FIFA World Cup England '66
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 to 30 July. It was the last to be broadcast in black and white. It was also marked by controversy, it marked the end of the Jules Rimet Trophy as it was stolen from the English FA in June 17. The trophy would never be recovered. Stanley Rous, head of FIFA, died from a heart attack on June 19. The shock of the loss of the trophy is attributed as the reason. Rous became another mastermind behind a World Cup to die before the Cup started, after last edition in Chile 1962, where the main organizator was Carlos Dittborn, who also died before the Cup started. Another scandal was the suicide of match official José María Codesal on June 28. He would be replaced by Chilean referee Sergio Bustamante. Rous' spot as president would be taken temporarily by Ottorino Barassi. According to Spanish referee Juan Gardeazábal, Barassi gathered all referees and explicitly warned them not to favor any teams, as Codesal had left a suicide note in which he accused Rous of trying to rig matches in favor of European teams over South American ones. Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst, West German referees Kurt Tschenscher, and Rudolf Kreitlein, as well as English referees George McCabe, Jim Finney and Ken Dagnall had received instructions to favor the locals and the Europeans over the South Americans. Orders by Stanley Rous, then instructed by Kenneth Aston. Aston was inmediately separated from his position as Chief of the FIFA Referee Comittee while investigations were in process. The investigation rendered him guilty and a posthumous condemn for Rous. His name became synonym of corruption in FIFA. The phrase "Doing a Rous" originated from that, which was satirized all over the world.
Groups
Group 1(London Group)
England
Uruguay
Mexico
France
Matches
July 11, 1966
A day after the reveal of the robbery of the Jules Rimet Trophy, the World Cup was forced to continue without its trophy. The opening match was a half hour of play followed by an hour of Banks and Mazurkiewicz stopping everything.
England 1-1 Uruguay
Greaves 21' - Forlán 8'
July 13, 1966
The clash of France and Mexico(who had faced each other in Uruguay in 1930) was largely seen as uninteresting at first, but Enrique Borja shocked the French by scoring a hattrick, with Ramiro Navarro scoring another goal. Hausser scored a goal which allowed France to save some face. But not enough.
France 1-4 Mexico
Hausser 87' - Borja 27', 43', 71' Navarro 68'
July 15, 1966
Uruguay and France clashed, ending in a narrow loss for the South Americans. After Combin's goal, Uruguay's attack collapsed.
Uruguay 0-1 France
Combin 41'
July 16, 1966
England and Mexico encountered, only for Mexico to give the hosts a panic attack. A turnaround by the British prevented a humilliation for the hosts.
England 3-2 Mexico
Charlton 68' Hurst 72' Moore 90+1' - Reyes 11' Borja 42'
July 19, 1966.
Uruguay and Mexico faced each other, with Uruguay forced to win and hope that England defeated France. Uruguay failed, leaving the two time World Champions out in the group stage.
Uruguay 2-3 Mexico.
Rocha 31', 62' - Borja 19', 82' Reyes 71'
July 20, 1966.
With almost a hundred thousand souls in Wembley Stadium, the already qualified British met the desperate for a win French. It was a rout.
England 3-0 France
Hunt 17', 29' Greaves 61'.
Group 1 Standings
England 5 points(+4)
Mexico 4 points(+3)
France 2 points(-5)
Uruguay 1 point(-2)
Group 2(Sheffield/Birmingham Group)
West Germany
Argentina
Spain
Switzerland
July 12, 1966, Sheffield
One day after the opening match, West Germany had to show off it was a contender for the disappeared trophy. Against Switzerland. A re-edit of the 1962 match. It wasn't a re-edit. It was an annhilation. Captain Uwe Seeler lead his team with three goals, introducing future world class keeper Sepp Maier to World Cups. Maier would be appearing since 1966 until 1986 in World Cups. At the time, the record for oldest player on the field went to Sepp Maier. It would be surpassed in 2006.
West Germany 6-0 Switzerland, Sheffield
Seeler 16', 42', 81' Overath 32' Schnellinger 41' Beckenbauer 70'
July 13, 1966, Birmingham
Argentina wanted to show its football could deal with the European powers on an even footing. Its best result had been in Uruguay 1930, where they made it to the final, only to be defeated by the hosts. It didn't start well as Spain thoroughly outplayed it, led by their captain, Real Madrid star Francisco 'Paco' Gento. However, through sheer luck, Gento couldn't score against youngster Hugo Gatti on goal. The English crowd roared in delight whenever the extravagant goalkeeper had the ball. Only a precise header from a corner kick by Roberto Perfumo got the win for the Argentinians.
Argentina 1-0 Spain
Perfumo 79'
July 15, 1966, Sheffield
Spain had to take revenge on someone and Switzerland was the perfect victim.
