by Nick Holt
The Soviet bloc countries were still reclusive; East Germany’s membership of FIFA was not yet ratified, Poland withdrew and the Soviets declined to enter. Few in the West had any notion of the horrors Stalin’s government were perpetrating on their own people and it was another decade before they were admitted and apologised for by the new administration. Soviet domestic football was strong, as evidenced by the impressive post-war goodwill tour by Dynamo Moscow. There were technical and conditioning innovations taking place behind the iron curtain that would impact heavily in the 1960s – and I don’t just mean the systematic doping that tainted so many athletes, especially in East Germany.
Hungary, rightly, were the pre-tournament favourites. They had inflicted some heavy defeats on some of the best sides around; home and away wins, 5–0 and 5–1, against Czechoslovakia, a hammering of Italy, and, most relevant, the humbling of England at Wembley in November 1953. England had never lost at home to a non-British side, and yet here they were, floundering against a Hungarian side superior in every department of the game. Technically adept and with a superb goalkeeper and tough defence, the Magical Magyars (as the press dubbed them) looked simply unstoppable, averaging four goals a game with a range of passing and movement no one had seen before. If they had a weakness, it was lack of strength in depth, but their first team included seven world-class players and four good ones. A chance for revenge in May, a month before the World Cup started, ended in even deeper humiliation as Hungary ran away with the game in Budapest; 7–1 remains a record defeat for England, and, inept as England can be at times, it is a record that looks likely to stand for a long time.
Seven world-class players? Yup. The goalkeeper Grosics, fullback Buzánszky, the brilliant half-back József Bozsik, the deep-lying pass-master Nándor Hidegkuti, the left-winger Czibor and the goalscoring inside-forwards Puskás and Kocsis. This was the most talented side put on to a football field to date.
The South American challenge would come from holders Uruguay and a rebuilt Brazil, while Mexico and South Korea represented the northern half of America and Asia. The luckiest qualifier was Turkey, whose name came out of a hat after a decider against Spain ended 2–2; under current rules Spain would have qualified comfortably on goal difference.
1954
SWITZERLAND
Berne: Wankdorf Stadium
The stadium chosen for the final was opened in 1927, and capacity had gradually increased from the original 22,000 to 64,000 for the finals tournament. The Wankdorf (which has been making supposedly grown-up Englishmen titter for decades) is named for the district of Berne in which it is situated and is home to the Young Boys club.
Basel: St Jakob Stadium
The home of FC Basel was demolished in 1998 and replaced with the custom-built St Jakob-Park. The ground hosted six games at the 1954 finals, and anyone lucky enough to have watched them all would have seen a remarkable forty-four goals. A record 58,000 attended West Germany’s victory over Austria.
Geneva: Charmilles Stadium
Replaced with the Stade de Genève in 2002, the Charmilles held around 20,000 and was the home of Servette Geneva.
Lausanne: Stade Olympique de la Pontaise
Reduced now from its original near-50,000 capacity to 15,850 seats, La Pontaise remains on the same site as when it opened in 1904, and is the home of FC Lausanne.
Zürich: Hardturm Stadium
The Hardturm, home of the Grasshoppers club, claimed 35,000 people watched the third place match at the 1954 World Cup Finals, but this is questionable. The ground was closed in 2007 and the club temporarily shared its grounds with hated rivals FC Zürich.
Lugano: Cornaredo Stadium
The Cornaredo hosted only one game in the 1954 finals – that between Italy and Belgium. That 26,000 people attended, as FIFA claim, is unlikely; the stadium now has a capacity of just over 15,000 and is home to AC Lugano.
Finals
The rules were stupid – of course they were – with each group featuring two seeded teams who only played the two non-seeded teams. WHY? In addition, the seeding was wrong-headed and inaccurate; there were no FIFA rankings in those days. Not that FIFA rankings count for much, really (see the Terms and Tactics chapter).
The top group was a case in point. A few weeks before the World Cup, Yugoslavia beat France 3–1, yet here they were unseeded, which meant they had to play Brazil as well as the French. In Group 2, similarly, Turkey were seeded at the expense of Germany, who were a decent team albeit one with no great recent form. In the last group, England and Italy were seeded and the hosts, oddly, were not, which seemed a bit harsh (and would never happen now where the hosts are always in the top pool of seeded teams and always seem to get a kind draw).
