unheard-of Benno Magnusson, who was represented in the FKS ‘Wonderful World of Soccer Stars World Cup 1974’ sticker album, & selected for the official Sweden squad for the Finals, during which he appeared twice, in the First Round group matches, as a 73^rd minute substitute against Bulgaria & then from the start versus Uruguay, subsequently to be replaced after an hour.

Meanwhile, back in the room at the first semi-final of the 2014 World Cup, it's 5 - 0 to Germany against the hosts Brazil after half an hour...by what might be a most serendipitous coincidence in relation to the Project & current events, we're halfway to a repeat of the 1974 final.

(P.S. final score 7 - 1)

World Cup '74 Portrait #103 (Jupp Heynckes: West Germany)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

The subject of our drawing project today is a representation of Jupp Heynckes, a name one suspects only came to attention post the 1974 World Cup (whilst playing in European club football for Borussia Monchengladbach), during which the player appeared in West Germany’s opening two matches, against Chile & Australia, before retiring with injury at half –time in the latter, not to feature in the Finals again.

As an established international, stickers featuring Jupp/Josef Heynckes were included in both the FKS & Panini albums previewing the tournament, the former providing the original source material in this instance.

World Cup '74 Portrait #102 (Joachim Streich: East Germany)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today’s randomly-chosen man-of-the-moment is a depiction of Joachim Streich, of the much-missed East Germany, who was represented in sticker form in both the FKS & Panini ‘World Cup 1974’ collectors’ albums that form the visual basis of this drawing project.

A memorable name from the televised coverage of the Finals, Streich played in four of the East Germans’ six matches during the tournament - missing the historic first-ever meeting with (& glorious 1 – 0 victory over) West Germany & the Second Round defeat to Holland - & scored twice, in their first & last fixtures, against Australia & Argentina.

An anecdotal reference to Streich’s club career can be found here, from earlier this year, amongst the football club badge collection.

World Cup '74 Portrait #101 (Ntumba Kalala: Zaire)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Our latest subject is Ntumba Kalala, who was featured, in something of a shy pose, amongst the 16-man Zaire selection in the FKS ‘Wonderful World of Soccer Stars World Cup 1974’ sticker album (from which original source the drawing was ultimately processed, via a couple of photocopies) & subsequently included in his country’s squad for the tournament, where he made one appearance, in Zaire’s final match of three, a third defeat, 0 – 3 to Brazil.

World Cup '74 Portrait #100 (Luis Pereira: Brazil)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Reaching the milestone of a (first) century of drawings in the Project, today’s featured subject is Luis Pereira, who was represented in both the FKS & Panini sticker albums commemorating the upcoming-when-published 1974 World Cup, & selected for the official Brazil squad for the tournament, where he subsequently played in all six of their First & Second Round group matches, as a member of an uncompromising defence that did not concede a goal, to Argentina, until almost midway through the fifth, although he was sent off near the end of the last of these, the 0 – 2 defeat to Holland, in an infamously tough battle, that brought to an end Brazil’s defence of the trophy.

Given the randomly-chosen nature of the subjects (picked unseen from a tin as they are), it seems rather appropriately serendipitous that a member of the 1974 Brazil team should feature on a day that the present selection, certainly not averse to the odd dirty tactic themselves, should have overcome Colombia 2 - 1 to qualify for the 2014 Finals' semis: often (& notwithstanding David Luiz's ultimately decisive stupendous free-kick goal), such ultra-competitive football is so far from the so-called 'beautiful game', compelling as it might be.

World Cup '74 Portrait #99 (Dusan Bajevic: Yugoslavia)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

The latest randomly-chosen ‘star’ of the project is Dušan Bajević, a sticker representing whom appeared in each of the FKS & Panini albums published to preview & commemorate the 1974 World Cup, & who was selected in the official Yugoslavia squad for the tournament, where he went on to appear in 3 matches – the First Round group record-equalling thrashing of Zaire, to which he contributed a hat-trick of goals (one of the two achieved at the ’74 Finals); the subsequent 1 – 1 draw with Scotland, being substituted for Stanislav Karasi, who scored the Yugoslavs’ goal; & the Second Round group match loss to Poland.

Dušan Bajević was another of the unknown names to me of World Cup ’74 prior to engaging/indulging in this particular drawing project, but research reveals that the club for whom he played at the time was one of our then-Yugoslavian favourites, Velez Mostar, being thus a team-mate of Vahid Halilhodzic, which information necessitated another delve into the original Yugoslavian football memorabilia ‘Fudbaleri i Timovi’ 1974/75 season album to discover that ‘Duško’ Bajević is indeed featured in portrait sticker form.

World Cup '74 Portrait #98 (Adolfo Nef: Chile)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today’s subject is an image of Adolfo Nef, who was represented in both the FKS & Panini 1974 World Cup commemorative sticker albums, & was selected for the Chile squad for the Finals, but subsequently did not make an appearance in any of his country’s three matches at the tournament.

Curiously, the same fate befell another Chilean goalkeeper, Juan Olivares, who had earlier played at the 1966 World Cup: instead, ignored by FKS & Panini, the third (although officially numbered 1) & least internationally experienced ‘keeper in the squad, Leopoldo Vallejos, was the man entrusted with guarding Chile’s net in Germany, which he did with a degree of success, conceding only two goals, but not enough to gain anything more than a couple of draws that saw them eliminated after the First Round group stage.

In terms of the project, then, all three of the Chilean custodians could be said to have something of a ‘ghostly’ relationship with the 1974 World Cup, although the non-playing Nef, along with Olivares, retains more of a presence, represented iconically, via his inclusion in the sticker albums, leading now to the processing of this drawing which locates him within the continuum of those drawn so far &, it is intended, to be drawn.

World Cup '74 Portrait #97 (Berti Vogts: West Germany)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

The latest randomly-chosen subject features Berti Vogts, who was represented in both the FKS & Panini ‘World Cup ‘74’ sticker albums & subsequently, having been selected for the official West Germany squad for the Finals, like his full-back partner & the recently-drawn Paul Breitner, went on to appear throughout the tournament, in all 7 of the West Germans’ ultimately trophy-winning matches, although keeping a more defensive & lower profile (I can’t say whether I remember Vogts from the ’74 World Cup, or otherwise became aware of the name soon afterwards).

Somehow, the (unreliable) memory plays the trick that it was Berti Vogts who fouled Johan Cruyff to concede the second-minute penalty that led to Holland taking the lead in the Final even before a German player had touched the ball, but this was not the case, Uli Hoeness being the offender: Vogts, rather, playing for his club Borussia Monchengladbach, brought down Kevin Keegan to give away the decisive penalty to Liverpool during the 1977 European Cup Final.

P.S. (late evening)

Crikey O’Riley, never mind the distraction of the current World Cup (& Belgium finally overcoming the USA, & Tim Howard in particular, 2 – 1 after extra time in a decent old match), but ‘next’ season has kicked-off in earnest for TOoT tonight with one of our very favourite teams, the mighty Ferencváros, coming from behind to earn a 1 – 1 draw in Malta at Sliema Wanderers in the first leg of a Europa League First Qualifying Round tie: it’s going to be a long haul to the Final for our Hungarian heroes…