WORLD CUP 1958

Fifty-five countries entered the sixth World Cup, which would be held in Sweden in 1958. Again there would be sixteen qualifiers, divided into four groups of four, but once again the format of the matches was altered. The system of seeds playing non-seeds was scrapped and the teams would play all three of their group rivals, with once again play-offs deciding second place if teams were level on points.

Reigning champions West Germany were placed in Group A, alongside debutants Northern Ireland who would prove to be the group's surprise package. They held the world champions to a draw in their final match, a results which sent the Germans through as group winners, and set up a play-off for second place with Czechoslovakia. Having won the first meeting 1-0, Northern Ireland won again to claim a shock quarter-final place.

Group B saw France and Yugoslavia come through relatively easily against Paraguay and Scotland, with French forward Juste Fontaine establishing himself as a contender for top scorer with six goals in three games. Hosts Sweden were never troubled in Group C, winning two matches and drawing the other, but the surprise was the decline of 1954 finalists Hungary, without most of the squad of four years earlier. Beaten by Sweden and surprisingly held by newcomers Wales, Hungary had to beat the Welsh in a play-off to advance but the debutants came from behind to win 2-1 and move into the last eight.

Favourites in Group D were Brazil, fancied by many to win the tournament. They lived up to expectations, cruising through without conceding a goal, leaving England and the Soviet Union to dispute second place. England had held Brazil to a 0-0 draw, but only drew their other two matches as well and had to play off with the Soviets, who earned a 1-0 win to knock England out.

Sweden continued to delight the home crowds with a 2-0 win over the Soviet Union in the quarter-finals. In the other matches, France crushed Northern Ireland 4-0, but West Germany and Brazil had to fight hard to see off Yugoslavia and Wales by 1-0 scorelines. Brazil's winner was the first World Cup goal for a teenage striker named Pelé. Pelé hit a hat-trick in a comfortable semi-final win over France, and the crowds got the final most wanted to see when Sweden ended West Germany's title defence to set up a clash between the hosts and the favourites. In the third-place match, Fontaine scored four times as France beat West Germany to finish top scorer with thirteen goals, still a record for one tournament.

In the final, Sweden made a dream start with Nils Liedholm gave them a fourth minute lead, but Brazil responded in fine style. Garrincha set up Vavá to equalise five minutes later, and just after the half-hour an almost identical goal saw Vavá give Brazil the lead. Sweden needed to turn the game round in the second half, but a wonderful goal from Pelé ten minutes after the restart made the game safe at 3-1. Mario Zagallo made it 4-1, and although Sweden got a goal back Pelé had the last word with a last minute header to give Brazil a 5-2 win and their first world title.