FIFA World Cup History – FIFA World Cup 1958
The 1958 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Sweden from 8th June to 29th June. This World Cup can be remembered by many because of the fact that it has a lot of historical significance. This World Cup was the first in which the World Cup was held in Europe and a non-European team won the title. This FIFA World Cup even marked the debut of the Brazilian star Pele’, who, back then, was only 17 years old. This was also the first World Cup for the Soviet Union.
There were four groups consisting of four teams, each. The first group had; West Germany, Northern Ireland, Czechoslovakia and Argentina. The first match was between West Germany and Argentina and the Germans won the match 3-1; although, the Argentineans scored the first goal of the match but the Germans came back to make it a 3-1 and win. The second match was between Northern Ireland and Czechoslovakia in which Ireland were able to defeat the Russians by a single goal. The third match was between Argentina and Ireland in which the Argentineans came from behind and won the match 3-1. Then West Germans were to take on the Czechs and the match ended in a draw. In the last match of the group stage, Argentina suffered a 6-1 loss from the Czechs and were knocked out from the World Cup. In the other match, the Germans drew the match against Northern Ireland and they both qualified for the next round.
In group 2, France had to go head to head with Paraguay in the first match; which they won 7-3. Yugoslavia had to face Scotland and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Next week, Yugoslavia faced France and defeated them with a one goal margin with the score line 3-2. Paraguay and Scotland’s match ended in the favour of Paraguay and with the same result, 3-2. In the last match of the group stages for all the four teams; France defeated Scotland to qualify for the next round and Paraguay drew with Yugoslavia to follow France into the next round.
Group 3 consisted of Sweden, Wales, Hungary and Mexico. Sweden and Wales topped the group. Sweden defeated Mexico and Hungary by a good goal margin and drew the match against Wales who were the runner-ups of the group. Wales, however, drew all the three matches and had to play off against Hungary and won the match to qualify for the next round.
The next group had the first time qualifying Soviet Union along with Brazil, England and Austria. Brazil defeated Austria and Soviet Union and confirmed their qualification in the next round; while England was the only team that drew against them. On the other hand, the Soviets and English had to play off to decide whether who would qualify for the next round, and the Soviets defeated the English side in an action pact match to qualify for the next round.
The 8 teams that reached the quarter finals were; West Germany, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Soviet Union, France, Northern Ireland, Brazil and Wales. These 8 teams battled each other out to qualify for the semi finals. The first match was between West Germany and Yugoslavia. The very impressive Yugoslavian side gave the Germans a very tough time but the Germans were no less and scored a goal to qualify for the semi finals. In the second match, the host nation, Sweden, were to face the Soviets. The hosts took an easy lead over the Soviets and won the match with a 2 goal margin and qualified for the next round. The very impressive French were to face Northern Ireland and the French showed the world why they were the favourites, as they smashed Ireland with a 4-0 victory over them. The last quarter final was between Brazil and Wales which the Brazilians won with a single goal.
Then the semi finals approached; which had the West Germans and the hosts, Sweden head to head and the Brazilians had to face France for an action pact game. Both the matches were thrilling as the West Germans took a shocking 3-1 defeat from the hosts and did not manage to qualify for the finals, while the Brazilians triumphed over the French with a 3 goal margin with the final score line 5-2.
The match between the third and fourth place was between the West Germans and French. West Germany lost the match 6-3, as France smashed them with 3 goals in the first half and 3 in the second half to end up victorious.
The final was very emotional as the hosts were to take on the favourites of the World Cup, Brazil. The match took an early shocker as Sweden scored the first goal in the 4th minute to lead the game. Later, in the 9th minute, the Brazilians scored a goal to make it a goal apiece. The second goal came from the feet of a “legend in the making,” Pele’ as he lead his team with his first goal of the match. In the 68th minute the Brazilian player Zagallo scored the 3rd goal to seal the match, but the Swedes weren’t to give up and came back in the 80th minute with a goal coming from Simonsson. Pele’ then ended the game in the 90th minute, with the final score line 5-2 for the Brazilians as they won their first World Cup title, but who knew they were going to rule the footballing World later on.
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