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Thursday, September 29, 2011

FIFA WORLD CUP 1958

Brazil Surprises the world with some true "Masters" and a "King": Pele!

No one involved with the World Cup will ever forget the period between June 8 and 29, 1958. Fifth-three countries registered with FIFA for the Cup and all the continents would be represented. Only Cyprus, Turkey, and Venezuela abstained. It was to be the greatest "Jules Rimet" Cup ever. For the First time, the USSR would take part. Unfortunately, Jules Rimet, the Father of the Cup, who had died on October 16, 1956, in Paris, at age of 83, would not see this great event that he had inspired.


Sweden was chosen for the same reason that FIFA had chosen Switzerland: neutrality. The "Jules Rimet" Sixth World Cup would take place in 12 cities with new or rebuilt stadiums.

FIFA decided the format, which would be used until 1974, would be 4 groups, each with 4 national teams, from which two would move forward, but everyone would play against each other. In the next round, after a simple playoff, the winners would go on to the semifinals. Germany, the defending champions, and Sweden, the host, registered and waited to see who the other 14 qualifying national teams would be.

In South America, Brazil qualified after tying with Peru in Lima. Paraguay eliminated Uruguay, with stupendous 5-0 win, in Ascuncion. Argentina filled the berth in a group that included Chile and Bolivia. 

Belgium, Bulgaria, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy lost in the qualifying matches in Europe. England had an easy classification, but later Manchester United suffered a devastating plane crash in Munich, and the national team had to reorganize itself.

Hungary qualified, but very little was left of the 1954 tea-no more Puskas, Czibor, or Kocsis. Czechoslovakia brought some new faces to substitute for their legendary Planicka, Medjely, and Koda - these future stars being Masopust, Kvaniask, Pospichal, and Novak. The Austrians qualified with an aging team. The Soviets brought some new players to the qualifying matches, such as Yachine, Igor Netto, Salnikov, and Ivanov. Yugoslavia also qualified and added some wonderful new players to their stars from previous Cups.

From the Americas there were Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Mexico; from Britain, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales; from Europe, Hungary, the USSR, and Yugoslavia; and from Western Europe, Germany, Austria, France, and Sweden. The groups were: (1)Germany, Czechoslovakia, N. Ireland, and Argentina; (2)France, Paraguay, Yugoslavia, and Scotland; (3)Sweden, Hungary, Wales, and Mexico; (4)Brazil, England, the USSR, and Austria.

The Cup began on June 8. The Brazilians against Austria in the small town of Udevalla, in front of a crowd of 21,000. Brazil won 3-0. Mazola made a goal in each half and Nilton Santos made the other. It was clean soccer, well played, and without violence. England and the USSR tied, 2-2, which was an excellent result for Brazil because it meant that they were already in the lead in the competitive fourth Pool. France beat Paraguay 7-3, with Paraguay almost winning in the second half, 3-2 before Fontaine scored three goals. Other results from the first round were pretty much as expected - Sweden beat Mexico, and Germany won against Argentina.

In the second game, Brazil played against England in Goteborg. The game was difficult, even though Brazil looked to be in control, the final score was 0-0. The USSR won against Austria 2-0. Brazil's third game was also Goteborg against the USSR on June 15. On the Brazilian team, Zito replaced Dino, Garrincha played for Joel, and Pele, playing for the first time in a World Cup, replaced Mazola. It was a spectacular display with Garrincha putting on a real show, and Brazil won 2-0. Everyone was impressed with Brazil's skillful and efficient soccer. Brazil topped the 4th Pool. Meant that the USSR and England had to play an extra game. The Soviet won 1-0, eliminating England. Sweden and Wales won the third Pool.

Brazil, with Mazola replacing Vava, next faced Wales, on June 19, in Goteborg. Pele scored the winning goal, his first goal in World Cup, breaching the feared Welsh defense. In the semifinals Brazil would be joined by Swededn who beat USSR in Stockholm; France, who defeated N. Ireland 4-0 with the best offensive display, and Germany, with a victory over Yugoslavia.

The semifinals pitted France, with the best offense, against Brazil, the best defense, in what was to be the most outstanding game of the 1958 Cuo. Brazil played the game perfectly: a strong defense, despite tow goals scored against them and a superb offense, scoring five goals. The French opened the scoring through Fontaine, but Vava equalized to make it 1-1 Brazil's Didi scored to make it 2-1, shooting from a distance of 25 meters. France lost Jonquet, who was hurt playing against Vava. In the World Cup, Substitutes were still not allowed, and the French played with 10 players for the rest of the game.

