The Brazilian team won the tournament for the third time in 1970, allowing them to keep the real Jules Rimet trophy in perpetuity, as had been stipulated by Jules Rimet in 1930
FIFA World Cup: Brazil 1950
The World Cup trophy finally found breathing space after 12 years in a shoe-box under the Italian FIFA Vice-President’s bed during the Second World War. In a World Cup where India refused to play in boots and was subsequently barred by FIFA, the hosts Brazil were so shell-shocked by the 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the final that the authorities left FIFA President Jules Rimet to do the honours all by himself. As many as 173, 850 people turned up at the Maracana in Rio to watch their side throw away a one goal lead, while elsewhere a 10 year old boy affectionately called Pele consoled his crying father with the words “Don’t worry. One day I’ll win it”.
Advertisement
***
FIFA World Cup: Switzerland 1954
A World Cup which boasts the highest average goals per game with 140 goals in 26 games also featured one of its greatest upsets christened “The Miracle of Bern”. Nine years after he was allowed to return home from a POW camp, the German captain, Fritz Walter returned the favour to the Hungarians who recognised him from a game they played against his side in 1942. The “Magic Magyars” led with two goals in the first eight minutes after a 6th minute goal by an unfit Ferenc Puskas only to surrender and finally lose to a Hehmut Rahn goal six minutes from time which also ended a 28 match unbeaten streak.
Advertisement
***
FIFA World Cup: Sweden 1958
The world’s most expensive player is not on show in its greatest showpiece. The only time Wales of Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs got to a final was Sweden 1958, where they were knocked out by a single goal by a 17 year old soon-to-be-household-name Pele. While Brazil would coast past the hosts 5-2 in the final with Didi at his best and Garrincha perplexing defenders, the Welsh had faced the samba kings without their best. The ‘Gentle Giant’ moniker fit the 6’2 John Charles, the man who could play at centre-forward and centre-half with equal ease. He’s remembered by Juventus fans as their best import and had lumps kicked out of him in an earlier game against Hungary which forced him to miss the tie against Brazil. This ‘golden generation’ of Welsh footballers was managed by Jimmy Murphy, the Manchester United assistant who dealt with World Cup preparations while piecing together a side for a club ravaged by the Munich air disaster in February
***
FIFA World Cup: Chile 1962
This would be the first and the last time after the Second World War that a country would successfully defend the World Cup with Garrincha coming to the fore as Pele had a stop-start tournament. In a low scoring tournament, his was the finest effort till then to inspire a side to a World Cup win, until Maradona eclipsed it in Mexico in 1986. He was one of the best dribblers ever, blessed with a left foot six centimetres shorter than the right, his ability to body-swerve past people and use the outside of his right foot with dangerous consequences was something unseen by the Western press. The Brazilian winger almost missed the final with fever, a match he was allowed to play in after the furore surrounding his red card against Chile in the semi-final in which Garrincha had his head cut open post his sending off due to a missile flung from the crowd. And as he wept in the dressing room he said, "Ok, I was sent off... But all afternoon I am kicked. There is a limit to the time when a man must be a man”
Advertisement
***
FIFA World Cup: England 1966
The World Cup came to England in 1966, and the hosts made the most of it. As defending champions Brazil bowed out in the group stages with Garrincha playing his last game, Pickles the dog found a lost World Cup in some bushes in London and Bobby Charlton & Co. beat Germany in the final 4-2. The English beat Portugal 2-1 in the semi-final, who were blessed with the force of nature Eusebio who blew away the surprise package of the tournament, North Korea, with four second half goals in a 5-3 quarter-final victory. The final is remembered for the goal that never was, the third that gave England the lead. The Russian linesman Bakhramov who flagged for a goal had family who were killed in the Battle of Stalingrad, the Germans alleged while saying that it was an act of revenge. Bakhramov certainly didn’t help matters years later, on his death bed, when asked if the ball had crossed the line, he simply said, “Stalingrad”.
Advertisement
***
FIFA World Cup 1970: Mexico
The Jules Rimet trophy was given to Brazil for permanent keeping with the South Americans winning it three times after the war, as had been stipulated by Jules Rimet in 1930. The likes of Carlos Alberto, Rivelino, Tostao and Jairzinho (who scored) came at the defending champions England in the group stages and got away with a 1-0 win. Gordon Banks produced one of the best saves at the World Cups as he ploughed out a Pele header destined for the bottom corner. As England progressed to the knockout stages later, the keeper fell victim to food poisoning after a bad pint of ale and missed the quarter-final against Germany, where England were 2-0 up after 69 minutes. Then, a speculative shot by Franz Beckenbauer crept under his replacement Peter Bonetti and after the England manager substituted Bobby Charlton from the resulting restart, England crumbled and lost 3-2. Bad beer cost the English, who’ve yet to win a World Cup since while Pele went out on a high.
