Lato and Poland grab gold and bronze

Lato and Poland grab gold and bronze

Grzegorz Lato & Poland: An Unlikely Hero of the 1974 World Cup

Gerd Muller was the clear favorite for the adidas Golden Boot at the 1974 FIFA World Cup™, with Johan Cruyff, Giorgio Chinaglia, Jairzinho, Jupp Heynckes, Gigi Riva, Mario Kempes, Dusan Bajevic, Roberto Boninsegna, and Roland Sandberg also expected to be top scorers. Grzegorz Lato, a winger from Poland, was not even considered a contender.

Despite the odds, Lato became the surprise star of the tournament. Poland was not expected to advance from a tough group featuring Argentina and Italy. However, Lato’s performance helped Poland achieve an unexpected third-place finish. He scored crucial goals, including a memorable solo effort against Brazil.

Lato’s speed and goal-scoring instinct left opponents unprepared. Poland’s coach, Kazimierz Gorski, praised him as “unstoppable,” highlighting his ability to create goals from nothing and his knack for exploiting loose balls during set-pieces.

Lato’s journey to fame began in 1969 when, at just 19, he joined Stal Mielec, a second-division Polish club that controversially offered him a house and a car. He quickly proved his worth, leading Stal to promotion and eventually to their first Ekstraklasa title in 1972/73.

He continued to excel, helping Poland to a silver medal in the 1976 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament and scoring twice in the 1978 World Cup, where Poland reached the second group stage. Despite being 32, he impressed again in Spain 1982, where Poland won another bronze.

Lato’s six goals in the 1974 World Cup earned him the Golden Boot, making him the only non-forward to win it between 1962 and 2010. He became a national hero, universally applauded in Polish stadiums, and was affectionately known as ‘Poland’s Favourite Footballer.’

Did You Know?

  • Lato scored 18 goals in 18 internationals in just over a year from May 1974.
  • When Lato turned 30, Pele urged New York Cosmos to sign him, but he chose to finish his career in Belgium, Mexico, and Canada.
  • Lato held the record as Poland’s most-capped player until 2010, with 100 caps, surpassed only by Michal Zewlakow, Kamil Glik, Jakub Blaszczykowski, and Robert Lewandowski.
  • He is one of the top World Cup goal scorers, with 10 goals, trailing only nine players, including legends like Pele, Lionel Messi, and Miroslav Klose.
  • Lato served as president of the Polish Football Association from 2008 to 2012, overseeing Poland’s co-hosting of UEFA EURO 2012.

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