Australia v Israel 1969 50th Anniversary - World Cup Heartbreak

Fifty years ago today Australia hosted Israel in a World Cup Qualifier, needing to overturn a 0-1 deficit after the away game in a two-legged tie to determine who would go to Mexico '70.

The Socceroos had topped their three team group (of South Korea and Japan) unbeaten in the First Round of Asia & Oceania Qualifying. The Second Round saw them pitted against Rhodesia, and after a 1-1 draw and a 0-0 draw a play-off was required, which Australia won 3-1. All three games were played in Mozambique, and within the space of six days.

Israel, having had a bye in the First Round, only had two games to play in the Second Round, after North Korea withdrew for political reasons. The Israelis defeated New Zealand 4-0 and 2-0 (both games in Tel Aviv) to progress to the Final Round against Australia.

The first leg of the final round saw Israel take a 1-0 win at the Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv. The game was played just five days after Australia's play-off win in Mozambique, with Israel having had the luxury of a month's break since their games against New Zealand.

The return leg was played on December 14, 1969 at the Sydney Sports Ground.

Australia v Israel Match Programme

Thanks once again to the magnificent work of George Cotsanis (of My World Is Round) in converting and restoring some old film, we can now watch almost half an hour of highlights from Australia's first near miss World Cup Qualification heartbreak.

Australia dominated the early stages, but were unable to make a breakthrough. Attila Abonyi went close early on, with Johnny Warren having a good effort from distance saved before failing to convert a great heading opportunity. Israel worked their way into the game, which remained on a knife's edge until George Keith was beaten a bouncing ball when an intercept or clearance seemed easy enough, which saw Mordechai Spiegler slip through on goal and convert to put Israel ahead with eleven minutes remaining. John Watkiss was able to equalise nine minutes later, but it proved too little too late as Australia were unable to get the win required to book a place in their first World Cup Finals.

Spiegler benefits from a defensive slip to get a run at goal for the opener.

Watkiss on the turn about to net Australia's equaliser.

Heartbreak for the big crowd at the final whistle.

Match Details:

Sydney Sports Ground, December 14, 1969.
Referee: Ferdinand Marschall

Australia 1 (Watkiss 88') Israel 1 (Spiegler 78')

Australia: Ron Corry, George Keith, Manfred Schaefer, Alan Marnoch, Stan Ackerley, Danny Walsh, John Warren, Attila Abonyi, John Watkiss, Ray Baartz, Billy Vojtek (Willie Rutherford 60').

Israel: Itzhak Visoker, Shraga Bar, David Primo, Zvi Rosen, Menachem Bello, Shmuel Rosenthal, Giora Spiegel, Meir Barad (Rahamim Talbi 60), Yehoshua Feigenboim, Mordechai Spiegler, Itzhak Shum (Mordechai Lubetski 88').

Manchester United in Melbourne and Sydney, 1967

Earlier this year George Cotsanis of My World Is Round made a great find, locating someone selling old film reels, some of which included soccer content. He purchased the film and then set about getting them converted to a more modern media format. This week he was able to share part of his discovery, with his release of a Craven Filter Sports Feature covering the Manchester United tour of Australia in 1967.

Here's the links to the newspapers which covered the build up and the action from the games against Victoria and New South Wales. Some great photos were captured by Uwe Kessner of Soccer News.

Soccer News June 8

Soccer News June 15

Soccer News June 22

Soccer World June 9

Soccer World June 23

The film opens with narration over footage of a junior game. This is to begin a storytelling segment which was a staple of newsreels. Sir Matt Busby is interviewed before footage of a Manchester United training session is shown, before the storytelling segment intensifies. The kid from the story and the Manchester United players are shown at the Park Royal Hotel in Melbourne, standing by a pool it is too cold to swim in given it's the middle of winter.

On to Olympic Park we go, for the match footage. A packed ground awaits and advertising for Craven Filter and Craven A abounds. The direction of the footage is a little disappointing, with the strange use of close ups meaning we don't get a great look of the two goals. Firstly it zooms in on Willy Schroiff as Bobby Charlton dribbles in the box and then shoots past him. Then we get a cutaway to a crowd shot as Victoria equalise. That said, the action captured remains priceless.

We then move on to the Sydney Showgrounds, where New South Wales take on the Red Devils. United are now in white, opposed to the sky blue of NSW. A Johnny Warren flick-on header leads to a disallowed goal. Here the goals are shown in their entirety.

At the time, Manchester United were champions of England. The following year they would go on to become champions of Europe. Denis Law was under an injury cloud for much of the tour, but the legendary George Best, Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles featured prominently. Most who recall witnessing one of these games have vivid memories of Best dribbling through mud with ease.

Equally as exciting, though, is this footage gives us brief glimpses of Australian greats we have only really been able to read about, not see. Ron Corry, Frank Micic, Hammy McMeechan, Johnny Warren and Ray Baartz are chief amongst that category.

Also exciting is the prospect that there are still some great historical finds out there to be made. As I mentioned in my last piece a mountain of history has disappeared, but perhaps there can now be a serious campaign to rectify that, spurred on by this glorious find.

Match Details:

Sunday June 11, 1967.
At Olympic Park (Crowd: 31638)
Referee: David Maitland

Victoria 1 (O.G.) Manchester United 1 (Charlton)

Victoria: 1- Willy Schroff 2- George Keith 3-  David High 4- Billy Cook 5-Dick van Alphen 6- Tommy Randles 7- Attila Abonyi 8- Frank Micic 9- Johnny Sanchez 10- Jimmy Armstrong (12- John Anderson 81') 11- Hammy McMeechan.
Coach: Sjel (Mike) de Bruyckere

Manchester United: Alex Stepney, Shay Brennan, Tony Dunne, John Fitzpatrick, David Sadler, Nobby Stiles, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Noel Cantwell, Jimmy Ryan (Brian Kidd 46'), John Aston.
Manager: Matt Busby

Sunday June 18, 1967.
At Sydney Showgrounds (Crowd: 36500)
Referee: Tony Boskovic

New South Wales 1 (Hughes 87') Manchester United 3 (Charlton 35' 75' Foulkes 69')

New South Wales: Ron Corry, Brian Lincoln, Cliff van Blerk, Hughes, Alan Marnoch, John Watkiss, Joe Alagich, Ray Baartz, Johnny Warren, Alan Westwater, Johnny Giacometti.
Coach: Joe Marston

Manchester United: Alex Stepney, Shay Brennan, Tony Dunne, John Fitzpatrick, Bill Foulkes, Nobby Stiles, George Best, David Sadler, Bobby Charlton, Brian Kidd, John Aston.
Manager: Matt Busby