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288
289 vs. Switzerland Party
Thursday, 17 June 1954
The Championnat du Monde de Football Finals First Phase Pool D


Belgium 4 England
4 [1-2] [3-3]
Match Summary
Belgium Party
England Party

Team Records
 
X
The Belgium World Cup Finals Party Pre-England  June 1954
Player Birthdate Age Pos Club App G
10. Anoul, Léopold René Jean Victor 19 August 1922 19 IL Royal FC Liégeois 45 16
17. Ausloos, Raymond 3 February 1930 24 Gk Racing White Daring Molenbeek 0 0ᵍᵃ
19. Backaert, Joseph 5 August 1921 32 M Royal Charleroi SC 0 0
16. Van den Bosch, Pieter Rosalia 31 October 1927 26 OR RSC Anderlecht 0 0
15. Van den Bosch, Hippoliet Geraard 30 April 1926 28 F RSC Anderlecht 2 2
3. Van Brandt, Alfons 24 June 1927 26 LB Koninklijke Lierse Sk 19 0
5. Carré, Louis Aimé 7 January 1925 29 CHB RFC Liégeois 41 0
9. Coppens, Henri François Louis 29 April 1930 24 CF Royale Bierschot AC 26 11
13. Dirickx, Hendrik Paul 7 July 1927 26 D Union Saint-Gilloise SR 13 0
2. Dries, Marcel Henricus 19 September 1929 24 RB Royal Berchem Sport 7 0
12. Geerts, Charles Marie Jean 29 October 1930 23 Gk Royal Beerschot AC 0 0ᵍᵃ
1. Gernaey, Léopold Andries 25 February 1927 27 Gk ASv Oostende KM 7 6ᵍᵃ
8. Houf, Denis Mathieu 16 February 1932 22 IR RSC Liégeois 0 0
22. Van Hoywegen, Luc Bernard Maria Willy 1 January 1929 25 F Daring Club de Bruxelles 0 0
4. Huysmans, Constantinus Carolus 11 October 1928 25 RHB Royale Bierschot AC 5 0
14. Van Kerkhoven, Robert 1 October 1924 29 M Daring Club de Bruxelles 5 0
20. Maertens, Robert August 24 January 1930 24 M Royal Antwerp FC 11 0
6. Mees, Victor Edward Louis 26 January 1927 27 LHB Royal Antwerp FC 34 1
11. Mermans, Joseph 16 February 1922 32 OL RSC Anderlecht 35 26
21. Van Steen, Jan Pieter 2 June 1929 25 M RSC Anderlecht 5 1
18. Vanderlinden, Jozef 2 November 1927 26 D Royal Antwerp FC 0 0
7. Vliers, Jozef 18 Deecember 1932 21 F Koninklijke Sk Tongeren 0 0

Party details correct up to
and including Belgium's match against France on 30 May 1954.

Diary

FIFA retained the mini-league system but couldn't resist a little tinkering. Instead of each team playing all the others in the groups, two were seeded and would play only the two non-seeds - and any matches drawn after ninety minutes would go to extra-time. Arbitrary and confusing.
Cris Freddi's Complete Book of the World Cup
 
Belgium managed a very early goal, the bustling Anoul scoring after a scramble in the penalty area, but were overhauled soon enough. Broadis squeezed in the equaliser before colliding with the onrushing Gernaey, then Lofthouse jerked himself at a cross from Taylor an dheaded in. In the second half Broadis hit Matthews' deflected cross so hard it bent the keeper's wrist on the way in. And Guerney had to make 'some really brilliant saves.'
   This was Matthews' first match against Belgium since 1947, when he'd made all five of England's goals. Now he pulled their defence inside out, preposterously quick and supple for a man of 39. But England still hadn't solved their old problem at centre-half, where Owen was now limping. Anoul ran past him to pull a goal back, then Merrick failed to hold a shot by the fiery Coppens.
   In extra-time, Broadis' cross and Taylor's dummy set up Lofthouse for a 'crushing drive' that went in off the far post - but Dickinson headed in a Dries free kick 'when no-one was anywhere near him.' As in darkest 1950, England were left needing to win their last group match to be sure of qualifying.
Cris Freddi's Complete Book of the World Cup

20 June 1954 - Comunale (Cornaredo), Lugano - 26,000 - Erich Steiner (AUT)
   
    ITALY (1) 4
     Pandolfini pen 41, Galli 48, Frignani 58, Lorenzi 78
    BELGIUM (0) 1
   
 Anoul 81

ITALY Giorgio Ghezzi, Ardico Magnini, Giovanni Giacomazzi, Maino Neri, Ornero Tognon, Fulvio Nesti, Benito Lorenzi, Egisto Pandolfini (c), Carlo Galli, Gino Cappello, Amleto Frignani. Lajos Czeizler (HUN).
BELGIUM Léopold Gernaey, Marcel Dries, Louis Carré, Fons Van Brabdt, Constant Huysmans, Vic Mees, Jef Mermans (c), Pol Anoul, Rik Coppens, Hippolye Vanden Bosch, Pieter Vanden Bosch. Dugald (Dug) Livingstone (SCO).

Italy expected a harder time than this. Lorenzi, one of the personalities of the tournament, dummied his man on the left and crossed for Galli to score with a superb diving header. Frignani lobbed the ball in when Galli's pitiful ground shot was appallingly fumbled by Gernaey, then hit a corner which was glanced on by Galli for Lorenzi to score with a teasing header. Dries had founded Frignani to concede the penalty, which Pandolfini hit hard and almost straight as Gernaey moved to his right. Anoul got in a low cross-shot before the tackle came in.
   The dramatic improvement may have had something to do with the selection of a Hamlet (Frignani) as well as a Homer (Tognon). Hippolyte and Pieter Vanden Bosch were brothers.
   Carré was winning his 39th consecutive cap on the way to becoming the first player from any country to win 50 in a row.
Cris Freddi's Complete Book of the World Cup

Belgium Form: last six games
L D D W W D  f 11:a 6 success:  83%
235 25 October 1953 -
Netherlands 1 Belgium 0
[0-0]
Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam
van Beurden Fr AL
236 22 November 1953 -
Switzerland 2 Belgium 2
[0-2]
Hardturm Stadion, Zürich
Fatton, Antenen
H.Van den Bosch (2)
AD
237 14 March 1954 - Belgium 0 Portugal 0 [0-0]
Stade du Heysel, Bruxelles
  HD
238 4 April 1954 - Belgium 4 Netherlands 0 [1-0]
Bosuilstadion, Antwerpen
Mermans, Coppens (2), Terlouw OG HW
239 9 May 1954 - Yugoslavia 0 Belgium 2 [0-1]
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Coppens, Mermans AW
240 30 May 1954 - Belgium 3 France 3 [3-2]
Stade du Heysel, Bruxelles
Mermans, Anoul (2)
Vincent, Huysmans OG, Kopa
HD
____________________

CG