1958 FIFA World Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup
, was hosted by Sweden
from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil
, who beat Sweden
5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe
was not won by a European team. The tournament is notable for marking the debut on the world stage of a then largely unknown 17-year-old Pelé
.
around the opening of the 1950 World Cup finals
. Sweden was awarded the 1958 tournament unopposed in on June 23, 1950.
The hosts (Sweden
) and the defending champions (West Germany
) qualified automatically. Of the remaining 14 places, 9 were allocated to Europe, 3 to South America, one to North/Central America, and one to Asia/Africa.
This World Cup saw the entry and qualification of the Soviet Union
for the first time, and the qualification of all the United Kingdom
's Home Nations
: England
, Scotland
, Wales
, and Northern Ireland
.
Aside from the main European zone matches, Wales, which finished second in its group behind Czechoslovakia
, was drawn into a play-off with Israel
after Israel won its group by default because its three opponents, Turkey
, Indonesia
and Sudan
, refused to play. FIFA had imposed a rule that no team would qualify without playing at least one match, something that had happened in several previous World Cups. Wales won the play-off and qualified.
On 8 February, in Solna
, Lennart Hyland
and Sven Jerring presented the results of the draw where the qualified teams were divided into four groups. There was no seeding, apart from each group containing one western European team, one eastern European team, one of the four British teams that had qualified, and one from the American continent.
This tournament saw the first, and as of 2010 the only, appearance of Wales at a World Cup finals, and the only time England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have qualified for the same tournament. It also marked the debuts of the Soviet Union and Northern Ireland
. Argentina appeared for the first time since 1934. This would be Paraguay's
last finals appearance until 1986, Northern Ireland's last until 1982, and Austria's
last until 1978.
The 1958 competition remains the only occasion on which Italy
failed to qualify (Italy did not take part in the 1930 tournament but there was no qualification for that competition). Other teams failing to qualify were Uruguay
, Spain
and Belgium.
: 16 teams still competed in four groups of four, but this time each team played each of the other teams in its group at least once, without extra time in the event of a draw. Two points were awarded for a win and one point for a draw. As in 1954, if the second and third placed teams finished on the same points, then there would be a play-off with the winner going through. If a play-off resulted in a draw, then goal average from the group games would have been used to determine who went through to the next round. If the goal averages were equal then lots would have been drawn. If the first two teams finished on equal points then goal average would decide who was placed first and second. These arrangements had not been finalised by the time the tournament started and were still being debated as it progressed. Some teams complained that a play-off match, meaning three games in five days, was too much, and before the second round of group matches FIFA informed the teams that goal average would be used before resorting to a play-off. This was overturned when the Swedish Football Association
complained, ostensibly that it was wrong to change the rules mid-tournament, but also because it wanted the extra revenue from playoff matches.
This was the first time that goal average was available to separate teams in a World Cup, although in the event it was not used to eliminate any teams: all three playoffs finished with decisive results.
In Group 4, Pelé
did not play until the last of Brazil
's group games, against the Soviet Union
. He failed to score, but Brazil won the game 2–0 (much thanks to an impressive exhibition of dribbling prowess by his partner Garrincha
) and the group by two points. Previously, they had drawn 0–0 with England in what was the first ever goalless game in World Cup history. Eventually, the Soviet Union and England went to a playoff game, in which Anatoli Ilyin
scored in the 67th minute to knock England out, while Austria
had already been eliminated. The English side had been weakened by the Munich Air Disaster
which killed 3 internationals on the books of Manchester United
, including England's young star Duncan Edwards
.
Playoffs were also needed in Group 1 (Northern Ireland
beat Czechoslovakia
to join the defending champions West Germany
in the quarter-finals) and Group 3 (Wales
topped Hungary
to advance with hosts Sweden
). Hungary had become a spent force after their appearance in the final of the previous tournament. They had lost their best players two years before, when they fled in the wake of the failed uprising
against the communist regime. In a rather restrictive sense, from the 1954 team, only goalkeeper Gyula Grosics
, defender Jozsef Bozsik
and forward Nándor Hidegkuti
remained.
In Group 2, Scotland
faced Yugoslavia
, Paraguay
, and France
. France topped the group, with Just Fontaine
netting six goals. Yugoslavia finished second, while Scotland came in last.
The quarter-finals saw France's Just Fontaine continue in similar form to the group stage, managing another two goals as France triumphed over Northern Ireland. West Germany's Helmut Rahn
put them into the semi-finals with a single goal against Yugoslavia, while Sweden went though at the expense of USSR. The other game in the quarter-finals saw Pelé score the only goal against Wales.
In the semi-finals, Sweden continued their strong run as they defeated West Germany 3–1 in a vicious game that saw the German player Erich Juskowiak
sent off (the first ever German player to be sent off in an international game) and German team captain Fritz Walter
injured, which further weakened the German team (substitutes were first allowed in the 1970 FIFA World Cup
).
While another goal from Fontaine of France added to his impressive tally, it was not enough to prevent Brazil thundering into the Final as a Pelé hat-trick gave them a 5–2 victory. The French were effectively down to ten men from the 30th minute onwards when their most experienced defender and captain Robert Jonquet
got incapacitated after a clash with Vavá. The third place match saw Fontaine score four more goals as France defeated Germany 6-3. This brought his total to 13 goals in one competition, a record that still stands.
, in the Råsunda Stadium
; 50,000 people watched as the Brazilians went a goal down after four minutes. However Vavá
equalised shortly afterwards and then put them a goal ahead before half time. In the second half Pelé outshone everyone, notching up two goals, including the first one where he lobbed the ball over Bengt Gustavsson
then followed it with a precise volley shot. Zagallo
added a goal in between, and Sweden managed a consolation goal.
