Socceroos - A World Cup Odyssey, Volumes 1 & 2

By John Maynard

Emeritus Professor of History, John Maynard, on the Socceroos journey through World Cup qualifying campaigns, with the two (print) volumes brought together in one e-book.

Volume 1 starts with the campaign to make the 1966 World Cup in England, which ended for Australia in Phnom-Penh in 1965; includes the first time Austra

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fair Play Publishing
• Release date: May 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9781925914863

John Maynard

Emeritus Professor John Maynard is a Worimi Aboriginal man from the Port Stephens region of New South Wales. He has held several major positions and served on numerous prominent organisations and committees including, Deputy Chairperson of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association. He was the recipient of the Aboriginal History (Australian National University) Stanner Fellowship in 1996, the New South Wales Premiers Indigenous History Fellow 2003, Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow 2004, University of Newcastle Researcher of the Year 2008 and 2012. In 2014 he was elected a member of the prestigious Australian Social Sciences Academy and in 2020 made a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. He gained his PhD in 2003, examining the rise of early Aboriginal political activism. He has worked with and within many Aboriginal communities, urban, rural, and remote. Professor Maynard's publications have concentrated on the intersections of Aboriginal political and social history, and the history of Australian race relations.

Book preview

Contents

Socceroos: A World Cup Odyssey, Volume 1

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD CUP 1930–1962

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1966 — England

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1970 — Mexico

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1974 — West Germany

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1978 — Argentina

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1982 — Spain

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1986 — Mexico

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1990 — Italy

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1994 — United States

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1998 — France

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 2002 — Japan and South Korea

References

About the Author

Socceroos: A World Cup Odyssey, Volume 2

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 2006 — Germany

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 2010 — South Africa

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 2014 — Brazil

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 2018 — Russia

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 2022 — Qatar

Postscript

References

About the Author

HalftitleTitle

First published in 2023 by Fair Play Publishing

PO Box 4101, Balgowlah Heights, NSW 2093, Australia

www.fairplaypublishing.com.au

ISBN: 978-1-925914-50-4 (Volume 1)

978-1-925914-51-1 (Volume 2)

ISBN: 978-1-925914-86-3 (ePub)

© Emeritus Professor John Maynard 2023

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher.

Cover design and typsetting by Leslie Priestley.

Photographs via Alamy, Andre Krueger, Fair Play Collection,

and John Maynard’s personal collection.

All inquiries should be made to the Publisher via [e-mail]

A catalogue record of this book is available from the National Library of Australia.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD CUP 1930–1962

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1966 — England

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1970 — Mexico

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1974 — West Germany

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1978 — Argentina

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1982 — Spain

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1986 — Mexico

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1990 — Italy

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1994 — United States

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1998 — France

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 2002 — Japan and South Korea

References

About the Author

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated

to the memory of the Boss Rale Rasic OAM.

On being asked a few years ago,

what the Socceroos meant to him he answered:

"Very easy question and I have a

simple answer: the Socceroos and the green

and gold jersey are my life."

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am so fortunate that I grew up in a suburb like Adamstown in Newcastle, an Australian soccer stronghold dating back to the late 19th century. I lived across the road from the Adamstown junior grounds, and in my young life several pitches with literally hundreds of kids playing the round ball game. School life in Adamstown was the same. There was only one football code played in that suburb; you never sighted a rugby goalpost.

I wish to thank the ‘boss’, the late Rale Rasic for agreeing to support and write the Foreword to this book. Rale kindly read and made comments and suggestions on the draft manuscript. I will be forever indebted in spending time and conversations with this wonderful man. Rale set the bar as a Socceroo coach carrying the passion, knowledge, and drive to take an Australian team to its first World Cup in 1974. But Rale also knew the importance of history, and in recognising the long journey of Australian teams on the world stage.

I have written this book in celebration of the hundreds of players that have pulled on a green and gold jersey in a World Cup match. The book is in recognition and celebration of them all.

