Matches of the century

A8K

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Oct 22, 2016
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#1
This one a friendly from the 1950s. The first leg of two embarrassing losses for England by Hungary (hoping others can help with this series..)

Interesting they pulled 100k+ attendance in 1953 game between England and Hungry at Wembly ; the originators of the game, against the finest team in the world at that time. Hungary won 6–3; the English were shown to be technically and tactically inferior to the Hungarian side, known as the Golden Team, in every way. The result led to a review of the antiquated training and tactics used by the England team, and the subsequent adoption of continental practices at an international and club level in the English game.

The English national team had suffered just one defeat on home soil against foreign opposition, which had been in 1949 against the Republic of Ireland.

This had created a climate of complacency; the English Football Association (FA) simply assumed that as the originators of the game, English players were technically and physically superior to their foreign counterparts. In addition, coaching and tactical advances from abroad were ignored, with the English national side and the majority of clubs persisting with the outdated WM formation. The Hungarian team lined up in the 2–3–3–2 formation pioneered by their coach.

Hungary. Innovations included a precursor to "Total Football" several years ahead of the Dutch and the introduction of a deep-lying centre-forward position. The Hungarians had seen the virtue of creating fitness regimes as well as a club-like policy at an international level to give impetus to innumerable practice sessions; in addition, most of their players played for the State-sponsored Army team Honvéd, which ensured that each member of the team was familiar with the style and strengths of each of his teammates.

The Hungarian team was unbeaten since May 1950, and had won the football gold medal at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.

The Hungarians played superb technical and tactical football, with Ferenc Puskas, a dominating captain with a formidable left foot, and Sander Kocsis, the so-called "Golden Head," a double spearhead. Nandor Hidegkuti, destined to score three goals at Wembley, played behind them in the first half as a "deep" centre-forward.

HUngry brought down England 6-3;
General panic ensued. Division 3 Watford brought their players in for extra afternoon training. We heard all about Hungary's preparation, through a variety of sources. A book called Learn to Play the Hungarian Way had much currency. But by the 1958 World Cup Hungary were a merely modest side. All had depended on a clutch of great players emerging then vanishing.


Hungry scored from minute 1 to min 53, all six goals. The result was largely determined by tactical naivety from the English manager and players.

Sir Bobby Robson said of the game: "We saw a style of play, a system of play that we had never seen before. None of these players meant anything to us. We didn't know about Puskás. All these fantastic players, they were men from Mars as far as we were concerned. They were coming to England, England had never been beaten at Wembley—this would be a 3–0, 4–0 maybe even 5–0 demolition of a small country who were just coming into European football. They called Puskás the 'Galloping Major' because he was in the army—how could this guy serving for the Hungarian army come to Wembley and rifle us to defeat? But the way they played, their technical brilliance and expertise—our WM formation was kyboshed in ninety minutes of football. The game had a profound effect, not just on myself but on all of us." Robson went on to say: "That one game alone changed our thinking. We thought we would demolish this team—England at Wembley, we are the masters, they are the pupils. It was absolutely the other way."

"We completely underestimated the advances that Hungary had made, and not only tactically," Billy Wright said. "When we walked out at Wembley that afternoon, side by side with the visiting team, I looked down and noticed that the Hungarians had on these strange, lightweight boots, cut away like slippers under the ankle bone. I turned to big Stan Mortensen and said, 'We should be alright here, Stan, they haven't got the proper kit'."

Six members of the England team—Bill Eckersley, Alf Ramsey, George Robb and the Blackpool trio of Harry Johnston, Stan Mortensen and Ernie Taylor—were never selected to play for England again.

sources; Wiki and Guardian
 
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Likes: Bache Tehroon
#2
Thanks for sharing. just to add to it, a few months later they got hammered again in Hungry 7-1. they were great at Wembley but trembling outside England.
BTW I don't think Bobby Robson was in the national team in 1953 unless he just gave his insight on the match.

some side info, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday had the most number of players in the England National team in that year.

great post (y)
 
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A8K

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Oct 22, 2016
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#3
^ Thx Robson was like 17-8 playing for Fulham then.

saw a reference about two games from 'hell' but a quick check only revealed other games they lost to Ireland at "everton" in '49. Game you refer seem to be the return leg of first game and England still used the WM formation.
 

A8K

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Oct 22, 2016
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#5
Seems Hungary even held back after being up half dozen goals.. Communist Hungry did offer perks of football to its players then.

Our own dreep keshouee seem to have been born by the Hungarians.. HUngary seem to have been robbed of 1954 WC victory due to officiating. FAns appreciation of football then is glorious and impressive.

 
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Oct 1, 2004
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#6
Great video.

Better camera work, better quality and better commentary on a match in 1950s than IRIB's coverage of Iran's "Pro" league in 2018!
A few of the Iranian clubs have random fans film the games live from instagram. The quality on those broadcasts are better than IRIB's!

For example Padideh is playing in Imam Reza stadium now. The pitch is basically perfect, the stadium is very photogenic and sound travels very nicely... however looking at the broadcast you'd think they're filming it with your uncle's 1985 VHS camcorder.
 
#7
France vs. Brazil in the QF of 1986 Worldcup is the World's greatest match ever played on the face of this planet. there has never been and won't be a better match in the history of the game.

if there will be another Einstein then there'll be a match like this. I have watched this over 50 times while I never watch anything more than once.
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.Those who think France has a good squad now then just take a look at this squad
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Likes: Payandeh Iran
Oct 16, 2002
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#9
A few of the Iranian clubs have random fans film the games live from instagram. The quality on those broadcasts are better than IRIB's!

For example Padideh is playing in Imam Reza stadium now. The pitch is basically perfect, the stadium is very photogenic and sound travels very nicely... however looking at the broadcast you'd think they're filming it with your uncle's 1985 VHS camcorder.
This is what I have been absolutely appalled by for more than 2 decades now. What the hell?! Even people's phone recordings from street protests look better than the shit IRIB broadcasts with expensive cameras from 'per-designated' camera spots!
 
Likes: OSTAD POOYA
Oct 1, 2004
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#10
This is what I have been absolutely appalled by for more than 2 decades now. What the hell?! Even people's phone recordings from street protests look better than the shit IRIB broadcasts with expensive cameras from 'per-designated' camera spots!
This is an issue I'm genuinely curious about.
Why is Azadi the only stadium that has decent broadcasts?

Funnily enough, Jam also has HD broadcasts!