The Final holds many records in World Cup history. Pelé became the youngest player to play a World Cup Finals, the youngest scorer in a World Cup Final and the youngest player to win a World Cup Winner's Medal. Nils Liedholm
became the oldest player to score in a World Cup Final (35 years, 263 Days). This final had the highest number of goals scored by a winning team (5), the highest number of total goals scored (7); together with the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1998, it also had the greatest victory margin (3).
The game is also notable for the first and only appearance of Sweden in a World Cup Final, and for the first Brazilian win of a World Cup Final.
had qualified, the organisers had planned to use the Idrætsparken
in Copenhagen
for Denmark's group matches. The Idrætsparken was renovated in 1956 with this in mind, but Denmark lost out to England in qualification. When doubts arose about whether funding would be forthcoming for rebuilding the Ullevi
and Malmö Stadion
, the organisers considered stadiums in Copenhagen and Oslo
as contingency measures.
The geographical basis of the seeding attracted criticism, especially from Austria, who were drawn against the teams considered strongest in each of the other three pots.
.
The team of the tournament voted by journalists was as follows:
Although Just Fontaine
got more votes than any other forward, they were split between the left and right inside forward
positions.
Czechoslovakia was a fairly strong team with a rich football tradition, and was considered to be no walk-over for the Germans or the Argentinians, but nobody expected much from tiny Northern Ireland. But the Irish had already shown that they could be a danger to anyone, by knocking out double world champions Italy in the qualifying tournament for the World Cup.
In the end, the Irish did pull off one of biggest upsets in World Cup Finals history by qualifying for the quarterfinals, while Argentina and Czechoslovakia were eliminated. In their last game the Irish were only 12 minutes from eliminating the West Germans, as well. Seeler scored in the 78th minute against Northern Ireland, thus salvaging a draw. Had the Irish won, the Czechs would have followed the Irish into the quarterfinals.
Finishing last in the group with a -5 goal differential was a horrible blow for Argentina, and on the way home the Argentinian team chose to land in Montevideo
, Uruguay
, instead of Buenos Aires
, to escape the wrath of angry football fans.
Argentina forgot to bring their change strip, and borrowed the yellow shirt of host team IFK Malmö
.
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None of the teams in this group had been particularly successful at previous World Cups. France had not achieved any real World Cup success, Yugoslavia had not been able to replicate their semi-final success of 1930 and Paraguay and Scotland were considered underdogs during the tournament.
France won the group ahead of Yugoslavia and would go on to finish third.
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, which had been considered by far the best team in the world some years ago - although the Hungarians could not beat West Germany in the final of the World Cup in 1954
. But the Hungarian team had been dealt a blow by the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, after which star players like Sándor Kocsis
and Ferenc Puskás
left their homeland. Striker Nándor Hidegkuti
was still playing, but he was by now 36 years old and nowhere near his former form.
In spite of Hungary's recent travails, everyone expected the Hungarian players to advance from their group. The success of Wales
therefore was a great surprise, but the Welsh managed to draw all the group games and then beat the once-mighty Hungarians in a play-off match to decide which nation should follow Sweden into the knock-out stage. Had goal difference been the decider, Hungary would have gone through, as the Hungarians had a goal ratio 6-3 compared to 2-2 of Wales. As it was, Wales had the honour of meeting Brazil in the quarterfinals and becoming the recipient of young Pelé
´s first World Cup goal.
The match between Hungary and Mexico in Sandviken
became the northern-most World Cup match in history.
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In the end, this group had the highest average attendance, even higher than Group 3 with the host nation, Sweden.
The quality of the football in this group did not quite live up to expectations, however. Only 16 goals were scored in the whole group, lower than in any of the other groups. And when England and Brazil drew 0-0, it was the first time in World Cup history that a game ended with no goals.
Brazil won the group without conceding a single goal. The teenage Pelé played Brazil's last game against the Soviet Union. He did not score but drew wild reviews for his play. The Soviet Union, in its first World Cup, took second place.
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This was the first goalless draw in World Cup finals history.
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6 goals Pelé
Helmut Rahn
5 goals Vavá
Peter McParland
4 goals Roger Piantoni
Zdeněk Zikán
Lajos Tichy
Kurt Hamrin
Agne Simonsson
3 goals Omar Oreste Corbatta
Raymond Kopa
Hans Schäfer
Todor Veselinović
2 goals Mazzola
Milan Dvořák
Václav Hovorka
Derek Kevan
Maryan Wisnieski Uwe Seeler Juan Agüero Florencio Amarilla
José Parodi
Jorge Lino Romero
Aleksandr Ivanov
Nils Liedholm
Ivor Allchurch
Aleksandar Petaković
1 goal Ludovico Avio
Norberto Menéndez
Karl Koller
Alfred Körner
Didi
Nílton Santos
Mário Zagallo
Jiří Feureisl
Tom Finney
Johnny Haynes
Yvon Douis
Jean Vincent Hans Cieslarczyk
József Bencsics
József Bozsik
Károly Sándor
Jaime Belmonte
Wilbur Cush
Cayetano Ré
Sammy Baird
Bobby Collins
Jackie Mudie
Jimmy Murray Anatoli Ilyin
Valentin Ivanov
Nikita Simonyan Gunnar Gren
Lennart Skoglund
John Charles
Terry Medwin
Radivoje Ognjanović
Zdravko Rajkov
Final
3rd and 4th place
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
Eliminated at the group stage
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, was hosted by Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, who beat Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
was not won by a European team. The tournament is notable for marking the debut on the world stage of a then largely unknown 17-year-old Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
.
Host selection
Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Sweden expressed interest in hosting the tournament. Swedish delegates lobbied other countries at the FIFA Congress held in Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
around the opening of the 1950 World Cup finals
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
. Sweden was awarded the 1958 tournament unopposed in on June 23, 1950.
Qualification
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
) and the defending champions (West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
) qualified automatically. Of the remaining 14 places, 9 were allocated to Europe, 3 to South America, one to North/Central America, and one to Asia/Africa.
This World Cup saw the entry and qualification of the Soviet Union
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
for the first time, and the qualification of all the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Home Nations
Home Nations
Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom...