I pay a special thank you to my publisher Bonita Mersiades and Fair Play Publishing for her support and expertise in seeing this book through to publication. Bonita is someone like me who carries a long love and passion for this great game, and I thank her for her ongoing support of not just my book, but the game itself.

I recognise that this book would not have been possible without many, many match reports gleaned from so many publications including the BBC, ABC, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, Guardian, the OzFootball website, and dozens and dozens of newspaper articles.

I take time to thank and acknowledge my beautiful wife Victoria for her love, support, encouragement and advice, and my children Courtney, Ganur, Kaiyu, Kirrin-Yurra and late daughter Candice who have all enriched my life.

FOREWORD

This book, the history of the Socceroos and the World Cup, is something that deserves attention.

John is a true

educator—unfortunately

we don’t have many authors and books of this nature. True football, you could say, is a most powerful weapon for the future. Football (or any sport that is beneficial) is of great

worth—there

are less problems, less kids on the street, less kids on drugs.

Positive and inspirational stories and history can assist this process and ensure social change for the better. My perception is everything is achievable, but don’t just dream. It starts with a dream but don’t dream too long. So that means: ‘Wake up baby, start doing!’

When I look back to 1974, Australia was not laughed

at—the

green and gold was respected. We had superb physical qualities. I still say if someone could encapsulate that 1974 team, we exceeded all expectations through desire, discipline, and pride. We had six different nationalities and an Aboriginal player. When I look back, it was all about pride and honour for our country. Whenever there is the question of education through football, the power of the mind should be respected more than anything. The mind is a funny thing; the mind can rule the world.

I cannot say anything but congratulate John on this

book—something

so powerful and so strong. The story of the Socceroos on the world stage is a magnificent story across so many decades and campaigns full of incredible joy and heartache. My sincere congratulations and hope that generations of Australians will benefit from this book.

Rale Rasic OAM

Coach of the 1974 Socceroos World Cup team

INTRODUCTION

Australia’s fixation on the rollercoaster ride of emotions with the football World Cup is unquestionably one of the country’s most exciting and enduring sporting chronicles. No other sport or group of athletes has witnessed the sheer magnitude of events that have unfolded around the ‘Socceroos’, as the Australian team became known during the 1974 World Cup qualification series. Since 1965, Australia’s national soccer team has played in war zones, been subjected to riots, rockets, bans, boycotts, terrorist threats, pandemics and even the spell of a witch doctor. They have travelled like no other Australian sporting team in history to some of the most remote and exotic locations on the planet, enduring blazing heat, humidity, rain, snow and freezing cold. The World Cup odyssey for the Socceroos is unmatched for excitement or global magnitude by any other Australian sporting endeavour.

The football World Cup is the world’s biggest sporting event. It is watched by billions of people across the

globe—many

millions more than the Olympic Games. It represents a four-year cycle for national teams to make the finals, encompassing nearly every country on the planet. Australian participation in the ‘world game’ has endured on the domestic scene since the late 19th century, battling xenophobia, corruption, media sabotage and blatant obstruction. My own passion for the Socceroos had its beginnings with the tours of Australia in 1966 and 1967 of high-class European and British teams: AS Roma and Manchester United. I had seen Northern NSW take on these brilliant teams, watching the likes of Georgie Best, Bobby Charlton, Fabio Cudicini and Victor Benitez sowing the seeds of my devotion to the game.

In 1969 I listened to all of Australia’s early qualifying games for the 1970 World Cup, broadcast by legendary ABC caller, Martin Royal. The final match of that qualifying series and the game that carried Australia’s hopes to make the Finals in Mexico was played at the old Sydney Sports Ground. My parents drove me down from Newcastle at the age of 13 to watch the match alongside a crowd of over 32,500. That 1–1 draw was one of the single greatest disappointments of my life in following the Socceroos. I was heartbroken at the final

whistle—this

brave and courageous team, who had been made by FIFA to circumnavigate the globe in a cruel program of matches, in the final analysis faced too big a hurdle to overcome.

