After the Second World War, the landscape of Europe changed drastically. ‘From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an “Iron Curtain” has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.’ These were Winston Churchill’s words in his ‘Sinews of Peace’ addressing, post the Second Great War. Football changed too.

Among those iconic cities Churchill kept gnawing about, one such was Budapest in Hungary. The puppet Soviet government’s economy was spiralling downwards. The people were slowly beginning to realize this. Above all, Hungary was going through a post-war crisis period. It was this time, that the government decided to appease the nation with diplomacy and working with them on popular demands. The government took extra steps in carefully making a plan to revamp the National football team. In 1949, post the nationalization of Football Clubs under the new Communist regime, it was Gustave Sebes, one of the three-man committee in charge of the National team, who suggested to take over of Kispest AC, a local club in Budapest.

The Ministry of Defence took over the club and rebranded the team as Budapest Honved SE, the military team. This enabled moving other military obligated national team players from other top Hungarian clubs to Honved. In majority, Honved Budapest FC was the Hungarian National Team. And Gustave Sebes was their manager. With the secret police taking over at another top Hungarian club in MTK Hungaria FC, they appointed Marton Bukovi, another member of the committee. It is at MTK that Bukovi first tried out the WM formation of 4-2-4, where more men were committed forward to attack with fluid positional play, confusing the opposition. This style was later taken on by Honved and eventually by the Golden Team.

Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis, Zoltan Czibor, Nandor Hidegkuti, Jozsef Bozsik were the key names that made the Hungarian people proud and happy. From 1949 to 1954, the Hungarian national team were undefeated. Sebes, by then the Deputy Minister of Sports in Hungary, and Bukovi had developed a well-oiled machine of a football team, which played fast and direct attacking football. The world first witnessed the Mighty Magyars in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. They beat Italy 3-0, Turkey 7-1 and pummelled Sweden 6-0 in the semi-finals. In the finals, they beat Yugoslavia 2-0 to become the Olympic champions. They also won the Central European Championships in 1953 and was dubbed the favourites for the upcoming World Cup.

The Footballing Royalty of England were curious by now. There was a mystery surrounding the Magyars. The English always wants to see it for themselves before believing it. For bookers, it was a Dream Match and called it ‘Match of the Century’. The Magyars of the East were unbeaten for nearly 3 years by then. Meanwhile, no team outside of the UK and Ireland had beaten England in their home turf before. In the invitational game at Wembley, England were outplayed from the beginning. Hungary scored in the first minute of kick-off, Hidegkuti scoring.

England immediately responded with a goal from Jackie Sewell but quick three fire goals, one from Hidegkuti and two from Puskas in space of 7 mins took Hungary to a 4-1 lead before Mortensen put a goal back to end the half at 4-2. Hungary were in control of the game in second have where they scored two more, Hidegkuti completing his hattrick, and winning the game 6-3. England lost again in their reverse fixture at Budapest, 7-1. Historically, the loss to the Hungarians is considered as the moment in which English Football began to change their approach to the game tactically.

Every team in the world were in awe of this team. ‘The Mighty Magyars’ were the strong favourites at 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland. Hungary were drawn in a group along with West Germany. Considering the form in which Hungary entered the competition, as expected, they made quick work of their opponents, which involved a resonant beating of West Germany, 8-3, and qualifying for the knockout stage. But in the process, Puskas suffered a hairline fracture to his ankle from a defensive foul from Werner Liebrich, ruling him out of till the end of the tournament.

‘Liebrich’ became a curse in Hungary. Hungary had to carry on without their talismanic player. Fending off the challenge from South Americans, The Magyars beat both Brazil in the quarters and Uruguay in the semis, 4-2 each, to progress to the final. Familiar opponents in West Germany were awaiting.

The Mighty Magyars of 1953

The 1954 FIFA World Cup final was one of the most exciting finals in sports history for many reasons. A final of a major tournament was being competed by two countries separated by the Iron Curtain. The westernized Allied force represented West Germany and the communist Hungarians. But there was another story to the tale. The Hungarians did not want to be part of the second World War. When Adolf Hitler approached the then Prime Minister Pal Teleki, to help him invade Yugoslavia, whom Hungary had a treaty of eternal friendship with, he refused. On German entry to the land of Magyars, Teleki shot himself in the head, writing

We broke our word, out of cowardice. The nation feels it, and we have thrown away its honour. We have allied ourselves to scoundrels. We will become body-snatchers! A nation of trash. I did not hold you back. I am guilty.’

The Germans invaded Hungary and wreak havoc. The then Hungary National Team suffered the consequences of losing good players to the demise of the National League. The Hungarians wanted to win this battle badly now. Bern was the venue this time. But the hurdles they faced were massive.

The Final build-up was mainly focused on one question. ‘Will Ference Puskas play?’ The answer came soon enough. In that historic rainy evening of Bern, Ference Puskas started the game for the Hungarians, much to the delight of their faithful and found the net in 6 minutes, silencing his doubters who questioned his fitness. Zoltan Czibor slotted home the second for the Magyars as the Golden Team was off to a flying start, leading 2-0. Although Germans suddenly found themselves at the receiving end once again, in the 10th minute, Morlock scored from close range, reducing the deficit. Within the next 5 minutes, Germans started to control the Hungarian attack. In the 18th minute of the first half, from a corner, Helmut Rahn headed Germany into parity with Hungary. The Hungarians protested as they felt their goalkeeper, Gyula Grosics, was being obstructed, but to no effect.

For the first time, in nearly 5 years, Hungary was playing against a team that adapted to its fluid movements. The second half was the story of resistance. Hungary were relentless. Germany remained unmoved. And in the 84th minute, the Hungarian hearts were broken as Helmut Rahn took advantage of a weak short clearance, wrong-footed the defender and finished it low and hard past Grosics, taking Germany to the lead. The tables were turned. Hard done by this, Hungarians attacked again, and Puskas scored the equalizer, only to be ruled out by the linesman. The TV analysis of the offside did not give a clear picture of what happened. Hungary players complaints went in vain, again. West Germany were World Champions.

The Fall out from this World Cup game had many squabbling over decisions. Puskas carried an injury and played. The team itself was impacted by logistical issues it faced, turning up late back to the hotel, where the Village fair was going on. Most of the players lost sleep. All this while, the Germans relaxed in the silent and serene town of Spiez. ‘The Spirit of Spiez’ became a German usage too. As for the Hungarians, the final was a big blow. There were protests not only against the loss but against the government, which many believe was the start of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. In two years, the Hungarian Revolution came and died, suppressed by the communist government with the help of the Soviet Union. Many players left their careers and some like Puskas and Czibor moved out to Spain to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. Some of the Magyars remained and attempted to replicate the success again, only to fail.

The Germans went on to have successful careers in football at top clubs. In the later years, many of the Mighty Magyars took on coaching as a career with help from their German counterparts. Hungary defender Gyula Lorant was admitted to the German Sport University in Cologne by Sepp Herberger, the 1954 West Germany Coach. Many found success in their own National League and others as well. By 1990, ‘The Iron Curtain’ fell, and the German Football Association conducted the first-ever 1954 World Cup final reunion. The West Germany Football team and the Hungarian Football team of 1954 remained good friends from then on till the end of their days, the real Miracle of Bern.

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