Once the groups were sorted, there was some further FIFA nonsense to deal with; in their infinite wisdom, they decided the four group winners would play each other in the last eight, with the two winners contesting a semi-final, while the group runners-up would do likewise – some reward for winning the group!
GROUP 1
Yugoslavia kicked off against France knowing they most likely needed a win; France would surely beat Mexico, the group whipping boys, and Yugoslavia, while a decent side, entertained little expectation of beating Brazil. A fourteenth-minute goal decided the game – Yugoslavia’s main gripe would have been not adding to that goal, for they certainly created chances. They seemed to like 1–0 – they won all four of their qualifying matches by the same score. France were an improving team, but they would have to wait another four years to reach the latter stages for the first time. In the other opener Brazil saw off Mexico comfortably enough and could have scored more than five. An international audience was treated to a first view of Didi’s trademark free-kicks as he dinked one into the corner for Brazil’s second.
Mexico were more competitive against France and did really well to come back from 2–0 down to level with five minutes to go. A late penalty for handball was tough on them; it was coolly converted by French playmaker twenty-two-year-old Raymond Kopaszewski. France had to rely on Brazil beating Yugoslavia for a crack at a play-off.
Yugoslavia were an experienced side, with much the same team that played in 1950 and gave a good account of themselves against Brazil. They did the same here, and enjoyed the better of the first half. Brazil made the error of trying to use Baltazar’s strength in the air, but he was well marshalled by Horvat, and it was only when Brazil started to play through Didi and the right winger Julinho that they made progress. It was Yugoslavia who took the lead when Zebec, equally comfortable anywhere across the front line, advanced from a deep central position, went past a feeble tackle and shot a hummer across the goalkeeper into the left-hand side of the goal.
Brazil were starting to play, though, and should have had a penalty when Baltazar was taken out as he was about to shoot with the ’keeper grounded – nothing doing, said the splendidly named referee Charlie Faultless. Minutes later, Yugoslavia had a double escape when Julinho’s angled drive was blocked on the line and a viciously struck follow-up was saved superbly by Beara. But the goal was coming, and it was a terrific strike, Didi teeing off with scant room at the edge of the penalty area and driving in off the crossbar. Brazil pushed on and dominated the first period of extra-time (another weird FIFA ruling . . .) and Julinho was unlucky to see a shot rebound off the bar. In the second period Yugoslavia steadied the ship, despite an injury to Cajkovski, and it was Castilho’s turn to save his side with a fine point-blank stop from Zebec.
GROUP 2
* Lefter Küçükandonyadis, a tricky and mobile inside-left, was Turkey’s best footballer in the 1950s and early ’60s. He played more than 500 games for Fenerbahçe, where he is revered, and scored over 300 goals; he scored twenty-two more in fifty internationals, a record overtaken only this century, by Hakan Sükür.
Sepp Herberger had managed to hang onto his job after the debacle of the 1938 World Cup by expediently shifting the blame onto the Austrian contingent within his side, cl
aiming they lacked stomach for the contest – the accusation was probably true, in part, as some of the Austrians were less than passionate about fighting Hitler’s propaganda war on the field. He survived the war and was teaching coaching in Cologne. When the new West German football federation reappointed a national coach in 1949, Herberger lobbied furiously and got the job.
West Germany missed the 1950 World Cup – they were still in the political naughty corner following reparations at the end of the Second World War – but played their first international under the new federation in 1950, against Switzerland, who were more forgiving than most European nations – presumably because they were one of the few that hadn’t been invaded. On a foul evening 115,000 people turned out – the Germans needed something to soothe the wounds to their national psyche.
The portents for the 1954 World Cup were not good; West Germany lost badly to France in 1952 and made heavy weather of an easy qualifying group that contained Norway and the briefly convened republic of Sarland, managed by Herberger’s fellow-German Helmut Schön – more of him anon. Herberger relied heavily on a declining Kaiserslautern side and was getting stick for it in the press. Things didn’t get any easier when the draw was made for the Finals and West Germany found themselves in with Hungary, regarded as comfortably the best team in Europe, and Turkey, an emerging side who had beaten them two years previously. Under the ridiculous system FIFA adopted, West Germany were denied a crack at a laughably bad South Korea side.
