France vs Croatia: 5 of the Best all European FIFA World Cup Finals

Modified Jul 15, 2018 08:22 GMT

The Final Previews - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

#1 Hungary vs West Germany, 1954 World Cup, Switzerland

1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland Final before 65.000 spectators in Bern's Wankdorf Stadium: Germany 3 - 2 Hungary - German players celebrating their win after the final whistle| -

Little did the 62500 people who gathered at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern on a normal day in July 1954 know that they were about to witness one of the greatest games of football and probably the greatest World Cup final ever played. In the semi-finals of the 1954 World Cup, West Germany defeated Austria 6-1 and Hungary defeated Uruguay 4-2. Yet on 4th July 1954, West Germany walked out to face Hungary in the Finals of the 1954 FIFA World Cup as underdogs. This was because the legendary Hungary Team were unbeaten in 31 games in the 5 years leading to the final. They were Hungary’s Golden Generation and they were tipped to bring the World Cup home.

True to their accolades, Hungary started the game strong, with the legendary Puskas giving his country the lead in the 6th minute. Czibor doubled the score 2 minutes later and it looked like Hungary would run away with the cup. But for the Germans, this was not just a football game but an opportunity to gain their lost international recognition and they responded within 2 minutes, with Morlock scoring for them. Rahn levelled the score for West Germany in the 18th minute. The first half ended with the game evenly poised at 2-2.

In the second half, both sides attempted to score, but could not convert their chances. The Germans had already made their point, the favourites Hungary were in the back foot. The game looked destined for extra time, when in the 84th minute Rahn scored his second of the game for West Germany, giving his team the lead for the first time in the game. The Germans had come back from two goals down to a one-goal advantage. They had moved a mountain it seemed and had made the impossible possible. They could smell the trophy now and they held on with all their might. The game ended West Germany 3-2 Hungary and is now famously referred to as “Wunder von Bern” or the “Miracle of Bern”.

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Edited by Amar Anand