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Football World Cup 1958
The 1958 Football World Cup remained in Europe, this time being hosted by Sweden. It was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5-2 in the final for their first title. The World Cup marked the debut on the world stage of 17-year-old Pelé, who would grow to be considered the greatest footballer of all time.
The World Cup also saw the entry of the Soviet Union for the first time and the entry of all the British nations (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland). The format of the competition changed from 1954: 16 teams still qualified in four groups of four, but this time each team played each of the other teams in its group at least once, without extra time in event of a draw. Instead, if second and third place finished on the same points, then there would be a playoff with the winner going through; goal difference would not be used.
In Group D, Pelé did not play until the last of Brazil's group games - against the Soviet Union. He failed to get on the score sheet, but Brazil won the game 2-0 and the group by two points. In the same group USSR and England went to a playoff game, in which Anatoli Ilyin scored in the 67th minute to knock England out, while Austria had already been eliminated.
Playoffs were also needed in Group A (Northern Ireland beat Czechoslovakia to join West Germany in the quarterfinals) and Group C (Wales topped Hungary to advance with Sweden). Hungary had become a spent force after their appearance in the final of the previous tournament they had lost their best players two years before, when they fled the new communist regime.
Of the British nations it was arguably the Scottish who had the toughest group having to face Yugoslavia, Paraguay, and France. France topped Group B as Just Fontaine netted six goals. Yugoslavia finished second while Scotland came in last.
The quarterfinals saw France's Just Fontaine continue in similar form to the group stage, as he managed another two goals as France triumphed over Northern Ireland. West Germany's Helmut Rahn put them into the semifinals with a single goal against Yugoslavia, while Sweden went though at the expense of USSR. The other game in the quarterfinals saw that young Brazilian Pelé score the only goal against Wales.
In the semifinals, Sweden continued their strong run as they defeated West Germany 3-1 in a vicious game that saw the German player Juskowiak sent off and German team captain Fritz Walter injured which further weakened the German team because substitute players were not allowed at the time. While another goal from Fontaine of France added to his impressive goal tally, it was not enough to prevent Brazil thundering into the Final as a Pelé hat-trick gave them a 5-2 score line. The Third Place match saw Fontaine score four more goals as they beat the Germans 6-3. This brought his total to 13 goals in one competition, a record that has still not be broken.
The Final was played in Solna, in the Råsunda Stadium, as 50,000 people watched in amazement as the Brazilians went a goal down after four minutes. The Brazilians were undismayed as Vava equalised shortly afterwards and then sent them a goal ahead before half time. In the second half Pelé out shone every one, notching up 2 goals, Zagalo added a goal in between, and Sweden managed a consolation goal. But the game really belonged to Pelé, and the Jules Rimet trophy belonged to Brazil the World Cup Winners.
Top Scorer
13 goals
Just Fontaine (FRA)
Group 1 results:
Northern Ireland 1-0 Czechoslovakia
West Germany 3-1 Argentina
West Germany 2-2 Czechoslovakia
Argentina 3-1 Northern Ireland
Czechoslovakia 6-1 Argentina
West Germany 2-2 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland 1-0 Czechoslovakia
West Germany 3-1 Argentina
West Germany 2-2 Czechoslovakia
Argentina 3-1 Northern Ireland
Czechoslovakia 6-1 Argentina
West Germany 2-2 Northern Ireland
Group 1 play-off:
Northern Ireland 2-1 Czechoslovakia (aet)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
| West Germany | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 4 | |
| Czechoslovakia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | |
| Northern Ireland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | |
| Argentina | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
Group 2 results:
France 7-3 Paraguay
Yugoslavia 1-1 Scotland
Paraguay 3-2 Scotland
Yugoslavia 3-2 France
Paraguay 3-3 Yugoslavia
France 2-1 Scotland
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
| France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | |
| Yugoslavia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 4 | |
| Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 3 | |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
Group 3 results:
Hungary 1-1 Wales
Sweden 3-0 Mexico
Mexico 1-1 Wales
Sweden 2-1 Hungary
Hungary 4-0 Mexico
Sweden 0-0 Wales
Group 3 play-off:
Wales 2-1 Hungary
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
| Sweden | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| Hungary | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
| Wales | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Group 4 results:
USSR 2-2 England
Brazil 3-0 Austria
USSR 2-0 Austria
Brazil 0-0 England
England 2-2 Austria
Brazil 2-0 USSR
Group 4 play-off:
USSR 1-0 England
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| England | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| USSR | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| Austria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Quarter-finals results:
Brazil 1-0 Wales
West Germany 1-0 Yugoslavia
France 4-0 Northern Ireland
Sweden 2-0 USSR
Semi-finals results:
Sweden 3-1 West Germany
Brazil 5-2 France
3rd/4th place play-off:
France 6-3 West Germany
World Cup Final:
Brazil 5-2 Sweden