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Chile 19

62

 
Background

The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June.  Chile were chosen as host at the 30th FIFA Congress in Lisbon on 9-10 June 1956. Chile received 32 votes to Argentina's eleven, after the German Federal Republic had withdrawn their bid.

In May 1960, as the preparations were well under way, Chile suffered a large earthquake, which caused enormous damage.  In face of this, Carlos Dittborn, the president of the Organization Committee, said "Because we don't have anything, we will do everything in our power to rebuild," which became the unofficial slogan of the tournament. Stadia and other infrastructure were rebuilt at record speed and the tournament occurred on schedule with no major organizational flaw. Sadly, Dittborn would not live to see the success of his tireless efforts, as he died one month before the start of the tournament. The Stadium at Arica was named in his honour.

The Draw

The sixteen participating teams were divided into four groups, in which all four teams would play each other once, at the draw in Santiago de Chile, on 18 January 1962.
South America  (all seeded) Europe (1) Europe (2) Rest of World
Chile Czechoslovakia Italy Bulgaria
Brazil England Hungary Colombia
Argentina USSR Spain Mexico
Uruguay West Germany Yugoslavia Switzerland

Play-offs were discontinued in favour of goal average.

 

The Build-Up

17 May: The England squad left London for Lima, ahead of the warm-up match against Peru. Peter Swan had been suffering from tonsillitis, but he was able to join the first flight, which contained 16 players, the rest following on a second plane.

18 May: The England team for the Peru game was announced, including two debutants (Maurice Norman and Bobby Moore).

"Mr. W. Winterbottom, the team manager, said this morning that the team to play Peru would probably be that for the opening World Cup match in Chile." [it was] - The Times.

20 May: England beat Peru, 4-0, in Lima.

24 May: England trained at the Rancagua Stadium, for the first time.

 

First Phase
Group 4
Team P W D L F A GAv Pts
Hungary 3 2 1 0 8 2 4.00 5
England 3 1 1 1 4 3 1.33 3
Argentina 3 1 1 1 2 3 0.67 3
Bulgaria 3 0 1 2 1 7 0.14 1
 
30 May 1962 - both 3:00pm CLT
Argentina 1 Bulgaria 0 [1-0]
Estadio Braden Copper Company, Rancagua (7,134)
Facundo
31 May 1962
Hungary 2 England 1 [1-0]
Estadio Braden Copper Company, Rancagua (7,938)
Tichy, Albert
Flowers (pen)

FORWARDS LACK PENETRATION
"The Hungarians were probably a fraction of a goal better in tactics, skill, and ball play.
"England... fought with ample spirit and determination to equalize. But lack of general skill throughout the team means that players are working always at maximum capacity.
"Douglas and Hitchens squandered numerous opportunities.
"...England dominate play for 70 minutes, yet put in few dangerous shots.
"One simple slip and a defensive mistake may have cost England the match." - The Times, 1 June 1962

2 June 1962 - both 3:00pm CLT
England 3 Argentina 1 [2-0]
Estadio Braden Copper Company, Rancagua (9,794)
Flowers (pen), Charlton, Greaves
Sanfilippo
3 June 1962
Hungary 6 Bulgaria 1 [4-0]
Estadio Braden Copper Company, Rancagua (7,442)
Albert (3), Tichy (2), Solymosi
Sokolov

ARGENTINA OUTPLAYED FORE AND AFT
"The general team performance was a vast improvement...
"...moving the ball more fluidly and eventually easily dominating the ruthless, massed but sluggish Argentine defence.
"...Moore...showed courage and pure intelligence in his use of the ball." - The Times, 4 June 1962

6 June 1962 - both 3:00pm CLT
Hungary 0 Argentina 0 [0-0]
Estadio Braden Copper Company, Rancagua (7,945)
 
7 June 1962
Bulgaria 0 England 0 [0-0]
Estadio Braden Copper Company, Rancagua (5,700)
 

GOAL AVERAGE DECISIVE AFTER EXASPERATING DISPLAY
"...a feeble, insipid match...
"...England lapsed into their old faults - inaccurate passing and, finally, aimless running with the ball.
"England's future progress is unbelievable on this form." - The Times, 8 June 1962


The Second Phase

10 June 1962 - all 2:30pm CLT
Chile 2 USSR 1 [2-1]
Estadio Carlos Dittborn, Arica
(17,268)
L.Sánchez, Rojas
Chislenko
Czechoslovakia 1 Hungary 0 [1-0]
Estadio Braden Copper Company, Rancagua (11,690)
Scherer
Brazil 3 England 1 [1-1]
Estádio Municipal, Viña del Mar
(17,736)
Garrincha (2), Vavá
Hitchens
ENGLAND ARE ELIMINATED
Yugoslavia 1 West Germany 0 [0-0]
Estadio Nacional, Santiago de Chile (63,324)
Radaković

ENGLAND MASTERED IN SECOND HALF
"...first-class and immensely thrilling...
"...best performance of the championship but it was insufficient against the poise, polish and finishing power of the Brazilians.
"...Norman outstanding in defence and with Charlton a constant threat and a remarkable worker in attack.
"The England marking was neither close nor dedicated enough...
"...simply beaten by a better team and better individual players." - The Times, 11 June 1962

WORLD DEFENSIVE CUP
"Mr. W. Winterbottom, the team manager, said: "New techniques are evolving in international soccer. In a competition like the World Cup, where games are crowded together, you must have very strong reserves who can fit in with the first teams. Sides use defensive techniques more now. This competition has been a war of attrition rather than an open game of football." - The Guardian, 15 June 1962

Quarter Finals

Semi Finals

13 June 1962 - both 2:30pm CLT
Czechoslovakia 3 Yugoslavia 1 [0-0]
Estádio Municipal, Viña del Mar (5,890)
Kadraba, Scherer (2 (1 pen))
Jerković
Brazil 4 Chile 2 [2-1]
Estadio Nacional, Santiago de Chile (76,594)
Garrincha (2), Vavá (2)
Toro, L.Sánchez
Landa Garrincha

 

Third Place Play-off

16 June 1962 - 2:30pm CLT
Chile 1 Yugoslavia 0 [0-0]
Estadio Nacional, Santiago de Chile (66,697)
Rojas

 

The 1962 Final

17 June 1962 - 2:30pm CLT
Brazil 3 Czechoslovakia 1 [1-1]
Estadio Nacional, Santiago de Chile (68,679)
Amarildo, Zito, Vavá
Masopust

 

CG/GI