In the second half the world got a better look at the 17-years-old Pele. Like a magician, he hypnotized the French defense and made 3 beautiful goals, which made the scores 5-1 and took Brazil to the final. The French player, Piantoni, scored a second goal for France. It was memorable game in Stockhol, on June 24, 1958.

For the first time since 1950, Brazil was in the final where they would meet Sweden, who had beaten Germany, 3-1, in another historic game. No doubt thw Swedes remembered the 7-1 socre at Marcana in 1950, but Brazil was organized now, something they had not been in 1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, or 1954, and they had and intelligent and capable coach in Vicente Italo Feola, who had introduced the 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 play to the world of soccer. 

THE FINALS
On June 29, in Stockholm, before a crowd of 49,737, with the Frenchman Maurice Guigue officiating, and with two kings, King Adolf Gustav in the stadium and Pele playing in the field, Brazil displayed the magic soccer of Garrincha, Pele, Djalma Santos, Gilmar, Nilton Santos, Bellini, Orlando(the captain), Zito, Didi, Vava, and Zagalo. 

At the beginning Leidholm thrilled the public when he scored to make it 1-0 for Sweden. Didi calmly controlled the center field and his teammates felt his calmness and assurance. Garrincha, on the right wing, twice pierced the Swedish defense and crossed to Vava to make two identical and devastating goals. Brazil was ahead. and the first half ended 2-1.

In the second half, Pele scored, followed by Zagalo: 4-1. Simonsson reduced the goal deficit to Sweden but Pele, with a header in the final minute, reemphasized Brazil superiority. The Brazilian in Stockholm, thousand of miles across the Atlantic Ocean in a country bursting with pride and joy, celebrated a title they had all wanted to win since 1930. Brazil was the World Cup winner, the first to be in victorious on another continent. It was the beginning of a great era for Brazilian soccer.

Sweden was the runner-up, and France scored 6 against Germany to take third place. The French had the best offense in the championship and Fontaine, their striker, scored the most goals overall, 13. A total of 126 goals were scored in the 35 games that were played.

The World Cup 1958 was a great tournament.


PARTICIPATING TEAM: W. Germany, E. Germany, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Popular Republic of China, People's Republic of China, Cyprus, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Denmark, Egypt, Eire, Scotland, Spain, United States, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Hungary, Indonesia, England, N. Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Yugoslavia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Wales, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Syria, Sweden, Sudan, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Turkey, Soviet Union, And Uruguay.

GOAL SCORER
13 Goals: Just Fontaine(France)
6 Goals : Pele(Brazil) and Rahn(Germany)
5 Goals : Vava(Brazil) and Mcparland(N. Ireland)
4 Goals : Hamrin and Simonsson(Sweden), Tichy(Hungary), Corbata(Argentina), and Zikan(Czech)
3 Goals : Kopa(France), Veselinovic(Yugoslavia), Schaefer(Germany), and Piantoni(France)
2 Goals :  Petakovic(Yugoslavia), Ilyin(USSR), Amarilla, Romero, Aguero, and Parodi(Paraguay), Altafina-Mazola(Brazil), Liedholm(Sweden), Winieski(France), Kevan(England), Dvorak and Hovarka(Czech), Allchurch(Wales)
1 Goals : Bozsik and Sandor(Hungary), Simonian, A. Ivanov, and V. Ivanov(USSR), Cush(N. Ireland), Charles and Medwin(Wales), Mudei, Murray, Collins, and Baird(Scotland), Vincent and Douis(France), Schmidt, Cieslarsczyk, and Seeler(Germany), Nilton Santos, Didi, and Zagalo(Brazil). Re(Paraguay), Finney and Hayness(England), Menendez(Argentina), Koller(Austria), Skoglund and Gren(Sweden), Belmonte(Mexico), Ognjanovic and Rajkov(Yugoslavia), and Feureisl(Austria).


Goals against : Gonzalesz(Mexico) and Koerner(Austria)
TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS : 126 

4 comments:

Gladys | WanderingTandem.com said...

wow! a football blog, congrats! i'm pretty sure you'll have a lot of readers as football is quite popular these days! ^_^

gie said...

very informative blog mo sis! ilike ^_^

Zane Marquez said...

Thanks for the comments! sadly i got low traffic, don't have friends ha can help me share he blog.. :(

Zane said...

YUP JUST FONTAINE - 13 GOAL.. FROM FRANCE!