: England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
Aside from the main European zone matches, Wales, which finished second in its group behind Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
, was drawn into a play-off with Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
after Israel won its group by default because its three opponents, Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
, Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...
and Sudan
Sudan national football team
The Sudan national football team represents Sudan in association football and is controlled by the Sudan Football Association, the governing body for football in Sudan. Sudan's home ground is Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman and their head coach is Mohammed Abdullah Mazda...
, refused to play. FIFA had imposed a rule that no team would qualify without playing at least one match, something that had happened in several previous World Cups. Wales won the play-off and qualified.
On 8 February, in Solna
Solna Municipality
Solna Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, located just north of the capital Stockholm. Its seat is located in the 'city' of Solna....
, Lennart Hyland
Lennart Hyland
Lennart Hyland , was a Swedish TV-show host and journalist and one of the most popular and renowned TV personalities in the history of Swedish television...
and Sven Jerring presented the results of the draw where the qualified teams were divided into four groups. There was no seeding, apart from each group containing one western European team, one eastern European team, one of the four British teams that had qualified, and one from the American continent.
This tournament saw the first, and as of 2010 the only, appearance of Wales at a World Cup finals, and the only time England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have qualified for the same tournament. It also marked the debuts of the Soviet Union and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. Argentina appeared for the first time since 1934. This would be Paraguay's
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
last finals appearance until 1986, Northern Ireland's last until 1982, and Austria's
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
last until 1978.
The 1958 competition remains the only occasion on which Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
failed to qualify (Italy did not take part in the 1930 tournament but there was no qualification for that competition). Other teams failing to qualify were Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
, Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
and Belgium.
Format
The format of the competition changed from 19541954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
: 16 teams still competed in four groups of four, but this time each team played each of the other teams in its group at least once, without extra time in the event of a draw. Two points were awarded for a win and one point for a draw. As in 1954, if the second and third placed teams finished on the same points, then there would be a play-off with the winner going through. If a play-off resulted in a draw, then goal average from the group games would have been used to determine who went through to the next round. If the goal averages were equal then lots would have been drawn. If the first two teams finished on equal points then goal average would decide who was placed first and second. These arrangements had not been finalised by the time the tournament started and were still being debated as it progressed. Some teams complained that a play-off match, meaning three games in five days, was too much, and before the second round of group matches FIFA informed the teams that goal average would be used before resorting to a play-off. This was overturned when the Swedish Football Association
Swedish Football Association
The Swedish Football Association is the governing body of football in Sweden. It organises the football leagues — Allsvenskan for men and Damallsvenskan for women — and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in Solna and is a founding member of both FIFA and UEFA...
complained, ostensibly that it was wrong to change the rules mid-tournament, but also because it wanted the extra revenue from playoff matches.
This was the first time that goal average was available to separate teams in a World Cup, although in the event it was not used to eliminate any teams: all three playoffs finished with decisive results.
Summary
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
did not play until the last of Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
's group games, against the Soviet Union
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
. He failed to score, but Brazil won the game 2–0 (much thanks to an impressive exhibition of dribbling prowess by his partner Garrincha
Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...
) and the group by two points. Previously, they had drawn 0–0 with England in what was the first ever goalless game in World Cup history. Eventually, the Soviet Union and England went to a playoff game, in which Anatoli Ilyin
Anatoli Ilyin
Anatoli Mikhaïlovitch Ilyin is a former Soviet Russian footballer.-Honours:* Olympic champion: 1956.* Soviet Top League winner: 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1962.* Soviet Top League runner-up: 1954, 1955.* Soviet Top League bronze: 1957, 1961....
scored in the 67th minute to knock England out, while Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
had already been eliminated. The English side had been weakened by the Munich Air Disaster
Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. On board the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes",...
which killed 3 internationals on the books of Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, including England's young star Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards was an English footballer who played for Manchester United and the England national team. He was one of the Busby Babes, the young United team formed under manager Matt Busby in the mid 1950s, and one of eight players who died as a result of the Munich air disaster.Born in Dudley,...
.
Playoffs were also needed in Group 1 (Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
beat Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
to join the defending champions West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in the quarter-finals) and Group 3 (Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
topped Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
to advance with hosts Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
). Hungary had become a spent force after their appearance in the final of the previous tournament. They had lost their best players two years before, when they fled in the wake of the failed uprising
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
against the communist regime. In a rather restrictive sense, from the 1954 team, only goalkeeper Gyula Grosics
Gyula Grosics
Gyula Grosics is a Hungarian former football goalkeeper who played 86 times for the Hungarian national football team and was part of the legendary Golden Team of the 1950s. He was nicknamed the Black Panther ....
, defender Jozsef Bozsik
József Bozsik
József Bozsik was a Hungarian footballer. He represented Hungary in various international tournaments, and is a member of the Mighty Magyars.-Biography:...
and forward Nándor Hidegkuti
Nándor Hidegkuti
Nándor Hidegkuti was a Hungarian football player and manager. He played as a forward or attacking midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career at MTK Hungária FC. During the 1950s he was also a member of the Hungarian National Team team known as the Golden Team...
remained.
In Group 2, Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
faced Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
, Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
, and France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. France topped the group, with Just Fontaine
Just Fontaine
Just "Justo" Fontaine is a former French football player.-Football career:He holds the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament, with 13 in 1958...
netting six goals. Yugoslavia finished second, while Scotland came in last.
The quarter-finals saw France's Just Fontaine continue in similar form to the group stage, managing another two goals as France triumphed over Northern Ireland. West Germany's Helmut Rahn
Helmut Rahn
Helmut Rahn, known as Der Boss , was a German football player. He became a legend for having scored the winning goal in the final game of the 1954 FIFA World Cup .- Career :...
put them into the semi-finals with a single goal against Yugoslavia, while Sweden went though at the expense of USSR. The other game in the quarter-finals saw Pelé score the only goal against Wales.
