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History of the Yugoslav football



Stanislav Karasi, hero of the match in Athens

Karasi's goal in the last seconds

To ensure the play-off match against Spain in order to participate in the 10th World Cup in Germany in 1974, the Yugoslav national football team needed a win with a two goals difference in the game against Greece in Athens.

The Yugoslavs started the match against the Greeks well and led by 2-0, but luck turned its back on them - they received two goals and lost one player. In these circumstances they should have scored two more goals against the energetic and dynamic hosts, but manage in not receiving any.

In the second half, the host decided to go for all or nothing. A spark of hope appeared when Yugoslavia lead by 3-2. However, there was less and less time, and the World Cup seamed farther and farther… Minutes passed by, and the last seconds of the 90th minute started to elope, when in the Greek penalty box Stanislav Karasi volleyed the ball into the net. As soon as the host players started off from the center, the referee marked the end of the match, and the Yugoslavs were able to celebrate a major triumph brought them by Karasi, a new national hero.

A few months later, in the play off match, Yugoslavia defeated Spain, 1-0, and qualified for the World Cup in Germany.


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