The Magical Magyars.

Following on from The best player you have ever seen at Newcastle thread and You'veBeenTiote'd's comment I've got a programme here from the 1953 "Match of the Century" (England vs. Hungary)

*** A friendly match was arranged for 25th November 1953 against England. England had never been defeated on home soil by a team from outside the British Isles, and the FA were complacent - as the inventors of the game, they were assured that their players were technically and tactically superior to any other countries. At the time, England were ranked as the 3rd best team in the world; Hungary were ranked as the best team in the world. The game was eagerly anticipated; the British Press reported it as "the Match of the Century".

The game was played in front of 105,000 in Wembley Stadium. Hungary simply demolished England; they scored in the first minute, and after 27 minutes they were 4-1 up. The final score was 6-3, with a hat-trick from Hidegkuti, two goals from Puskás and one from Bozsik. It was a footballing lesson that sent shockwaves through English football, and which ultimately caused English clubs to adopt continental coaching and tactics. ***

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Puskas or the Major as I believe he was known ( still serving in the Hungarian forces ) dictated the play and didn't put a foot wrong throughout the game. He had very little backlift but hit the ball with venom. He had a thunderous shot on him and yet had the deftest of flicks. If you get the chance to see a video or cd of the game you'll be in for a treat and enjoy it.

 

Although Puskas gets all the credit, apparently Hidegkuti was the engineer of most of Hungarians plays from that time. Or at least that's what Inverting The Pyramid taught me

 

It was a team full of stars and they all played their part. They had a left sided player that was probably the fastest player of his day, if I had the programme to hand I could probably find a write up about him in it. His name began with a K but I can't quite place it at the moment. I'll look it up later.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1HDNHXpzXU

 

Hungary used to have a great sporting tradition that just seems to have died in the last thirty years or so. Can't help wondering why?

Anybody seen the film "Children of Glory"? About the Hungarian uprising of 1956 followed through their international water polo team. Features their two games against the Soviet Union including the infamous "Olympic blood bath game" at the Melbourne olympics which had to be abandoned due to violence (it took place at the same time that Russian tanks were mowing down Magyars in Budapest). The Russians being disqualified because they resorted to hitting their opponents when the Magyars were running rings round them. Great film and a very moving story.

 

Didn't see it but I'll look out for it now that I know what it's all about.

 

Apparently the yoof players coming through for the Hungarians are pretty decent. Hopefully we can have a repeat of the Mighty Magyars!

 

Anyone heard the story as to why they lost the World Cup Final?

Their semi-final went to penalties, so they missed the train back to their hotel. They didn't get back until about 3 in the morning. As a result, all the preparations/training etc. for the final were put off schedule, and so they were under prepared and fatigued and so lost the final.

I doubt the same would happen now...