In the semi-finals, Sweden continued their strong run as they defeated West Germany 3–1 in a vicious game that saw the German player Erich Juskowiak
Erich Juskowiak
Erich Juskowiak was a former football player for the German national team between 1951 and 1959. He earned 31 caps and 4 goals for Germany. His position was left back...
sent off (the first ever German player to be sent off in an international game) and German team captain Fritz Walter
Fritz Walter
Friedrich "Fritz" Walter was a German footballer. In his time with the German national team, he won 61 caps and scored 33 goals.-Early club career:...
injured, which further weakened the German team (substitutes were first allowed in the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
).
While another goal from Fontaine of France added to his impressive tally, it was not enough to prevent Brazil thundering into the Final as a Pelé hat-trick gave them a 5–2 victory. The French were effectively down to ten men from the 30th minute onwards when their most experienced defender and captain Robert Jonquet
Robert Jonquet
Robert Jonquet , was a French former football defender. He played the majority of his professional career for the club Stade de Reims, winning five French championships and appearing in two European Cup finals...
got incapacitated after a clash with Vavá. The third place match saw Fontaine score four more goals as France defeated Germany 6-3. This brought his total to 13 goals in one competition, a record that still stands.
Final
The final was played in SolnaSolna Municipality
Solna Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, located just north of the capital Stockholm. Its seat is located in the 'city' of Solna....
, in the Råsunda Stadium
Råsunda Stadium
Råsunda Fotbollstadion, also Råsundastadion, Råsunda Stadium or just Råsunda, is a Swedish national football stadium. It is located in Solna Municipality in Metropolitan Stockholm and named after Råsunda, a zone of Solna.-History:...
; 50,000 people watched as the Brazilians went a goal down after four minutes. However Vavá
Vavá
Vavá, real name Edvaldo Izídio Neto, was an association footballer who is widely considered one of the best strikers of his generation. His nickname was "Peito de Aço"...
equalised shortly afterwards and then put them a goal ahead before half time. In the second half Pelé outshone everyone, notching up two goals, including the first one where he lobbed the ball over Bengt Gustavsson
Bengt Gustavsson
Bengt "Julle" Gustavsson is a former Swedish footballer and trainer. As player he participated in the final of the World Cup 1958 and won national championships with IFK Norrköping...
then followed it with a precise volley shot. Zagallo
Mário Zagallo
Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo is a Brazilian former football player and manager.-Biography:Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo was born in Maceió, Alagoas, to a family of Lebanese and Italian heritage....
added a goal in between, and Sweden managed a consolation goal.
The Final holds many records in World Cup history. Pelé became the youngest player to play a World Cup Finals, the youngest scorer in a World Cup Final and the youngest player to win a World Cup Winner's Medal. Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm was a Swedish football midfielder and coach. Il Barone , as he is affectionately known in Italy, was renowned for being part of Sweden's "Gre-No-Li" trio of strikers along with Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team...
became the oldest player to score in a World Cup Final (35 years, 263 Days). This final had the highest number of goals scored by a winning team (5), the highest number of total goals scored (7); together with the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1998, it also had the greatest victory margin (3).
The game is also notable for the first and only appearance of Sweden in a World Cup Final, and for the first Brazilian win of a World Cup Final.
Venues
A total of twelve cities hosted the tournament. FIFA regulations required at least six stadiums to have a capacity of at least 20,000. If DenmarkDenmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
had qualified, the organisers had planned to use the Idrætsparken
Idrætsparken
Københavns Idrætspark, in daily use Idrætsparken, also known as Parken, was a multi-purpose stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was initially used as the stadium of Denmark national football team and Kjøbenhavns Boldklub. It was replaced by the Parken Stadium in 1992. The capacity of the stadium was...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
for Denmark's group matches. The Idrætsparken was renovated in 1956 with this in mind, but Denmark lost out to England in qualification. When doubts arose about whether funding would be forthcoming for rebuilding the Ullevi
Ullevi
Ullevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992...
and Malmö Stadion
Malmö Stadion
Malmö Stadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Malmö, Sweden which is currently the home of Swedish football Division 4 club IFK Malmö and athletics club MAI...
, the organisers considered stadiums in Copenhagen and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as contingency measures.