As it transpired Turkey didn’t present much of a threat, despite taking the lead after three minutes. Once the Germans got going their superior organisation and fitness carried the day easily. West Germany won 4–1, while Hungary racked up nine in their opener against South Korea; it could have been more but the Hungarians eased off in the second half and seemed unwilling to completely humiliate their exhausted opponents.
West Germany got trounced 8–3 by Hungary when Herberger cautiously rested half his team for the inevitable (and absurd) play-off against Turkey. Some writers find this explanation awkward, but why else would Herberger leave out Morlock, Ottmar Walter, Schäfer and his best goalkeeper, the experienced Turek? Hungary kept their big stars in, but replaced Palotás with the more flexible Hidegkuti, and their movement bewildered the Germans even after the great Ferenc Puskás limped off in the second half.
The play-off proved to be the match that instilled some self-belief in the German side, who were pilloried at home for their performance against Hungary. West Germany had three top-notch performers; centre-half Jupp Posipal, and the two inside-forwards, Max Morlock and the veteran Fritz Walter. The barrel-shaped winger Helmut Rahn was a bit of a wild card, but had played well against Hungary and kept his place.
Second time around, Turkey were beaten even more emphatically; Morlock scored a hat-trick, and the second half became a bit of a stroll. West Germany were starting to look like a team again, with the return of Fritz Walter adding stability and experience to a previously haphazard system with no self-belief. Walter’s craft and the high work-rate of right-half Horst Eckel allowed Morlock to play more as an out-and-out attacker, which suited this quick and elusive player. West Germany went through alongside Hungary, who looked every bit the tournament favourites.
GROUP 3
Group 3 looked more straightforward, as the seeded teams, Uruguay and Austria, seemed a lot better than Czechoslovakia and Scotland, both at low ebb.
So it proved, but Scotland gave Austria a bit of a fight in the opening game – literally in Allan Brown’s case, he and the Austrian captain Ernst Ocwirk were lucky not to be sent off for fighting. Austria scored somewhat against the run of play when Alfred Körner, one of two winger-brothers in the Austrian side, hit a hard, low cross which Probst controlled and put away neatly at the near post. Late in the game Willie Ormond (a future Scotland manager) hit a low drive that forced a sprawling save from Schmied, but generally Scotland didn’t pose enough problems for their opponents in the second half – which begs the question why their most potent forward, Lawrie Reilly, was left out; his club colleague Bobby Johnstone was named in the squad but withdrew with an injury. Scotland manager Andy Beattie resigned after the match, fed up with a selection policy that left him with limited options.
Uruguay started hesitantly against Czechoslovakia, who defended in numbers and had goalkeeper Theo Reimann in terrific form. Schiaffino, just signed by Milan for a world record figure of £72,000, was closely marked and few chances were created. Míguez, who had a shot stopped by Reimann’s face (ouch! – those old leather balls were heavy), finally broke the deadlock and there was time for Schiaffino to show what the fuss was about with a super free-kick.
The second round of games re-established the pecking order in no uncertain terms. Austria beat their Czech neighbours 5–0, with a hat-trick for Ernst Probst inside twenty-five minutes as the Austrians ran up a four-goal cushion against some shoddy marking. Stojaspal added a fifth, his second, minutes after being carried off in apparent agony.
Uruguay turned on the style against Scotland, especially in the second half. They had the core of the victorious side from 1950 still – Máspoli, Andrade, Varela, Schiaffino – but fielded two new exciting wingers in Julio César Abbadíe and Carlos Borges. Borges was a real flyer, and was simply too quick for Aird and Cunningham at the back for Scotland, helping himself to a hat-trick as Schiaffino’s movement and passing pulled the Scottish marking all over the place. Uruguay weren’t flattered by their win, and it was a record defeat for Scotland that they should have heeded – they were yards behind their opponents in fitness, tactics and technique. Scotland, who had viewed the World Cup as pretty pointless until this tournament, left Switzerland in the same state – pointless; and not so pretty.