Spain 4-0 Switzerland
Gento 28', 41' Suárez 62', 87'
July 16, 1966, Birmingham
Argentina and West Germany faced off. This was the best test that Argentina could get in the group stage. It showed that they were only able to play 60 minutes against the West Germans. After the 60 minute mark, Argentina collapsed. Test failed but with very important lessons.
Argentina 1-3 West Germany
Solari 25' - Overath 63', Haller 69' Seeler 84'
July 19, 1966, Sheffield
Argentina needed the win against Switzerland. Two points were not certainty of a spot in the quarterfinals. They ensured that spot.
Argentina 3-0 Switzerland
Sarnari 22', Pastoriza 45' Rattín 72'
July 20, 1966, Birmingham
West Germany had to play Spain. Spain went out decently, pressuring West Germany until the end.
West Germany 4-3 Spain
Emmerich 28', 42' Schnellinger 67', 75'(pen) - Gento 14', 48' Suárez 81'
Group 2 Standings
West Germany 6 points(+9)
Argentina 4 points(+2)
Spain 2 points(+2)
Switzerland 0 points(-13)
Group 3(Liverpool/Manchester Group)
Portugal
Bulgaria
Brazil
Hungary
July 12, 1966, Liverpool
Defending champion Brazil would have to start its road against the weaker opponent of the group. Bulgaria. Bulgaria never stood a chance.
Brazil 5-0 Bulgaria
Pelé 24', 48' Garrincha 55', 71', 89'
July 13, 1966, Manchester
Portugal started to shine on a match against Hungary. Portugal was one of the revelations of the Cup, with Eusébio as its star.
Portugal 3-2 Hungary
Eusébio 13', 38' Torres 58' - Albert 42', 74'
July 15, 1966, Liverpool
Brazil surprisingly choked against Hungary. Florian Albert and Garrincha scored the only goals in a very fascinating match.
Brazil 1-1 Hungary
Garrincha 44' - Albert 62'
July 16, 1966, Manchester.
Portugal and Eusébio ruthlessly stomped Bulgaria. Eusébio scored only once but assisted for another three goals.
Portugal 4-0 Bulgaria
Eusébio 13' Duarte 52', 66' Cruz 88'
July 19, 1966, Liverpool
Portugal against Brazil was expected to be one of the best matches. And it didn't disappoint. The narrow loss of Portugal against its former colony was one of the best matches of the World Cup and is remembered as one of the greatest exhibitions of football of the 20th century and all time. A memorable photo of this match was Pelé fighting the ball against Eusébio(O Rei won that encounter against the Portuguese star) and merchandise of it can still be bought.
Portugal 3-4 Brazil
Duarte 29', 41' Torres 81' - Pelé 10', 72' Gerson 41', 84'
July 20, 1966, Manchester.
Dull. Insipid. Terrible. Bad. Boring. Waste of money. One minute and it was over. The Hungary-Bulgaria is not remembered fondly by football fans at the 1966 World Cup. János Farkas scored for Hungary only forty seven seconds in and nothing happened after that.
Hungary 1-0 Bulgaria
Farkas 1'
Group 3 Standings
Brazil 5 points(+6)
Portugal 4 points(+4)
Hungary 3 points(0)
Bulgaria 0 points(-10)
Group 4(Middlesbrough/Sunderland Group)
July 12, 1966, Middlesbrough
North Korea made its debut but failed to impress against the Soviet Union. An extremely uneven match.
Soviet Union 3-0 North Korea
Voronin 4' Porkujan 38' Chislenko 62'
July 13, 1966, Sunderland.
The English crowd was driven towards this match. In 1962, Italy and Chile engaged in the Battle of Santiago. More of a brawl than a football match. The motive that drove them to Sunderland was to see both teams after that hideous stain on the history of the sport. Chile won 2-0 in 1962 and went on to get the third place. Italy got knocked out on the group stage. Mazzola was being pushed as the star of the Italian national team. This was the debut of 'the Red Wall'. Defenders Villanueva, Quintano, Figueroa and Eyzaguirre, with goalkeeper Adán Godoy behind them, were like a wall to Italian players. In a very intense match, where both teams kept the other's goal on a permanent siege, both teams tied without goals and without any expulsions like four years ago.
Italy 0-0 Chile
July 15, 1966, Middlesbrough.
Chile against North Korea. The Red Wall was impassable again, much to the dismay of the North Koreans. Chile played it smart in this game. North Korea's advantage was speed. Instead of falling in the game of the North Koreans, Chile let the North Koreans tire and by the second half, Chile was still fresh and North Korea had no energy to strike back.
Chile 4-0 North Korea
Foullioux 58', 86', Landa 72' Sánchez 77'
July 16, 1966, Sunderland
The Soviet Union against Italy. Comedians all over the world were bouncing in joy with all the jokes they could use.