| City | Stadium | CapacityNote that some matches brought more than the venue's actual capacity. | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solna Solna Municipality Solna Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, located just north of the capital Stockholm. Its seat is located in the 'city' of Solna.... (Stockholm) |
Råsunda Stadium Råsunda Stadium Råsunda Fotbollstadion, also Råsundastadion, Råsunda Stadium or just Råsunda, is a Swedish national football stadium. It is located in Solna Municipality in Metropolitan Stockholm and named after Råsunda, a zone of Solna.-History:... |
52,400 | 1937 | Expanded from 38,000 for the World Cup by building end stands. Organising committee chairman Holger Bergérus mortgaged his house to pay for this. |
| Gothenburg Gothenburg Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area... |
Ullevi Ullevi Ullevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992... |
53,500 | 1958 (1916) | Rebuilt for the World Cup |
| Malmö Malmö Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County... |
Malmö Stadion Malmö Stadion Malmö Stadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Malmö, Sweden which is currently the home of Swedish football Division 4 club IFK Malmö and athletics club MAI... |
30,000 | 1958 (1896) | Rebuilt for the World Cup |
| Eskilstuna Eskilstuna Eskilstuna is a city and the seat of Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 60,185 inhabitants in 2005. Eskilstuna has a large Sweden Finn population.... |
Tunavallen Tunavallen Tunavallen is a multi-use stadium in Eskilstuna, Sweden. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 7,800 people.The original stadium was the smallest venue for 1958 FIFA World Cup. In 2002 a new arena was built.... |
20,000 | 1924 | |
| Norrköping Norrköping Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest... |
Idrottsparken Idrottsparken Idrottsparken is a multi-purpose stadium in Norrköping, Sweden constructed in 1903. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is the home arena for IFK Norrköping, IK Sleipner and for IF Sylvia. The stadium had a capacity of 19,414 people until 2008/2009 when the arena was re-built.... |
20,000 | 1904 | 4,709 seats added for the World Cup. The Social Democratic municipal government refused to pay for this till the organisers threatened to select Folkunvallen in Linköping Linköping Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County... instead. |
| Sandviken Sandviken Sandviken may refer to:* Sandviken, a Swedish town and the seat of Sandviken municipality* Sandviken Municipality, a Swedish municipality around the town of Sandviken* Sandviken, Norway, a neighbourhood in Bergen, Norway... |
Jernvallen Jernvallen Jernvallen is a multi-use stadium in Sandviken, Sweden. In the 1958 World Cup there were two matches played at Jernvallen. It has the distinction of being the northernmost stadium to host a world cup match. It is currently used mostly for football matches. Although the record for the stadium is 20... |
20,000 | 1938 | |
| Uddevalla Uddevalla Uddevalla is a city and the seat of Uddevalla Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.It is located at the bay Byfjorden, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak... |
Rimnersvallen Rimnersvallen Rimnersvallen is a multi-use stadium in Uddevalla, Sweden. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 10.605 people.... |
17,778 | 1921 | A stand from the smaller Oddevallen stadium was moved to Rimnersvallen for the World Cup. The crowd at Brazil v. Austria was estimated at 21,000, with more looking in from the adjoining hillside. |
| Helsingborg Helsingborg Helsingborg is a city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 97,122 inhabitants in 2010. Helsingborg is the centre of an area in the Øresund region of about 320,000 inhabitants in north-west Scania, and is Sweden's closest point to Denmark, with the Danish city... |
Olympia Olympia (stadium) Olympia, sometimes referred to as Olympiastadion , is a football stadium in Helsingborg, Sweden. It was opened in 1898, but has been rebuilt both 1993 and 1997, and has a capacity of 17,200 . All stands can be converted into seaters, giving a capacity of around 13,000)... |
16,000 | 1898 | |
| Borås Borås Borås is a locality and the seat of Borås Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 63,441 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :Borås is located at the point of two crossing railways, among them the railway between Gothenburg and Kalmar, and is often considered the Swedish city gaining the... |
Ryavallen Ryavallen Ryavallen is a multi-purpose stadium in Borås, Sweden. From its inauguration in 1941 to 2004, it was the home of IF Elfsborg who now play at Borås Arena. During the 1958 FIFA World Cup, it hosted the matches between USSR and Austria, and between England and Austria.The record attendance is 22,654... |
15,000 | 1941 | |
| Halmstad Halmstad Halmstad is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of Nissan in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County... |
Örjans Vall Örjans Vall Örjans Vall is a football stadium in Halmstad, Sweden, built in 1922.- History :It was finished on 30 July 1922 and was then named Halmstads Idrottsplats , it was opened by HRH The Crown Prince of Sweden Gustaf Adolf, later king of Sweden, 12 000 people had been allowed entrance to see the opening,... |
15,000 | 1922 | |
| Örebro Örebro -Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions.... |
Eyravallen Behrn Arena Behrn Arena, mostly known by its previous name Eyravallen, is a football stadium in Örebro, Sweden. The stadium holds 14,500 people and was built in 1923... |
13,000 | 1923 | |
| Västerås Västerås Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm... |
Arosvallen Arosvallen Arosvallen is a multi-use stadium in Västerås, Sweden. It is mostly used for football games. It is the home stadium for the division 1 American football team Västerås Roedeers.... |
10,000 | 1932 |
Seeding
| Western European Pot | Eastern European Pot | British Pot | Americas Pot |
|---|---|---|---|
The geographical basis of the seeding attracted criticism, especially from Austria, who were drawn against the teams considered strongest in each of the other three pots.
Squads
For a list of all squads that appeared in the final tournament, see 1958 FIFA World Cup squads1958 FIFA World Cup squads
-West Germany:Head coach: Sepp Herberger* Players no. 18-21 did not travel to Sweden.-Northern Ireland:Head coach: Peter Doherty* Players no. 18-22 did not travel to Sweden...
.
The team of the tournament voted by journalists was as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Harry GreggHarry GreggHenry "Harry" Gregg, MBE is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.He played 25 times for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper and played for Manchester United during the reign of Sir Matt Busby with a total of 210 appearances.-Playing career:Gregg started his career with...
- Defenders: Orvar BergmarkOrvar BergmarkOrvar Bergmark , born in Bureå south of Skellefteå, was a Swedish football defender and manager, as well as bandy player....
, Hilderaldo BelliniHilderaldo BelliniHilderaldo Luís Bellini is a Brazilian footballer of Italian origin who played and was known in Brazil as one of the most solid Central defender....
, Nílton SantosNílton SantosNílton Reis dos Santos is a Brazilian former association footballer who played defender. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a pioneering left back, being one of first full backs to participate in the offensive game.... - Midfielders: Yuriy Voynov, Horst SzymaniakHorst SzymaniakHorst Szymaniak was a former German football player.- Career :Clubs he played for include: SpVgg Erkenschwick, Wuppertaler SV, Karlsruher SC, Calcio Catania, F.C. Internazionale Milano, A.S...
- Forwards: GarrinchaGarrinchaManuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...
, DidiValdir PereiraWaldyr Pereira , nicknamed Didi , was a Brazilian footballer who played midfielder. He played in three World Cups: 1954, 1958, and 1962, winning the latter two. He is considered to be one of the greatest midfielders in the sport renowned for his range of passing, stamina and flawless technique...
, Raymond KopaRaymond KopaRaymond Kopa , is a former French football offensive midfielder, integral to the French national team of the 1950s....
, PeléPeléHowever, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Lennart SkoglundLennart SkoglundKarl Lennart "Nacka" Skoglund, , was a Swedish football player.-Biography:Nicknamed through-out his career as Nacka , Lennart Skoglund was a star of two Swedish World Cup sides in the 1950s. First as a young inside-left in 1950 and then as a mature left winger on home soil in 1958...
