AFTER the administrative catastrophe of Brazil four years earlier, the Swiss FA put together a tournament that was every bit as impressive as its national clock and watch-making industry.

Everything was geared to very strict timetables, nothing was left to chance. What a wonderful setting it was too.

The ski slopes of the Alps, the chalets and houses scattered around the mountains covered in snow, all lit up in the early evening dusk, giving an impression of chocolate boxes that would have been more in keeping with a Disney fantasy fairytale.

The war memories were fading and politicians??? around the world saw the World Cup as a perfect platform to rebuild the bridges between countries which were shattered during the war years.

Hungary, with a wonderful pedigree in the run-up to the tournament, were favourites to win the trophy, and few people in England would argue with that after Hungary dismantled a strong England team 6-3 at Wembley the previous year.

However, Hungary lost the services of Ferenc Puskas in the opening group matches, the victim of one of the worst tackles in football history by West Germany's Werner Liebrich. Puskas was the architect of the Hungarian side, the midfield general who barked out his instructions on the pitch.

Hungary's medical team worked on his ankle night and day , trying to repair the damage. It was a very bad injury. Uruguay, by then twice winners of the World Cup, wanted it for a third time and showed their class by destroying Scotland 7-0 to reach the quarter final stages. That put Uruguay in against England and despite the humiliation of the Scots, England fancied their chances against the South Americans.

Indeed they could, and should have won, but defensive errors by goalkeeper Gil Merrick of Birmingham City, proved costly and England were back on the plane home after a 4-2 defeat.

It is, however, to this day, the quarter final match between Hungary and Brazil that is remembered as a brawl not a football match. It was dreadful.

With 20 minutes remaining Hungary led 3-2. Then it all went quite mad. Santos and Bozsik clashed in a fist fight and both got their marching orders. Hungary scored again to make it 4-2 and in the fighting that followed the goal, Tozzi of Brazil was also sent off.

The match was over on the pitch, but not off it. The fighting was not what FIFA wanted.

The Brazilians stormed the Hungarian dressing room, a riot ensued and Puskas, who was still injured and didn't play in the match, is alleged to have hit the Brazilian Pinheiro with a bottle that produced a head wound that required serious attention. Hungary then came up against Uruguay in the semi-finals and the world stood by waiting for a blood bath. It didn't turn out that way. Someone at FIFA had got to both teams, the warnings were heeded, and the world was treated to a classic.

Hungary, with wonderful skill went 2-0 up and looked certainties for the final. But Uruguay battled back in brilliant style and deservedly took the game to extra time. What a match it was now.

Supporters of both teams roared their players on while the rest of the world watched on their black and white television sets.

Kocsis, the very talented Hungarian, then took the match by the scuff of the neck, scored two great goals and "The Magical Magyars" were in the final.

In the other semi-final West Germany beat Austria 6-1 to set up a potentially great final.

And what a final it turned out to be as Hungary, in torrential rain, very quickly took a two-goal lead. Puskas had returned after his early injury but wasn't properly fit and the West Germans took advantage of the situation.

They clawed their way back to level matters up 2-2 at half time. The tension inside the stadium was at fever pitch.

Hungary went at West Germany with all guns blazing in the second-half. Czibor hit the post, Kocsis went agonizingly close and the German goal was peppered with shots, but Turek in goal was equal to anything that Hungary could offer.

Then, with six minutes left, West Germany struck on the break and right winger Rahn scored a brilliant goal. Grosics in the Hungarian goal had been little more than a second-half spectator, but he was beaten.

It was all over. West Germany, with a sensational fight-back, won the World Cup for the first time.

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