THE year 1954 marked the 50th year of FIFA’s existence and since it is headquartered in Switzerland the fitting choice for the fifth Edition of football’s Greatest Showpiece went to the Swiss. Another strange format by the World Governing body was the 16 qualifying teams were divided into 4 equal groups, but each group had two seeded teams who did not play each other. The top two teams from each group then advanced the quarterfinals K.O stage.
The shock of Brazil beaten at home, four years earlier, in the decisive game against Uruguay, when they only needed a draw to win football’s greatest prize, was eclipsed by another unexpected result when West Germany ended the unbeaten run of the ‘Magical Magyars’ of Hungary with a hard-fought come-from-behind 3-2 win, in one of the most memorable World Cup finals ever contested.
In four years of world dominance during which time (1950 -1953) they registered 23 wins and four draws and also captured the 1952 Olympics title. They were also the first foreign team to beat England at the World famous Wembley Stadium when they easily won 6-3 in November of 1953.
From the outset the ‘Magical Magyars’, spearheaded by the explosive trio of Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis and Peter Palatos, went on the rampage, disposing of debutants South Korea 9-0 in clinical fashion in their opening game of group two on the second day of action in front of 18 000 fans in Zurich. Kocsis led with a treble, while there was double each for Palatos and Puskas, and Zoltan Czibor and Mihaly completed the score sheet. Germany meantime made light work of Turkey via a 4-1 margin in the other group two game, played in Berne before a crowd of 39 000.
In group one, 27 000 turned out at Lausanne to see unseeded Yugoslavia needle seeded France 1-0 and over in Geneva, watched by 13 000, Brazil played in their now famous gold shirts for the first time and thumped Mexico 5-0. Other matches of the opening day June 16 resulted in Austria beating Scotland 1-0 and Cup holders Uruguay overcoming Czechslovakia 2-0 in group three play. Host Switzerland did not disappoint 43 000 home fans with a 2-1 victory over Italy while England and Belgium played to a 4-4 tie.
On June 20 in Basel, 65 000 watched the total annihilation of the Germans by the Hungarians as they went under 8-3, Kocsis leading the way with four. There was celebration for Turkey as well, beating Korea 7-0. Both sides were however eliminated.
In group one, France edged Mexico 3-2 and the two group qualifiers Brazil and Yugoslavia tied at 1-1. Group three also joined the goal-shout with Uruguay and Austria advancing to the quarters with emphatic 7-0 and 5-0 wins over Scotland and Czechoslovakia respectively.
A play-off between the Swiss and Italy to see who will join England into the next round was needed and the host, who lost 2-0 to England in the other fixture, won impressively at 4-1.
The quarters got off to a World Cup record start in Lausanne where 35 000 spectators witnessed the most goals scored in a single game – 12. In perhaps the most incredible game, the home side raced to a comfortable 3-0 lead by the 19th minute of the game and by the next eight minutes the Austrians levelled the score, and by the 34th minute they were in front by 5-3. The Swiss pulled one back six minutes from the half. Eight minutes into the 2nd period Austria stretched the lead, but only for five minutes as Switzerland found the back of the net for the last time. With the score reading 6-5 and 76 minutes of breathtaking football, the Austrians produced the final goal of the goal feast to run away 7-5 winners.
In Basel, Uruguay continued their disposal of the British with a comfortable 4-2 victory against England and in Geneva, West Germany had little difficulty in brushing aside Yugoslavia 2-0 and Berne, a Puskas-less Hungary showed their hunger for World Cup glory with a deserved 4-2 win against a physical Brazil in what was later named the ‘the Battle of Berne’, two Brazilians and a Hungarian were sent off by English referee Arthur Ellis. The battle continued after the game in the dressing room with Brazilian Pinheiro receiving a deep gash on his face and the Swiss Police had to be called in to restore peace.
By now Hungary had notched up 21 goals while conceding 5 and a showdown with the defending Champions for a place in the grand finale would prove their real worth and they did not disappoint. Uruguay with its proud football history welcomed the challenge of stopping the seemingly unstoppable ‘Magical Magyars’.
In one of the World Cup’s all-time classic that needed extra time Hungary ended the reign of Uruguay by scoring a hard-fought 4-2 win after the sides were deadlocked at 2-all at the end of regulation. Two golden headers by Kocsis were the determining factor that paved the way for a new champion to be crowned.
Over in Basel, 58 000 witnessed the Walter brothers act which inspired the Germans to a second and more important meeting with the unbeaten Hungarians. A double by captain Fritz (two penalties) and Omar piloted Germany past Austria who promised so much and delivered so little. The final score was 6-1 after the victors led 1-0 at the half. The Austrians gained some consolation when they beat Uruguay 3-1 in the 3rd place play-off the day before the final.
The big and most important question before the final was whether Puskas would play. He did, and in fact gave the Hungarians the lead after only six minutes Czibor doubled the score within two minutes and signs of another onslaught like the first round meeting was in the making. Undaunted, the Germans cancelled out the lead within ten minutes through Max Morlock (10th) and Helmut Rahn (18th). Suddenly the 60 000-odd fans had a game on hand with the rains beating down.
Both teams went at each other in the second half, but it was quite clear that Puskas was still not fully recovered. Six minutes from the end Rahn fired in the winner with his left foot that left Hungary and supporters bemused. For a brief moment, with three minutes left Puskas scored, Hungary thought they had equalised, but linesman Mervyn Griffiths of Wales waved off-side.
It was sweet revenge and just reward for the Germans and a most heartbreaking end for the ‘Magical Magyars’ whose Kocsis ended the tournament with the most goals – 11.