Hungary

Grosics
Matrai
Sarosi
Bozsik,
Sipos,
Berendi
Sandor
Hidegkuti (c)
Tichy
Bundzsak
Fenyvesi

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Kelsey
Williams S
Hopkins
Sullivan
Charles M
Bowen
Webstert
Medwin
Charles J
Allchurch I
Jones C

Match Report

Hungary were the first opponents and played as beaten finalists in the previous World Cup held in 1954. However, due to political turmoil in their country, their team was virtually a new side with a few exceptions.
Wales, playing in canary yellow, were underdog, and fell behind in the 4th minute through a Bozsik goal - a survivor from 1954. The doubters all thought then that Wales were there just for the taking.
With Medwin playing out of position, the Welsh fighting spirit rallied with John Charles heading powerfully home on the 26th minute to level the scores, from a Cliff Jones cross. It was a text book header, as John outjumped everyone.
Wales pushed for the winner, but without success. The game ended level, 1v1.

 Mexico

Carbajal (c)
del Muro
Gutierrez
Cardenas
Romo
Flores
Belmonte
Reyes
Blanco
Gonzales
Sesma

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Kelsey
Williams S
Hopkins
Baker
Charles M
Bowen
Webster
Medwin
Charles J
Allchurch I
Jones C

Match Report

Wales failed to find their form against a Mexican side still smarting from their 3v0 opening match defeat against hosts Sweden.
Wales went ahead courtesy of Ivor Allchurch and the assumption was that Wales would stroll through, but they fell apart, allowing Mexico a last minute equaliser. Sullivan had missed the game through injury and was replaced by Baker.
Cliff Jones, one of the fastest wingers in the game, had a disappointng match.

 Sweden

Svensson
Bergmark
Axbom
Borjesson
Gustavsson (c)
Parling
Berndtsson
Selmosson
Kallgren
Lofgren
Skoglund

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Kelsey
Williams S
Hopkins
Sullivan
Charles M
Bowen
Vernon
Hewitt
Charles J
Allchurch I
Jones C

Match Report

A draw against Sweden would be enough to leave Wales equal on points with Hungary. Jimmy Murphy set his stall out accordingly. Sweden had already qualified and fielded a weakened side, resting many players, including 4 forward players.
It was not therefore a particularly exciting game. However, Skogland missed four good opportunities to seal it for the hosts.
Jack Kelsey was becomimg one of the best goalkeepers in the competition.
A goal-less draw saw Wales facing a play-off against the Hungarians, should they defeat Mexico in their last group match.

 Hungary

Grosics
Matrai
Sarosi
Bozsik (c)
Sipos
Kotasz
Budai
Bencsics
Bundzsak
Tichy
Fenyvesi

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Kelsey
Williams S
Hopkins
Sullivan
Charles M
Bowen
Medwin
Hewitt
Charles J
Allchurch I
Jones C

Match Report

The first encounter with Hungary in the group match was rough - this one was even worse, with John Charles targetted for 'special' treatment. The Russian referee gave John no protection whatsover, as the Hungarians literally carved notches out of him! He was clearly chopped down in the penalty area, but no penalty was awarded.
Charles never retaliated, which infuriated the opponents even more!
Hungary stole the lead with a Tichy volley beating Kelsey low at the near post. Everything was going against Wales until the ever faithful Ivor Allchurch  scored an incredible goal - a left foot volley from the edge of the box, which flew like a missile into the top corner.
This gave Wales renewed belief, with a truly battered John Charles still limping bravely about the pitch.
Then with 15 minutes to go, Terry Medwin secured Wales' place in the quarter finals.
Hungarian Sipos was sent off.
Sadly John Charles' hammering meant he would play no part in that match against the favourites to win the Jules Rimet Trophy, Brazil.

 Brazil

Gylmar
De Sordi
Santos
Zito
Bellini (c)
Orlando
Garrincha
Didi
Mazzola
Pele
Zagallo

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Kelsey
Williams S
Hopkins
Sullivan
Charles M
Bowen
Medwin
Hewitt
Webster
Allchurch I
Jones C

Match Report

Seventeen year old Pele, in his debut World Cup match,  broke the hearts of the Welsh team with the only goal of the game.
From the kick off, the Brazilians streamed forward endlessly in a yellow wave of movement. The Welsh concentration was draining away.
Colin Webster shot wide in the first minute - oh, had that gone in? What then?
Wales successfully subdued the Brazilian style of play and the Taffs looked capable of pulling off the shock result of the World Cup at times.
Without the talents of John Charles, Manager Jimmy Murphy had elected to play an unltra-defensive match.
Then that fateful goal. A cross from 'the little bird' Garrincha into the box from the right found Pele, marked by Mel Charles. The teenager took the ball on his chest, turned, and squeezed a shot in from hust outside the goal area. Kelsey must have seen the ball cross the line in slow motion, but could do nothing to stop it.
The goal was the scored by the youngest player ever to net a goal in the World Cup Finals.Pele later said that it was probably the most important goal he ever scored in his career, as it gave him such confidence to continue in his career.
It was big relief for Brazil that John Charles, the Gentle Giant was injured - their defence was unlikely to have coped with him, as they were quite small in terms of height. It was a match in which Wales played as though their lives depended on it, in footballing terms.