Switzerland: 1954 World Cup Trivia Quiz

Answer: 16

The 16 countries were divided in to four groups for the first round stage, but only played two games each. This was because FIFA decided that each group would contain two seeded nations and two non-seeded, with the seeded teams only playing against the non-seeds. This would be the last World Cup in which this strange format was used.

Answer: Mexico

Mexico had taken part in both the 1930 and 1950 World Cups so were finals regulars. Scotland, South Korea and Turkey were all making their debuts.

Answer: Cornaredo Stadium, Lugano

The Cornaredo Stadium in Lugano hosted a first round group stage match between Italy and Belgium and nothing else. The other stadiums listed all hosted at least four matches, as did the two not included in the options, the Hardturm Stadium in Zurich and the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern.

Answer: South Korea

South Korea had a World Cup to forget in 1954. Their opening game in Zurich resulted in a 9-0 thrashing by Hungary, whilst their second game, in Geneva, wasn't much better, Turkey winning 7-0.

Answer: Hungary

Uruguay won the first World Cup, in 1930, as hosts, then didn't take part in either the 1934 or 1938 tournaments. They reappeared at the 1950 competition in Brazil, and won it, so were still undefeated when they arrived in Switzerland in 1954. After winning both group games, against Czechoslovakia and Scotland, they defeated England 4-2 in the quarter-finals before Hungary finally upset them, 4-2 aet, in the semi-finals.

Answer: Austria

Switzerland won their first group game against Italy, then lost their next one against England. Due to the unusual rules in place at the time, they faced Italy again in a play-off to see which team progressed, and won 4-1. In an incredible quarter-final match against Austria in Lausanne, Switzerland raced into an early 3-0 lead before Austria fought back to lead 5-4 at half-time.

The second half was a bit quieter, with Austria eventually winning the match 7-5. The aggregate of 12 goals set a new World Cup record for goals scored in a World Cup finals game.

Answer: Andy Beattie (Scotland)

Scotland lost their opening game 0-1 to Austria, which was no disgrace, but manager Andy Beattie, angry that the Scottish Football Association had only allowed him to bring a 13-man squad to the tournament, resigned before the next game. A selection committee picked the team for the second game against Uruguay, which ended in a 0-7 debacle.

Answer: Brazil & Hungary

Brazil and Hungary faced each other in a quarter-final match at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern. Early in the second half, with Hungary leading 2-1, they were awarded a disputed penalty kick which led to a pitch invasion by Brazilian officials and journalists.

After this the game degenerated into a dirty affair with numerous bad tackles and fights, with referee Arthur Ellis sending off two Brazilians and one Hungarian. After the match, which Hungary won 4-2, the fighting continued in the dressing rooms.

Answer: West Germany

In what was considered a huge upset at the time, West Germany defeated Hungary in the 1954 World Cup Final in Bern. Hungary had defeated the Germans 8-3 in a group match and went into the final as hot favourtes. It looked like things were going to plan as the Hungarians raced into an early 2-0 lead, but West Germany fought back for a shock 3-2 win, with Helmut Rahn scoring the winner in the 82nd minute.

Answer: Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)

Sandor Kocsis scored 11 goals for Hungary at the 1954 World Cup, five more than his nearest rivals. Four of his goals came in an amazing 8-3 group game against West Germany.