"Let's talk about the World Cup currently being held in England. A certain someone who I'm not allowed to name must have revived because the West German team is just ruthless! Actually, I heard that West Germany wants to demolish the current wall at Berlin because he found five men that do the job and they don't have to clean paint off of them. Just wait until they hear that they wear red. But there is also the offer of South Korea. Apparently, they hold North Koreans off even better than the DMZ!." Johnny Carson, 1966.
The match, did not live up to the jokes and ended swiftly. A lone goal by Chislenko ended the result and a brawl between Soviets and Italians ended with some players injured, including strikers Porkujan, Markarov, Khusainov and Metreveli from the Soviet Union and Mazzola from Italy, midfielders Perani and Voronin, for Italy and the Soviet Union, respectively, and defender Facchetti from Italy, ending the World Cup for them. The crowd booed the terrible spectacle. Result? 5 players from the Soviet Union injured, three Italians injured as well, two expelled from the match(Gianni Rivera and Sandro Salvadore, both Italians.) If 1962 had the Battle of Santiago, 1966 had the Sunderland Skirmish.
Soviet Union 1-0 Italy
Chislenko 11'
July 19, 1966, Middlesbrough.
The infamous catastrophe of Middlesbrough. North Korea faced an alternative Italian squad, which was the best they could field from the absence of their star striker and their captain, as well as other valuable team members. The Italian press went so far as to compare it to the fall of the Roman Empire.
North Korea 3-0 Italy
Pak Seung-Zin 17', 38', 61'
July 20, 1966, Sunderland.
The match between the leaders of the group. The Soviet Union had four points, Chile had three. A win would get the winner the leadershp of the group. The winner would face Portugal. The loser, Brazil. If they tied, Chile would face Brazil and the Soviet Union would encounter Portugal. North Korea had two points, not enough to qualify. Italy was eliminated with one point. An insuficient result for the two time World Champions. The Red Wall kept its goal on zero, but the Black Spider, Lev Yashin did the same. North Korea's last hope had been dashed. The Soviet Union would play Portugal and Chile, Brazil.
Chile 0-0 Soviet Union
Group 4 Standings
Soviet Union 5 points(+4)
Chile 4 points(+4)
North Korea 2 points(-4)
Italy 1 point(-4)
Quarterfinals:
England vs. Argentina
Brazil vs. Chile
West Germany vs. Mexico
Soviet Union vs. Portugal
July 23, 1966, Wembley
England versus Argentina. A famous rivalry. Argentina learnt the lesson from West Germany. To win, you needed 90 minutes of play, not 60. Tired as they were by the end of the 90 minutes, Argentina fought on in extra time. Bobby Charlton finished it off with a shot far away from Gatti's reach. Argentina said goodbye to the World Cup, but surprising the English crowd, not expecting them to be such fierce opponents. The crowd at Wembley cheered for the winners and the losers after the match in one of the best moments in the history of this sport.
England 1(a.e.t)-0 Argentina
Charlton 108'
July 23, 1966, Liverpool.
Chile against Brazil. The proof that history does repeat itself. In 1962, Chile's opponents were Switzerland, Italy, West Germany, the Soviet Union, Brazil and Yugoslavia. In four matches, they had encountered three of those opponents. This was an interesting question. The best attack against the best defense. The press described it as the yellow hammer against a red wall. Some went as far as to say that this would decide whether the best offense is a good defense or viceversa. For the first time in history, Chile started winning against Brazil in a World Cup, thanks to a goal by Alberto Foullioux. The red wall held on, for seventy eight minutes. Then, Pelé found the way through the wall. He dribbled past Eyzaguirre, and Quintano was unable to stop him. Godoy's hand touched the ball, but couldn't prevent it from entering the goal. The red wall had been broken for the first time in four matches. The 90 minutes ended in a tie. But the match ended with Chile's elimination. In a corner kick, Figueroa had jumped higher than Djalma Santos, rejecting the ball, but Pelé shot the ball back with a half volley and Quintano rejected the ball before it crossed the line, saving the goal, but the ball fell to Garrincha. Garrincha sent it low, to the right corner. Godoy couldn't reach it. From third at home, to sixth on a different continent. Overall, it was considered a success for both squads. Chile had held off Brazil and Brazil had broken the best defense of the tournament.
Chile 1-2(a.e.t) Brazil
Foullioux 38' - Pelé 78' Garrincha 113'
July 23, 1966, Sheffield.
Mexico against West Germany. This was definitely David against Goliath. A hand by Schnellinger was converted by Borja in a penalty. But Seeler scored three times to end another team that had surpassed expectations. David against Goliath, but the end wasn't like the Bible. The german behemoth won and advanced to the semifinals.
