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Miracle of Bern: West Germany's 1954 World Cup Triumph

The Miracle of Bern is West Germany's 3-2 win over Hungary in the 1954 World Cup final at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern on 4 July 1954. Hungary, unbeaten in 31…

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GOLDEN TEAM

Hungary stop losing

After a defeat in Vienna on 14 May 1950, Hungary went 31 matches unbeaten and won Olympic gold in 1952.

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WEMBLEY

England 3, Hungary 6

Puskás, Kocsis, Hidegkuti, Czibor and Bozsik. They beat England 6-3 at Wembley, then 7-1 in Budapest.

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SWITZERLAND

The World Cup opens

Switzerland. Hungary were seeded favourites; West Germany, part-timers back in FIFA only since 1950, were unseeded.

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8-3

Hungary thrash West Germany

Yes, 8-3. Herberger rested his best players, and Puskás was injured by a Liebrich tackle.

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THE GAMBLE

7-2 against Turkey

With a fresh full-strength side, they beat Turkey 7-2 in a play-off. Herberger's gamble paid off.

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THE ROAD

2-0 Yugoslavia, 6-1 Austria

They beat Yugoslavia 2-0 and Austria 6-1. Hungary beat Brazil and Uruguay, both 4-2.

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BERN

Rain on the Wankdorf

Heavy rain all afternoon. West Germany had Adidas screw-in studs; Germans still call it Fritz Walter weather.

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2-0 DOWN

Puskás, then Czibor

Hungary 2-0 West Germany. It looked like another 8-3.

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2-2

Morlock, then Rahn

Max Morlock in the 10th minute and Helmut Rahn in the 18th, from a corner.

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THE SIEGE

Post, bar, line, Turek

Hidegkuti hit the post, Kocsis the bar, Kohlmeyer cleared off the line, and Turek saved again and again.

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RAHN SHOOTS

3-2 West Germany

Helmut Rahn, in the 84th minute, his second goal of the final.

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OFFSIDE

Puskás scores. Or does he?

The linesman said yes and the goal was ruled out. The film is still inconclusive, and Hungarians still dispute it.

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CHAMPIONS

West Germany 3, Hungary 2

West Germany. Hungary's 31-match unbeaten run was over, and Fritz Walter lifted the trophy.

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THE RADIO

Rahn schießt! Tor! Tor! Tor!

Mostly on the radio. Zimmermann's call of the winner is still the most famous in German broadcasting.

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72 YEARS ON

Hungary's 27 goals still a record

No team has matched Hungary's 27 goals, and after a 2026 exit to Paraguay, Germans still look back to Bern.

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