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FIFA World Cup 1954 (champions - West Germany)

The 1954 World Cup in Switzerland ended with the Miracle of Bern: West Germany came from 2-0 down inside eight minutes to beat Hungary 3-2 at the Wankdorf Stadium, Helmut Rahn scoring twice including the late winner, against a Hungary side that had beaten them 8-3 in the group stage and were the biggest final favourites in World Cup history.

Why this wins its question: The full minute chronology and the favourites context (including the group-stage 8-3) bound to FIFA's account of the Miracle of Bern.

Claims

Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.

  1. West Germany beat Hungary 3-2 in the 1954 final at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, attendance 62,500: Ferenc Puskas (6th) and Zoltan Czibor (8th) put Hungary 2-0 up, Max Morlock (10th) and Helmut Rahn (18th) levelled, and Rahn scored the winner in the 84th minute.

    confidence 0.95The Miracle of Bern - West Germany v Hungary, 1954 final (FIFA.com) · primary

  2. Hungary arrived as the most emphatic final favourites in World Cup history - first overseas team to beat England at Wembley, 7-1 winners over England a month before the tournament, and 8-3 winners over West Germany in the group stage - making the defeat the original World Cup miracle.

    confidence 0.94The Miracle of Bern - West Germany v Hungary, 1954 final (FIFA.com) · primary