And now for something completely different

I spent the summer of 1974 researching my dissertation in London, and a lifelong love affair began. The World Cup started in Germany shortly after I arrived, and I saw at least half of the games. The great Dutch team led by my exact contemporary Johann Cruyff captivated the world on the way to the final, only to lose 2-1 to the host country Germans, despite going ahead 1-0 in literally the first…