Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics

The 1952 Olympic football tournament signalled the arrival (to Western Europeans at least) of the Hungarian national football team - the "Magical Magyars". Ferenc Puskás later said of the 1952 competition: "It was during the Olympics that our football first started to flow with real power."^[1] It was during the Games that Stanley Rous of English Football Association invited the Hungarians to play a friendly at Wembley the following year.

Background

By the time of the competition the Hungarians had been undefeated since May 14, 1950, but had been largely confined to the Eastern European Communist satellite states. The competition also saw the first mass entry from Eastern Europe; six nations from beyond the Iron Curtain were competing - the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Yugoslavia and Hungary. The Scandinavian countries - Finland, Sweden and Norway - were exempted in the Preliminary round.

Squads

The tournament

Preliminary round highlights

The preliminary round saw Hungary record a narrow victory against Romania, whilst there was an 8-0 victory for Italy against the United States, and a 5-1 victory for Brazil against The Netherlands. Great Britain succumbed to Luxembourg 5-3, whilst Egypt defeated Chile 5-4. Yugoslavia were drawn against the Indians, who decided to play without boots; Yugoslavia won 10-1.

First round highlights

The First round saw Scandinavian countries join the competition; the hosts Finland were beaten 3-4 by Austria, whilst Sweden defeated neighbours Norway 4-1. The game of the round was between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union; Yugoslavia had been 5-1 ahead with 30 minutes of the match to go, only for the Soviet captain Bobrov to score a hat-trick and inspire his team to an eventual 5-5 draw. A replay resulted in a 3-1 victory for Yugoslavia; the Soviet side had been expected by Moscow to win the 1952 Games, and their defeat by Yugoslavia was not mentioned in the Soviet press until after Stalin's death the following year.

Quarter finals

Sweden defeated Austria to ensure a Scandinavian presence in the semi-finals. Germany surprisingly beat Brazil 4-2 after extra time, whilst Yugoslavia won comfortably in a 5-3 defeat of Denmark. Hungary demolished Turkey 7-1 to complete the four semi-finalists.

Semi finals

In the first semi final, Hungary saw off Sweden with a comprehensive 6-0 victory, whilst Yugoslavia beat Germany 3-1 to set up a Hungary-Yugoslavia final.

Bronze Medal

There was some consolation for the Scandinavian countries as Sweden defeated Germany 2-0 in the third place play-off to secure the bronze medal.

Gold and Silver Medals

Two goals from Puskás and Zoltán Czibor saw Hungary beat Yugoslavia and take the gold medal.

Results

Preliminary round results

First round results

Quarter-finals results

Semi-finals results

Bronze Medal match result

Gold Medal match result

Bracket

Medalists

Goalscorers

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Own goal

• Gösta Lindh (Sweden, against Hungary)

References

1. ^ "Puskas on life and football".  

External links

• Olympic Football Tournament Helsinki 1952, FIFA.com
• RSSSF Archive

Football at the Summer Olympics Tournaments 1896 1900 1904 (1906) 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 men women 2000 men women 2004 men women 2008 men women 2012 men women 2016 men women Qualifications Men 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Women 2008 2012 2016 Squads Men 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Women 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 List of medalists Records men women List of venues