In 1950s, there was a great soccer team : Magical Magyars or Hungary.
They were unbeaten for 32 international games (this record still stands til I write this). But ironically, their magical journey stopped in 1954 World Cup Final against (who else) West Germany in a battle that might be one of the biggest upsets and mirace in sport history.
Puskas
The chieftain of this Magical Magyar was Ferenc Puskas, one of best footballer ever, who just passed away on November 17, 2006.
Some of his career highlights :
1. WHAT a LEFT FOOT.
Scoring 357 goals from 354 apps in Kispest/Honved (his Hungarian club), 512 goals from 528 apps in Real Madrid, and 84 goals from 85 apps for his country.
2. HAMMERING ENGLAND
Stunned England 6-3 in Wembley for England’s first ever defeat in its own soil (1953), and 7-1 in Budapest (1954). He scored 4 goals.
3. BATTLE of BERNE
Probably the ugliest and most brutal soccer game ever played. It’s Hungary against Brasil in 1954 World Cup quarter-final. Hungary won 4-2.
4. MIRACLE of BERN
In preliminary group, Hungary easily defeated West Germany 8-3. So in the final, Hungary was the heavy favourite, entering the game with 32 undefeated record. In this magical final, the score was already 2-2 in the first 20 minutes. West German won 3-2, with Puskas’s goal in 86th minute disallowed.
“How that Hungary team didn’t win the 1954 World Cup is beyond me” (Alex Ferguson).