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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland 1954
Tournament
- Despite Spain being a seeded team for the 1954 finals, they did not play in that final series, as they were eliminated in the qualifying round. For the 1954 World Cup, unlike now, the seeded teams for the finals were determined before the qualifying competition. After a tie with Türkiye in the qualifying round, Spain lost a toss-up and were eliminated. Türkiye then became a seeded team in the finals!
- When Hungary played West Germany in the 1954 Final, they were unbeaten in 29 matches in four years (including the Olympic Games). Their undefeated streak crashed when they lost 3-2 to the Germans. The Hungarian national team of the 50's, nicknamed 'The Magical Magyars', are regarded as one of the greatest teams in the history of soccer.
- The Brazilian managers of 1954 (Zeze) and that of 1962 (Aimore Moreira) were the only brothers to have managed the same nation in World Cup finals.
- The smallest city to have hosted a World Cup Final is Berne, 1954, at Wankdorf Stadium.
World Cup Firsts
(more Firsts)
- The first replacement of player in a qualifying match was
Germany's Horst Eckel replaced by Richard Gottinger against Saar on 11 October 1953.
- The first time the tradition of swapping shirts began in World Cup 1954.
- The first country to be eliminated by toss of coin in qualifying round was
Spain which lost to Türkiye on toss after a 2:2 tie in a play-off match on 17 March 1954.
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