World Cup Finals Sweden 1958
Brazil enthralled the world in this competition, which was notable for the emergence of 4-2-4 and the outstanding talents of stars such as Didi, Garrincha, Vava and the teenager Pele. France too were to perform with style, Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa providing the magic, while hosts Sweden provided their share of surprises. West Germany headed Pool 1, where Northern Ireland, who had eliminated Italy in the qualifying rounds, caused an upset by beating Czechoslovakia in a play-off to earn a quarter-final tie with France, who headed Pool 2 with Yugoslavia. Likewise Wales also made the quarter-finals, following a play off with Hungary, and did themselves proud by limiting Brazil to one goal, inevitably scored by Pele. Brazil had comfortably emerged from Pool 4 without conceding a goal, but England were knocked out, when they lost 1-0 to Russia in another play off. The semi-finals pitted Sweden against West Germany and Brazil against France. Hans Schafer blasted West Germany into the lead with a spectacular volley from 25 yards. Sweden's equaliser from Skoglund should not have been given- Liedholm blatantly controlling the ball with a hand before setting up the chance. Justowiak was sent off in the 57th minute and Sweden took full advantage to clinch their Final place with goals from Gren and Hamrin. Brazil took a second-minute lead against France thanks to a spectacular finish from Vava. Fontaine equalised within nine minutes, but Didi restored the lead for the South American's, and in the second half young Pele ran riot with three more goals. There was a sensational start to the Final, when Liedholm kept his poise and balance to shoot Sweden into a fourth-minute lead. It was the first time in the tournament that Brazil had been behind. Six minutes later it was 1-1, Garrincha exploded down the right, and cut the ball back for Vava to run on to and fire firmly past Svensson. This was proving a fascinating spectacle. Pele slammed a shot against a post, Zagallo headed out from beneath the bar. In the 32nd minute the Garrincha-Vava combination struck again, and when Pele made it 3-1 in the 55th minute with a touch of sheer magic, the game was won. Bringing a dropping ball down on a thigh in a crowded penalty area, the youngster hooked it over his head, spun and volleyed thunderously into the net. Zagallo and Pele added further goals, either side of a dubious second Swedish goal from Agne Simonsson, who looked offside. There was no doubt that Brazil were the best in the world.
Teams: Brazil: Gilmar, Santos D, Santos N, Zito, Bellini (Capt), Orlando, Garrincha, Didi, Vava, Pele, Zagallo.
Sweden: Svensson, Bergmark, Axbom, Boerjesson, Gustavsson, Parling, Hamrin, Gren, Simonsson, Liedholm (Capt), Skoglund.
The Players:
Fritz Walter: West Germany
Born: 31st October 1920, Germany. Fritz Walter and centre-forward brother Ottmar starred with Kaiserslautern in the late 1940's and early 1950's and were World Cup winners together against hot favourites Hungary in the 1954 Final in Bern, Switzerland. Yet that triumph came late in a career which was cut in two by the war. Walter scored a hat trick on his Germany debut in his favourite position of inside-left in a 9-2 thrashing of Romania in July 1940. After football was halted Walter was called up as a paratrooper, but his wartime flying experiences led him to refuse to fly to games in later, peacetime years. On the resumption of international football, Walter was restored as captain by long time admirer and manager Sepp Herberger with success in the 1954 World Cup. Walter retired from the national team but was persuaded by Herberger to return in 1958 when, now 37, he led his team to the semi-finals. Walter, who scored 33 goals in his 61 Internationals, later wrote successful football books.
Raymond Kopa: France
Born: 13th October 1931 France Born Kopszewski, the son of an emigrant Polish miner, Kopa gained an added incentive to escape from a mining future when he damaged a hand in a pit accident as a teenager. He was spotted by Angers and then sold on to Reims in 1950. Originally a right winger, Kopa soon switched to a creative centre or inside forward role. He led Reims to the first European Cup Final in 1956, being transferred afterwards to their conquerors on the day, Real Madrid. Kopa starred in midfield for third placed France at the 1958 World Cup, and returned to Reims a year later as European Footballer of the Year. He played 45 times for France but his playing career ended amid controversy over his outspoken espousal of the cause of freedom contract.
Just Fontaine: France
Born: 18th august 1933 France Fontaine secured a place in the history books when he scored a record 13 goals in the 1958 World cup finals. Yet he was a surprising hero. Born in Morocco, he was a quick, direct centre-forward who had played only twice before for France before 1958. He had been discovered by Nice, then bought by Reims as replacement for Raymomd Kopa, who had joined Real Madrid in 1956. He expected to be reserve to Reims team mate Rene Bliard at the 1958 World Cup, but Bliard was injured on the eve of the finals and Fontaine took his opportunity in record breaking style. He owed most of his goals to Kopa's creative work alongside him and the partnership was renewed when Kopa returned to Reims in 1959. Sadly Fontaine had to retire in 1961 owing to two double fractures of the leg. He was twice top league scorer and totalled 27 goals in 20 internationals. Later he was President of the French players union and briefly National manager.
Jimmy McIlroy: Northern Ireland
Born: 25th October 1931, Northern Ireland. Clubs: Glentoran, Burnley, Stoke and Oldham. If Blanchflower was the key man of the Irish World Cup campaign in 1958, Jimmy McIlroy was only a little way behind him. His unhurried elegant work at inside-forward proved ideal for the tactics devised by team manager Peter Doherty. Altogether McIlroy played 55 games for his country, to go with more than 600 at club level, earning a Championship medal with the attractive young Burnley squad in 1960, and a runners-up medal in the FA Cup two years later-against Blanchflower's Spurs. He later enjoyed a brief but brilliant combination with Stanley Mathews at Stoke.