The history of the world cup Switzerland 1954

Written by flyfra on 02 February 2010 | No comments yet | in: World Cup

world cup 1954 switzerland

Switzerland World Cup 1954: after the tragic brazilian world cup of 1950, the 5th edition of the world champion was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July 1954.

The organization of the event

Switzerland was chosen as hosting country basically for two reasons. FIFA wanted to organize the competition “at home” in order to celebrate the 50 anniversary of its foundation, and moreover, it was the only country to afford economically an adventure of this kind.

Unlike other Europe’s countries, strongly marked by a bloody world war, Switzerland didn’t feel the effect of the war’s barbarity but on the contrary, it boasted of a booming economy, richer than the past.

The world cup of 1954 was marked by a very important socio-cultural event. For the first time, the event was gone on the air, both via radio and television. It is clear that with that advent of the TV, a famous sport as soccer, became more loved and followed. It is told that in the day of the final match “All Europe was staring at the television” and from that moment, the world cup became the sport event more followed and awaited.

The Partecipants and the short presence of Italy

After the first step of qualification, this was the list of the 16 countries which should have taken part in the competition:

Italy
Switzerland
(West) Germany
Hungary
Uruguay
Brazil
Belgium
England
France
Yugoslavia
Mexico
Turkey
South Korea
Czechoslovakia
Scotland
Austria

Also in the world cup of 54’there were important absents. Firstly Argentina, which didn’t have a team technically ready to play in a world competition. Secondly, Sweden because some inner rules didn’t allow it to line up players card-carrying in foreign teams.

The 16 teams were equally divided in four rounds and for the first time some consistent changes were made to the rules, which were criticized a lot. In each round, indeed, two “head teams” of the division were identified which cannot never play against. In the same way, the two teams of the lower level cannot play against. For each group, hence, only two matches were played– except for draws–.and no more three as in the previous edition. Many people accused the world cup’s organization to be unclear in the choices of the rounds. The rounds’ organization is greatly influenced the world cup’s course.

Our national team ended its adventure in the rounds step, a kind of remake of what happened four years before.

Italy found an hard round with Switzerland, England and Belgium.

The team, considered “head team” together with England, was defeated in Losanna by Switzerland for 2-1. The crushing victory against Belgium was worth nothing.

Italy, far from the success as in the 30s, went sadly home.

L’Aranycsapat: the golden team

Though strongly troubled by the world war, Hungary boast a good team, the one that according the beginning forecasts was the favourite to win.

The Aranycsapat – the golden team – was made up by very good players such as Puskas, Kocsis, Czibor and Hidegkuti. The team was unbeaten since four years and it had managed to beat England breaking the so-called “Home record”.

The hungarian team ’54 was considered the most powerful team in the history of world cup; perhaps second only to the great Brazil of Pelè in the 70’s.

Its presence was unpararelled.

In the rounds’ steps it had beated, with results similar to tennis ones 8-3 and 7-0, respectively Germany and Turkey. In the quartes-final it played against Brazil and Uruguay, which were the two main characters of the world cup in 1950. Hungary strongly won both matches with the same score of 4-2, in spite of Puskas’s absence. The player suffered an injury during the match against Germany and he was obliged to be absent in the two next matches.

The final match: West Germany – Hungary

4 July 1954: the last match West Germany – Hungary was played

The german team had beated Yugoslavia in the Quarters-final for 2 – 1 and in the semi-finals Austria scoring 6 goals. It had very good players, among which Fritz Walter (head, director and heart of the team), but it showed a bad team’s strategy.

The match’s beginning was crackling. The golden team of Hungary, after 8 minutes from the beginning of the first half, was in the lead for two goals, realized by Puskas and Czibor. However, after 10 minutes Germany drew thanked to Morlock and Rhan. The german team was determined and physically stronger than its opposing. The Hungary felt the effort of the previous match. Puskas played the final , but he was visibly aching and was not in good form. He failed two important goals’ occasions that in other circumstances he did not fail. Czibor hit many goalposts and crossbars. In 86’, Rhan managed to dribble Lorant and he surprised the hungarian goalkeeper with a 16 metres kick.

Germany turn the result and finally it won the world cup for the first time in its career. The german captain Fritz Walter, probably the best player of the team, raised the cup to the sky while Hungarian nasty players wandered in the Wankdorf stadium.

The match was followed by countless viewers and it showed showed the bitter defeat of one of the greatest team of that time. There were many controversies after the match and Hungary declared to have been victim of an unfavourable refereeing. Is also accused Germany of using forbidden substances or doping, hypothesis confirmed by the jaundiced disease which hit many german players who took part in the event.

Although the squabbles, Germany won the championship and with many exultant fans in Berlin, it was crowned for the fist time world champion.

Pictures of the world cup of 1954