Hungary National Football Team - History - The 1950s and The Golden Team

The 1950s and The Golden Team

Hungarian football was best known for being one of the most formidable and influential sides in football history, which revolutionized the play of the game. Centred around the dynamic and potent quartet of strikers Ferenc Puskás, Sándor Kocsis, attacking half-back József Bozsik and withdrawn striker Nándor Hidegkuti, the "Aranycsapat" (Golden Team) of the "Magnificent Magyars", captivated the football world with an exciting brand of play drawn from new tactical nuances and amassed, barring the 1954 World Cup Final, a remarkable record of 46 victories, 6 ties, and no defeats from the 14th of May 1950 until they lost 3–1 to Turkey on February 19, 1956.

On 25 November 1953 took place the match of the century between England and Hungary at the Wembley Stadium, London, England. The English team were unbeaten for 90 years at home. In front of 105,000 spectators Nándor Hidegkuti scored the first Hungarian goal in the first minute. In the first half the result was 4-2 to Hungary. The Hungarian goals were scored by Nándor Hidegkúti (1st, 22nd) and Ferenc Puskás (25th 29th). In the second half the Hungarians scored twice (Hidegkúti and József Bozsik) which resulted the most important victory of the Hungarians in the twentieth century. The final result was 6-3.

On 23 May 1954 the Hungarian national team beat England by 7-1, which has been the biggest defeat of England, at the Puskás Ferenc Stadium. At that time in Hungary there was a saying about the match which is the following: Az angolok egy hétre jöttek és 7:1-re mentek in English: The English came for a (one) week (seven days) and went home with seven (7) one (1) (the result of the match).

The 1954 FIFA World Cup was held in Switzerland. The first match was played against South Korea and Hungary won by 9-0 at the Hardturm in Zurich. In the second group match Hungary played against West Germany and won the match by 8-3 at the St. Jakob Stadium in Basel. In the quarter-finals Hungary beat Brazil 4-2 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern. In the semi-finals Hungary played with the two-times World Cup winner Uruguay in Lausanne. Hungary won by 4-2 after extra time. In the final Hungary faced with West Germany again. Although Hungary won the group match against the Germans, they lost 3-2 in the final in Bern at the Wankdorf Stadium. The Golden Team, built around the legendary Ferenc Puskás, led early 2–0, but ended up 2–3 in a game the Germans subsequently christened "The Miracle of Bern".

In 2010 Erik Eggers, professor at the Humboldt University of Berlin, revealed in a study that the Germany team may have used drugs to beat the Hungarian team, which were considered invincible at that time.

Hungary qualified for the 1958 FIFA World Cup which was held in Sweden. Hungary played their first match against Wales at the Jarnvallen stadium in Sandviken and the final result was 1-1. The second group match was played against the host country, Sweden. Hungary lost 2-1 in the Råsunda Stadium, Solna. Although Hungary won their last group match against Mexico at the Jarnvallen stadium in Sandvinken, they were eliminated from the World Cup since both Sweden and Wales obtained 5 points while Hungary only four in the group.