World Cup '74 Portrait #181 (Gunter Netzer: West Germany)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today’s drawing is a ‘re-mediation’ of an enlarged photocopy of an original sticker image of Gunter Netzer as was/is featured in the FKS ‘Wonderful World of Soccer Stars World Cup 1974’ album, this original source chosen over the one that was included in the Panini ’München 74’ collection.

Although it would soon emerge from personal immersion in the game that Netzer was a big name in international football in the Seventies, & had starred for West Germany as they had stylishly won the 1972 European Championship, he played only the bittiest of parts at the ’74 World Cup, with but a single 69^th-minute substitute appearance, in the defeat to East Germany, to his name (a minute less, indeed, than Horst Hottges in the same match), which thus remained unknown to me at the time.

World Cup '74 Portrait #178 (Horst Hottges: West Germany)

graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

This latest drawing off the production line is a ‘re-mediation’ of Horst Hottges as he was represented in the FKS ‘Wonderful World of Soccer Stars World Cup 1974’ sticker album, appearing very un-mid-Seventies from this source photograph in comparison with many of his contemporaries.

Subsequently selected for inclusion in the official West Germany squad for the Finals, Hottges made one, brief substitute appearance during their course, in the ‘political derby’ defeat to East Germany, entering the field of play shortly before Jurgen Sparwasser scored what proved to be the only goal of the game, which, research reveals, marked the conclusion of Hottges’ international career, having previously played at both the 1966 (5 of 6 matches, including the Final against England) & 1970 (the first 4 of 6 matches) World Cups.