Although Just Fontaine
Just Fontaine
Just "Justo" Fontaine is a former French football player.-Football career:He holds the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament, with 13 in 1958...
got more votes than any other forward, they were split between the left and right inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
positions.
Group 1
The West Germans, surprise world champions four years ago, were still very strong, and fielded an exciting young forward in Uwe Seeler. But the Germans this time had to contend with a real powerhouse in Argentina's team, competing for the first time since 1934. In fact, many experts thought Argentina had a very realistic chance of winning the World Cup this time.Czechoslovakia was a fairly strong team with a rich football tradition, and was considered to be no walk-over for the Germans or the Argentinians, but nobody expected much from tiny Northern Ireland. But the Irish had already shown that they could be a danger to anyone, by knocking out double world champions Italy in the qualifying tournament for the World Cup.
In the end, the Irish did pull off one of biggest upsets in World Cup Finals history by qualifying for the quarterfinals, while Argentina and Czechoslovakia were eliminated. In their last game the Irish were only 12 minutes from eliminating the West Germans, as well. Seeler scored in the 78th minute against Northern Ireland, thus salvaging a draw. Had the Irish won, the Czechs would have followed the Irish into the quarterfinals.
Finishing last in the group with a -5 goal differential was a horrible blow for Argentina, and on the way home the Argentinian team chose to land in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, instead of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, to escape the wrath of angry football fans.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1.40 | 4 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.80 | 3 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 2.00 | 3 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 0.50 | 2 |
- Northern Ireland finished ahead of Czechoslovakia by winning a play-off
Argentina forgot to bring their change strip, and borrowed the yellow shirt of host team IFK Malmö
IFK Malmö
IFK Malmö is a Swedish football club located in Malmö. The club was founded April 23, 1899.- History :The club was founded in 1899 making it the oldest football club in Malmö. IFK participated in the first season of Allsvenskan in 1924/25. The club has altogether played 13 seasons in the premier...
.
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Play-off
Group 2
The second group saw the largest number of goals scored in a single group in the 1958 World Cup with 27 goals in total (4.5 goals per game). Just Fontaine of France scored 6 of his 13 goals in the tournament, making him the tournament's top scorer going in to the quarter-finals.None of the teams in this group had been particularly successful at previous World Cups. France had not achieved any real World Cup success, Yugoslavia had not been able to replicate their semi-final success of 1930 and Paraguay and Scotland were considered underdogs during the tournament.
France won the group ahead of Yugoslavia and would go on to finish third.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 1.57 | 4 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1.17 | 4 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 0.75 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.67 | 1 |
- France finished ahead of Yugoslavia on goal average
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Group 3
The Swedish hosts could count themselves lucky in ending up in a rather weak group, which they proceeded to win fairly easily with their powerful workmanlike football. The group did of course include HungaryHungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, which had been considered by far the best team in the world some years ago - although the Hungarians could not beat West Germany in the final of the World Cup in 1954
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
. But the Hungarian team had been dealt a blow by the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, after which star players like Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis Péter was a Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencváros TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, FC Barcelona and Hungary. During the 1950s, along with Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, he was a member of the Mighty Magyars...
and Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
left their homeland. Striker Nándor Hidegkuti
Nándor Hidegkuti
Nándor Hidegkuti was a Hungarian football player and manager. He played as a forward or attacking midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career at MTK Hungária FC. During the 1950s he was also a member of the Hungarian National Team team known as the Golden Team...
was still playing, but he was by now 36 years old and nowhere near his former form.
In spite of Hungary's recent travails, everyone expected the Hungarian players to advance from their group. The success of Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
therefore was a great surprise, but the Welsh managed to draw all the group games and then beat the once-mighty Hungarians in a play-off match to decide which nation should follow Sweden into the knock-out stage. Had goal difference been the decider, Hungary would have gone through, as the Hungarians had a goal ratio 6-3 compared to 2-2 of Wales. As it was, Wales had the honour of meeting Brazil in the quarterfinals and becoming the recipient of young Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
´s first World Cup goal.
The match between Hungary and Mexico in Sandviken
Sandviken
Sandviken may refer to:* Sandviken, a Swedish town and the seat of Sandviken municipality* Sandviken Municipality, a Swedish municipality around the town of Sandviken* Sandviken, Norway, a neighbourhood in Bergen, Norway...
became the northern-most World Cup match in history.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5.00 | 5 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 3 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2.00 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0.13 | 1 |
- Wales finished ahead of Hungary by winning a play-off
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Play-off
Group 4
In advance the experts considered the Fourth group the toughest one in this World Cup. Notwithstanding the disappointments of the previous tournaments, Brazil was considered extremely powerful, as would indeed prove to be the case. The Soviet Union was the reigning Olympic champion and Austria had won the bronze medal in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, four years earlier. And although England was not considered at its very best it was still always a formidable team.In the end, this group had the highest average attendance, even higher than Group 3 with the host nation, Sweden.
The quality of the football in this group did not quite live up to expectations, however. Only 16 goals were scored in the whole group, lower than in any of the other groups. And when England and Brazil drew 0-0, it was the first time in World Cup history that a game ended with no goals.
Brazil won the group without conceding a single goal. The teenage Pelé played Brazil's last game against the Soviet Union. He did not score but drew wild reviews for his play. The Soviet Union, in its first World Cup, took second place.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ∞ | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1.00 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1.00 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0.29 | 1 |
- The Soviet Union finished ahead of England by winning a play-off
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This was the first goalless draw in World Cup finals history.
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Play-off
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
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Semi-finals
----Match for third place
Final
Scorers
13 goals Just FontaineJust Fontaine
Just "Justo" Fontaine is a former French football player.-Football career:He holds the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament, with 13 in 1958...
