SN 140 Moments: No. 116 – West Germany pulls off ‘Miracle of Bern’, beats Hungary in World Cup final originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Quite simply the greatest upset in World Cup final history. In the group stage at the 1954 World Cup, West Germany were hammered 8-3 by the great Hungarian team of Ferenc Puskas and Sandor Kocsis. West Germany found some form in the semifinals, thrashing neighbours Austria 6-1, while Hungary were taken to extra-time by reigning champions Uruguay before winning 4-2. That result extended ‘the Magical Magyars’ unbeaten run to 31 international matches
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The final at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland, was expected to be a formality, something hardly disabused by Puskas and Zoltan Czibor giving Hungary a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes. Maximilian Morlock quickly pulled one back and a frantic game was all square when Helmut Rahn levelled in the 18th minute. West Germany survived wave after wave of Hungarian pressure in driving rain before Rahn stunningly netted the winner with six minutes to play. Puskas thought he had scored an equaliser but was flagged offside. Hungary were beaten. It was the only match the 1952 Olympic champions lost between May 1950 and February 1956.
West Germany’s victory had an impact beyond sport, with the champions enjoying a redemptive moment of global reintegration after the recent horrors of World War II. In Hungary, widespread discontent over the shock loss is credited as being among the seeds planted for the 1956 Hungarian uprising.
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