Scotland Squad 1954:
GK: Fred Martin (Aberdeen, 25 years old, 2 caps)
DEF: Willie Cunningham (Preston North, 29, 3), Jock Aird (28, 2), Bobby Evans (Glasgow Celtic, 26, 17)
MID & WIDE: Tommy Docherty* (Preston, 25, 5), Jimmy Davidson (Partick Thistle, 28, 2), Doug Cowie (Dundee, 28, 6)
FWD: Allan Brown (Blackpool, 27, 11), Willie Fernie (Celtic, 25, 1), George Hamilton (Aberdeen, 36, 5), John Mackenzie (Partick, 28, 4), Neil Mochan (Celtic, 27, 1), Willie Ormond (Hibernian, 27, 3)
Named but left at home as cover:
John Anderson (Leicester City, GK); Alex Wilson (Portsmouth, DEF); Jimmy Binning (Queen of the South, DEF); David Mathers (Partick, MF); Bobby Combe (Hibernian, MF); Jackie Henderson (Portsmouth, FWD); Ernie Copland (Raith Rovers, FWD); Ian McMillan (Airdrie, FWD)
GROUP 4
England and Italy were seeded in the last group, but it looked the toughest of all, with no whipping boys. Both the opening games showed how open it was.
Switzerland provided the first minor shock by beating Italy 2–1. The game was fractious – the referee was escorted off by police after disallowing an Italian “goal” for offside – but the Swiss defence held firm. Italy were heavily reliant, at least creatively, on Giampiero Boniperti, but the Juventus playmaker, so adored and so potent in Serie A, was never the same influence for Italy. The Swiss were defensive and limited, but well organised by their coach Karl Rappan, and dangerous on the break. Fatton was still there from 1950, and Hügi, the new centre-forward from Basle, looked a robust handful.
England usually had no problem beating Belgium, but in their opening game in Basle some jittery defending gave the Belgians a sniff; Anoul opened the scoring after England failed to clear the ball effectively. England bounced back and, prompted by the evergreen thirty-nine-year-old Matthews, they equalised when Broadis just beat the goalkeeper to the maestro’s through ball. Nat Lofthouse headed in a Tom Finney cross before half-time – a sane man would have volleyed the ball not headed it at knee height – and Broadis rammed home a third just past the hour. The game looked safe but unfortunately goalkeeper Gil Merrick didn’t, and centre-half Syd Owen was carrying an injury. Belgium came back and scored a neat second, then Coppens left Owen in hi
s wake as he scored an equaliser. It was the first time England had played extra-time in an international, but they took to it well and went back ahead when Lofthouse slammed home a cross from Broadis. Belgium’s final leveller was a freak, the ball looping over Merrick off Dickinson’s head as he was put under pressure trying to deal with a deep cross from the right-wing. Four-all; breathless stuff, but not the defensive improvement England sought after their nightmare evening in Budapest.
That came in the next game when dependable Billy Wright moved to centre-half and Bill McGarry came in at right-half. Both Matthews and Lofthouse picked up knocks in the first game, so in came Jimmy Mullen and Dennis Wilshaw, both colleagues of Wright at Wolves; Tommy Taylor moved to his more natural position at centre-forward, a more skilful and fluent player than Lofthouse, but not so quick or powerful. The game was played in the impressive Wankdorf Stadium in Berne. The old stadium was knocked down and this new 64,000-capacity ground built in plenty of time for the start of the tournament – no half-finished stands or botched jobs for the Swiss. England did not expect to be intimidated – the Swiss fans were not known for fervency or intimidation.
Switzerland were pliant opposition, offering little in attack, and Wright hoovered up any threat that materialised as if he had played centre-half all his life. Mullen came up with a good run and finish just as England were getting edgy, and Wilshaw netted a second after a fine slaloming run. England breathed a collective sigh of relief; they were in the next round and avoided the ignominy of 1950. With Italy beating Belgium easily, England’s next challenge lay in the fact that they won the group and ended up in the tough winners’ half of the draw.