6 goals Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
Helmut Rahn
Helmut Rahn
Helmut Rahn, known as Der Boss , was a German football player. He became a legend for having scored the winning goal in the final game of the 1954 FIFA World Cup .- Career :...
5 goals Vavá
Vavá
Vavá, real name Edvaldo Izídio Neto, was an association footballer who is widely considered one of the best strikers of his generation. His nickname was "Peito de Aço"...
Peter McParland
Peter McParland
Peter James McParland, MBE is a former professional footballer.-Dundalk & Aston Villa:...
4 goals Roger Piantoni
Roger Piantoni
Roger Piantoni is a former French international footballer.-Honors:* 3rd place at the 1958 FIFA World Cup with France.* Finalist of the European Champions Cup in 1959 with Reims....
Zdeněk Zikán
Zdenek Zikán
Zdeněk Zikán is a Czech former football player.During his club career he played for several clubs, including Dukla Pardubice and Dukla Prague. He earned 4 caps and scored 5 goals for the Czechoslovakia national football team, including four goals in three games in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.-External...
Lajos Tichy
Lajos Tichy
Lajos Tichy was a Hungarian footballer. He played for the club Budapest Honvéd FC, scoring 247 goals in 320 league games. He also scored 51 goals in 72 internationals for the Hungary national football team, including four in the 1958 FIFA World Cup and three in the 1962 FIFA World Cup...
Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Roland Hamrin is a former Swedish footballer. He is currently the seventh highest goalscorer of all-time in Italy's Serie A with 190 goals. He was best known as goal scoring winger with incredible dribbling ability.-Career:Hamrin first played for AIK in Sweden, whom he joined in the 1952-53...
Agne Simonsson
Agne Simonsson
Agne Simonsson is a former Swedish footballer. He played for the Sweden national football team, earning 51 caps and scoring 27 goals. He was a participant in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, scoring 4 goals, when Sweden reached the final on home soil, losing the game 5-2 to Brazil...
3 goals Omar Oreste Corbatta
Omar Oreste Corbatta
Omar Oreste Corbatta Fernández was an Argentine footballer who played as a forward.Dubbed Arlequín and El dueño de la raya , he played for five teams in his country - six in total - namely Racing Club and Boca Juniors, winning four major titles and scoring 86 official goals with both teams...
Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa , is a former French football offensive midfielder, integral to the French national team of the 1950s....
Hans Schäfer
Hans Schäfer
Hans Schäfer is a former German footballer. He played for 1. FC Köln between 1948 and 1965. He also played for the West-Germany national football team, earning 39 caps and scoring 15 goals. He played in three World Cups, in 1954, 1958, and 1962, earning a winner's medal in 1954 and scoring a total...
Todor Veselinović
2 goals Mazzola
José Altafini
José João Altafini, is an Italian Brazilian former footballer. He is the joint-third highest scorer in Italian Serie A history with 216 goals. He currently holds the record for the highest no...
Milan Dvořák
Milan Dvořák
Milan Dvořák is a former Czech football player.Dvořák started his career at Bohemians Prague. At the age of 18 he already debuted in the Czechoslovakia national team. Two years later, in 1954 he moved to Dukla Prague to serve his military service there. He stayed at Dukla even after his compulsory...
Václav Hovorka
Václav Hovorka
Václav Hovorka is a Czechoslovak football forward who played for Czechoslovakia in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for SK Slavia Prague.-External links:* at the ČMFS website*...
Derek Kevan
Derek Kevan
Derek Tennyson Kevan is a retired English footballer. He played for West Bromwich Albion as an attacker. He earned 14 caps for the England national football team, scoring a total of eight goals, including two in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. During his Albion career, he earned the nickname "The Tank"...
Maryan Wisnieski Uwe Seeler Juan Agüero Florencio Amarilla
Florencio Amarilla
Florencio Amarilla Lacasa is a Paraguayan former footballer. He played as a striker.Amarilla started his career in with Club Nacional in Paraguay before being transferred to Europe to play for teams like Elche CF and Real Oviedo of Spain. He was also part of the Paraguay national football team...
José Parodi
José Parodi
Silvio José del Rosario Parodi Rojas was a football player and coach from Paraguay.He played for Club Sportivo Luqueño, Calcio Padova, Genoa C.F.C., UD Las Palmas, Nîmes Olympique and FC Mulhouse...
Jorge Lino Romero
Jorge Lino Romero
Jorge Lino Romero is a Paraguayan football forward who played for Paraguay in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Club Sol de América.-External links:*...
Aleksandr Ivanov
Aleksandr Ivanov (footballer)
Aleksandr Ivanovich Ivanov was a Soviet football player.-International career:...
Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm was a Swedish football midfielder and coach. Il Barone , as he is affectionately known in Italy, was renowned for being part of Sweden's "Gre-No-Li" trio of strikers along with Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team...
Ivor Allchurch
Ivor Allchurch
Ivor John Allchurch MBE was a Welsh international footballer. His brother was Len Allchurch.Known as 'The Golden Boy' of Welsh football, Allchurch played for Swansea Town, Newcastle United and Cardiff City, where he amassed 691 games scoring 249 goals. His record of 68 caps for Wales stood until...
Aleksandar Petaković
Aleksandar Petakovic
Aleksandar Petaković was a Serbian football player and manager.-External links:* at Reprezentacija.rs* at Playerhistory....
1 goal Ludovico Avio
Ludovico Avio
Ludovico Héctor Avio is an Argentine football forward who played for Argentina in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield.-External links:*...
Norberto Menéndez
Norberto Menéndez
Norberto Menéndez was a former Argentine football striker. He was born on 1936 in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He played for the Argentina national football team on the 1958 World Cup at Sweden, where he scored once against Northern Ireland, adding to the 3-1 only Argentine victory in that...
Karl Koller
Karl Koller (footballer)
Karl Koller was an Austrian football player.-Club career:Koller played most of his career for First Vienna FC...