Mexico 1-3 West Germany
Borja '15(pen) - Seeler 38', 62', 80'
July 23, 1966, Sunderland
With the crowd of Sunderland cheering for Portugal, the Soviet Union, still crippled by injuries, managed to have an even match with the Portuguese. Eusébio scored the only goal of the match with a beautiful overhead kick that didn't allow Yashin to respond before the ball was in the goal, to eliminate the Soviet Union.
Soviet Union 0-1 Portugal
Eusébio 69'
The best four were set. Three Europeans, one South American. England against Brazil and Portugal against West Germany.
July 25, 1966, Liverpool
West Germany against Portugal. The stars of the squads, Seeler and Eusébio were anulled by a heavy defense. The ticket to the final went to West Germany after a precise header by Franz Beckenbauer.
Portugal 0-1 West Germany
Beckenbauer 72'
July 26, 1966, Wembley
England against Brazil. The hosts against the defending champions. If Argentina surprised the British with their fierce resistance, Brazil went with everything. Although the British started out winning with an early goal, Brazil turned it around. Pelé and Garrincha lead the Brazilians to a 3-1 lead by minute 65. But the English didn't allow their rivals to defeat them. Hurst and Hunt tied the game, forcing Brazil to go through extra time again. This time Pelé and Garrincha could not do anything as Geoff Hurst became the hero of the evening for the British, scoring the fourth goal for England. The defending champions had been defeated. For the first time, Brazil had lost with Garrincha and Pelé. England was one step away from the World Cup. Brazil was the penultimate hurdle. West Germany was all that stood between England and the World Cup.
England 4-3 Brazil
Hunt 8', 77' Hurst 80', 98' - Pelé 27', 62' Gerson 43'
July 28, 1966, Wembley
Portugal versus Brazil for the third place. This was a boring game as Portugal could not pass thr Brazilian defense and the Brazilians were still exhausted from their previous match. It is still asked how Garrincha, who was in the decline of his career, heavily addicted to drinking and smoking, managed to shine in the World Cup. Rehabilitation was the only thing that saved Garrincha from an early death. Instead, he died in 1988.
Brazil 1-0 Portugal
Garrincha 76'
July 30, 1966, Wembley.
England vs. West Germany for the final. With the Queen of England present on Wembley to hand out the medals, England and West Germany clashed. To the delight of the crowd, England started winning, thanks to Jimmy Greaves. A shot by Beckenbauer showed that the West Germans were still in the match. A clear foul from Moore against Seeler in the area was not seen by Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst, to the outrage of the Germans.
Then, catastrophe. For England. The usually solid English goalkeeper Gordon Banks tried to catch a shot going off target but his arm sent the ball straight into the goal. After the foul against Seeler, Moore wasn't a fan favorite. Much less after Seeler skinned him and left him for dead. Seeler went on to score after this action in a magnificent one-two sith Lothar Emmerich. Seeler proved that Moore couldn't stop him and Jack Charlton had to help Moore against the German striker. Charlton got himself out of the match with a foul against Seeler. With one less, Seeler scored the penalty. Germany was 3-1 ahead on the 40 minute mark. Half time came and it was miraculous that England wasn't losing by 4 at that point. In front of the English crowd and their Queen, Beckenbauer got the fourth goal for West Germany. No goalkeeper in the world could have catched that long shot. Fifteen seconds later, Overath scored the fifth West German goal. On the last minute, Haller scored the sixth goal for West Germany. The new World Champion was West Germany, humilliating the hosts, with their crowd. West Germany had made England a laughingstock in London, with the Queen refusing to hand out the medals, leaving interim FIFA president to hand out the medals to the players and the World Cup to West Germany captain Uwe Seeler. This match became the Disaster of Wembley in English press.
England 1-6 West Germany
Greaves 9' - 23' Banks(o.g) Seeler 29' 38'(pen) Beckenbauer 62' Overath 62' Haller 90+3'
The Golden Boot went to Uwe Seeler, with nine goals, surpassing Pelé and Enrique Borja, with seven goals, Garrincha with six and Eusébio with five.
Best XI
4-2-4
Sepp Maier(West Germany)
Hugo Villanueva(Chile)
Elias Figueroa(Chile)
Bellini(Brazil)
Luis Eyzaguirre(Chile)
Franz Beckenbauer(West Germany)
Bobby Charlton(England)
Eusébio(Portugal)
Uwe Seeler(West Germany)
Enrique Borja(Mexico)
Pelé(Brazil)
Although it was marked by controversy, England 1966 was one of the best World Cups since their start in Uruguay, in 1930.
-From the 1976 book(2006 edition): "England '66: 10 Years" by retired footballer Ted Robledo.
