1954 Switzerland Trivia

1. Who won this edition of the FIFA World Cup?

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: West Germany

West Germany claimed their first title defeating heavy favourites Hungary 3-2 in the final. This match is known as the Miracle of Bern as Hungary had been the favourite of most to win the title and earlier in the tournament they had defeated West Germany 8-3. It also goes by this name as Hungary went two up early on. Austria finished third, defeating Uruguay in the third place playoff with the scoreline of 3-1.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: 16

This was the fifth World Cup ever held. The four preceding ones were held in Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), France (1938) and Brazil (1950). There was no World Cup held during World War Two. The 16 teams participating in the 1954 World Cup were: Switzerland (host), Uruguay (defending champions), Yugoslavia, France, Brazil, Mexico, West Germany, Turkey, Hungary, South Korea, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Scotland, England, Belgium and Italy.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: 12

This was in the stunning quarterfinal in Lausanne between Austria and Switzerland, which ended 7-5 to Austria. 6 goals were scored three times over the tournament. Two were quarterfinals, Uruguay defeating England 4-2 and Hungary defeating Brazil 4-2. The other was Hungary's 4-2 defeat over Brazil. 11 goals were scored in the Group Stage match betwen Hungary and West Germany, the 8-3 match.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Hungary

Hungary scored 27 goals in five matches. Germany ranked second in this statistic, with 25 goals in 6 matches. Czechoslovakia, Scotland and South Korea left the tournament without having scored any goals. All in all 140 goals were scored in 26 matches. Just for comparison: During the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea 161 goals were scored in 64 matches.

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: Sándor Kocsis

Hungarian Sándor Kocsis amazingly netted 11 goals throughout the tournament (a hat-trick in their 9-0 victory over the Korea Republic in the Group Stage, four in their 8-3 win over West Germany in the Group Stage, two in the quarterfinal 4-2 win over Brazil, and two in the semi-final 4-2 win over Uruguay). Englishman Ivor Broadis scored two goals, both in the Group Stage 4-4 draw with Belgium. Bernhard Klodt of West Germany scored just 1 in the 4-1 Group Stage win over Turkey. Brazilian Pinga scored Pinga scored two as well, both in the Group Stage 5-0 win over Mexico.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)

Kocsis scored 11 goals, Hügi scored six, Borges scored four, and Lofthouse scored three.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: English

William Ling refereed Hungary and West Germany twice, in the Group Stage match that ended 8-3 to Hungary and in the Final, where West Germany won 3-2. There were no Japanese, Chinese, or Mexican referees in the tournament.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: 25

During the group phase, West Germany beat Turkey 4-1, but lost to Hungary 3-8. After that West Germany had to play Turkey again, in order to determine which of the two teams would advance to the next round. That match ended 7-2 to West Germany. In the quarter-final West Germany beat Yugoslavia 2-0, and in the semi-final they beat Austria 6-1, which led them to the final, where they beat Hungary 3-2.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Hungary v Brazil

During this quarterfinal the players started fighting. Three players were sent of the field, but after the match the fighting continued in the locker rooms, and this time even coaches and officials got involved (at least that´s how the story goes).

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: Basel

Glarus was not used in the tournament. Zurich was the second most northern city. Lugano was the southern-most city, and Basel was the northern-most right up in the northwest of Switzerland.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: 5

They lost their opening match against Hungary, but won the next five matches, after which they became the World Champions for the first time.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Hungary

For England and Brazil the tournament ended after the quarterfinals, where England lost to Uruguay (2-4), and Brazil lost to Hungary (2-4). The defending champions Uruguay then lost to Hungary in the semi-final (2-4). (It just occured to me that 2-4 obviously was a quite popular result in those days.) The final was held on 4th July 1954.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: 140

140 goals were scored in 26 games, which comes to an impressive average of 5.38 goals per game.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: 3-2

Hungary scored the first two goals (Ferenc Puskas: 6th minute, Zoltan Czibor: 8th minute), but Max Morlock managed to score only two minutes later. In the 18th minute Helmut Rahn equalized after a corner kick by Fritz Walter. This 2-2 scoreline remained until the 84th minute, when Rahn scored again. A couple of minutes later the Hungarian player Ferenc Puskas kicked the ball into the goal but, as he had been in an offside position, the goal did not count. After 90 minutes the game was over, and whole of Germany celebrated.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: One

Only Korea Republic took part and were decisively eliminated in the Group Stage with a 9-0 loss to Hungary and a 7-0 loss to Turkey.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Fritz Walter

Walter played for 1.FC Kaiserslautern. The other three players were also members of the 1954 national team. Toni Turek (the goal keeper) played for Fortuna Düsseldorf, Bernhard Klodt played for Schalke 04 and Max Morlock played for 1.FC Nuremberg.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954 FIFA World Cup

Answer: Cornaredo Stadium

This comparatively small stadium only hosted Italy's 4-1 victory over Belgium in the Group Stage. The St. Jakob Stadium was in Basel, and has now been replaced by the St. Jakob Park. The Hardturm Stadium is in Zurich. The Charmilles Stadium was in Geneva.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Sepp Herberger

Sepp Herberger was the coach from 1936-1964. Helmut Schön was West Germany´s coach from 1964 to 1978, and Beckenbauer held that position from 1984 to 1990. Fritz Walter never coached the German national team. But nevertheless he was very famous and the stadium in Kaiserslautern, where he played, was named after him. Walter passed away during the 2002 World Cup.

From Quiz Switzerland: 1954 World Cup

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.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Uwe Seeler

Uwe Seeler also is a soccer legend in Germany, especially in Hamburg, where he grew up and played soccer throughout his whole career. He was was a member of the West German national team from October 1954 (He joined after the World Cup) to 1970.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: William Ling (England)

The other three are all referees who took part in the 2002 World Cup. Pierluigi Collina can always be recognized by his bald head, his piercing stare and his cheeky grin. He manages to have fun during the match and joke with the players, but still keep the control over the match. He was the referee during the World Cup final 2002, in which Brazil beat Germany 2-0.

From Quiz 1954: Germany's Legendary Victory

Answer: Bern

When talking about West Germany´s triumph in that tournament, Germans usually refer to it as "the miracle of Bern" ("Das Wunder von Bern"). In 2003, German director Sönke Wortmann released a movie with the same title, which tells the story of the "heroes of Bern" ("Helden von Bern", which is what the players and their coach are often called)

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Last Updated Dec 13 2025 5:45 AM

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