Alfred Körner
Alfred Körner
Alfred Körner is an Austrian former footballer.-Club career:He had a very successful career with SK Rapid Wien and also played for FK Admira Wien .-International career:...
Didi
Valdir Pereira
Waldyr Pereira , nicknamed Didi , was a Brazilian footballer who played midfielder. He played in three World Cups: 1954, 1958, and 1962, winning the latter two. He is considered to be one of the greatest midfielders in the sport renowned for his range of passing, stamina and flawless technique...
Nílton Santos
Nílton Santos
Nílton Reis dos Santos is a Brazilian former association footballer who played defender. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a pioneering left back, being one of first full backs to participate in the offensive game....
Mário Zagallo
Mário Zagallo
Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo is a Brazilian former football player and manager.-Biography:Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo was born in Maceió, Alagoas, to a family of Lebanese and Italian heritage....
Jiří Feureisl
Jiří Feureisl
Jiří Feureisl is a Czechoslovak football forward who played for Czechoslovakia in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for 1. FC Karlovy Vary.-External links:* at the ČMFS website*...
Tom Finney
Tom Finney
Sir Thomas Finney, OBE is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side....
Johnny Haynes
Johnny Haynes
John Norman "Johnny" Haynes was an English footballer, best known for his 18 years at Fulham. He played a club-record 658 games and scored 158 goals for the club between 1952 and 1970...
Yvon Douis
Yvon Douis
Yvon Douis is a former French international footballer.During his career he played for Lille OSC , Le Havre AC , AS Monaco and AS Cannes...
Jean Vincent Hans Cieslarczyk
Hans Cieslarczyk
Hans Cieslarczyk is a former German football player.During his club career, he played for SV Sodingen, Borussia Dortmund, Westfalia Herne, and Karlsruher SC. He also played seven times for the Germany national football team, scoring three goals, and participated in the 1958 FIFA World...
József Bencsics
József Bencsics
József Bencsics was a Hungarian footballer who played for Haladás, Újpest FC and Pécsi Dózsa as well as representing the Hungarian national football team at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He played 8 games and scored 1 goals for the Hungarian national team.-References:...
József Bozsik
József Bozsik
József Bozsik was a Hungarian footballer. He represented Hungary in various international tournaments, and is a member of the Mighty Magyars.-Biography:...
Károly Sándor
Károly Sándor
Károly Sándor is a Hungarian former international footballer who earned 75 caps between 1949 and 1964, scoring 27 goals. Sándor also participated in the World Cups in 1958 and 1962. Sándor, who played as a striker, played club football for MTK.-References:...
Jaime Belmonte
Jaime Belmonte
Jaime Belmonte Magdaleno , known as El héroe de Solna, was a Mexican footballer.-References:...
Wilbur Cush
Wilbur Cush
Wilbur W. "Billy" Cush was a former Northern Ireland footballer.He was born and died in Lurgan, Northern Ireland....
Cayetano Ré
Cayetano Ré
Cayetano Ré Ramírez is a former Paraguayan footballer striker and coach who was born in Asunción, on 7 February 1938. He is famous for being one of the first professional footballers to be open about having Asperger syndrome.-Career:...
Sammy Baird
Sammy Baird
Stuart Samuel "Sammy" Baird was a Scottish football player and manager.-Career:During his playing career he played for Clyde, Preston North End, Rangers, Hibernian, Third Lanark and Stirling Albion...
Bobby Collins
Bobby Collins
Robert Young "Bobby" Collins is a Scottish former football player, best known for his successful spells at Celtic, Everton and Leeds United...
Jackie Mudie
Jackie Mudie
John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup....
Jimmy Murray Anatoli Ilyin
Anatoli Ilyin
Anatoli Mikhaïlovitch Ilyin is a former Soviet Russian footballer.-Honours:* Olympic champion: 1956.* Soviet Top League winner: 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1962.* Soviet Top League runner-up: 1954, 1955.* Soviet Top League bronze: 1957, 1961....
Valentin Ivanov
Valentin Kozmich Ivanov
Valentin Kozmich Ivanov was a football winger/striker, co-leading scorer at the 1962 World Cup and co-1960 European Nations' Cup top scorer.Ivanov appeared 59 times for the Soviet Union, scoring 26 goals...
Nikita Simonyan Gunnar Gren
Gunnar Gren
Gunnar Gren was a Swedish football player and coach. He is best known for playing for IFK Gothenburg and AC Milan. He was part of the famous "Gre-No-Li" trio of forwards at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team...
Lennart Skoglund
Lennart Skoglund
Karl Lennart "Nacka" Skoglund, , was a Swedish football player.-Biography:Nicknamed through-out his career as Nacka , Lennart Skoglund was a star of two Swedish World Cup sides in the 1950s. First as a young inside-left in 1950 and then as a mature left winger on home soil in 1958...
John Charles
John Charles
William John Charles, CBE , commonly known as John Charles, was a Welsh international footballer best remembered for spells with Leeds United and Juventus. Rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales, he was equally adept at centre-forward or centre-back...
Terry Medwin
Terry Medwin
Terence "Terry" Cameron Medwin is a former Welsh international footballer who played as a winger.He made his debut for his home-town team Swansea Town in 1951-52 and went on to make 148 Football League appearances for the Swans.Medwin moved to Tottenham Hotspur for £25,000 in May 1956, and played...
Radivoje Ognjanović
Radivoje Ognjanovic
Radivoje Ognjanović is a Serbian football manager and former player. He received 5 caps playing for Yugoslavia.With FK Partizan he won Yugoslav Cup 1952 and national Championship 1962.-External links:...
Zdravko Rajkov
Zdravko Rajkov
Zdravko Rajkov was a Serbian football player and later a football manager....
FIFA Retrospective Ranking
In 1986, FIFA published a report that ranked all teams in each World Cup up to and including 1986, based on progress in the competition, overall results and quality of the opposition. The rankings for the 1958 tournament were as follows:Final
3rd and 4th place
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
Eliminated at the group stage