Following this near miss in 1969 I watched Australian qualifying matches for the successful 1974 qualifying for the World Cup in Germany and many other subsequent World Cup campaigns that the green and gold have undertaken, including going to the World Cup Finals in South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018). This book is not just the history of Australian World Cup qualification, including games and players, but it additionally examines the (at times) panoramic social and political upheavals and intrigue of both world and football politics that have impacted the game and the Australian teams across those decades.

THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD CUP 1930–1962

The birth of the football World Cup is indebted to the drive of two Frenchmen: Jules Rimet, after whom it would later be named, and Henri Delaunay. The Federation Internationale des Football Association (FIFA) was formed in 1904 with the idea to hold a World Cup. These plans took some time to reach fruition, finally taking shape after the 1928 Olympic Games with a FIFA resolution to immediately host a World Cup. The Olympic Games soccer tournaments of 1924 and 1928 were won by a brilliant Uruguayan team, and they were one of five countries that bid to host the initial tournament alongside Italy, Holland, Spain, and Sweden. Uruguay, basking in the limelight of a superb team, had no hesitation in putting forward a bid that included covering the travel and accommodation costs of all teams taking part. On top of this, they would build a new stadium for the tournament. No other country could match such an extravagant gesture.

Following the success of the Uruguay bid nearly all the European competitors, including the other nations that bid to host the event, withdrew. British teams were not members of FIFA at the time and would not take part. Eventually after much political arm-wrestling, four European countries–France, Romania, Belgium, and Yugoslavia–relented and agreed to enter. These teams undertook an arduous three-week voyage to Montevideo to compete. They would be joined by Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, United States, and Paraguay.

Amazingly, Australia could have been a participant at this very first World Cup.¹ But hostile parties ensured those plans would come undone. There had already been resentment from both the rugby league and AFL fraternity over the potential of an Australian soccer team taking part in an Olympic Games soccer tournament. The Olympic tournament had evolved into the Olympic Games’ most sought-after team event. Now, a soccer World Cup saw a potential boom in the round ball code in Australia, where the game had been played competitively all the way back to the 1880s. A tournament with global appeal and interest was viewed by the other codes with great alarm. Additionally, Australia was constrained by the umbilical cord to ‘Mother England’ who continued to make decisions, either good or bad, on Australia’s behalf. In a huff over changes to what constituted amateur player status, the British Associations had withdrawn from FIFA in 1927. Australia, not yet a FIFA member, also had to withdraw through the British affiliation. What a missed opportunity!

Australia back then was only just beginning to establish an international soccer identity. We had some very good players at the time of the 1930 World Cup including goalkeeper Jim McNabb, strikers Bill ‘Podge’ Maunder and Alf Quill, Jim Wilkinson, and a classy player in Alec Cameron. An English coach had commented Cameron ‘would be a star in any country’. These players may well have made an impact in South America. International soccer history may have been completely different if an Australian team had competed successfully in 1930. It would be another 35 years before Australia had another opportunity to qualify for a World Cup.

1930 World Cup — Uruguay

Uruguay, backed by fanatical home support, justly won the first World Cup. They had been arguably the best team in the world for the previous eight years. Two Olympic gold medals and now a World Cup win cemented their place as the greatest team. The tournament was split into two groups with the top four teams progressing through to a semi-final round. Uruguay, Argentina, United States and Yugoslavia were the four teams to progress from the group stage. Argentina routed the United States 6–1 and Uruguay beat Yugoslavia by the same score. The two South American teams would fight it out in the final. Being in such close proximity ensured a large contingent of Argentine supporters sailed across the River Plate for the final.

The excitement and fever of the match demonstrated the high prestige placed on the game. Over 90,000 fans packed the stadium as mounted police and soldiers with fixed bayonets kept the crowd moving and under tight control. Argentinian star Luis Monti was threatened by gangsters from his own country not to lose the match. Uruguayan gangsters also made similar threats to the unfortunate player not to win the match. Argentina’s team contained players of great skill and flair whilst the Uruguayans were very much a team unit. Uruguay opened the scoring but could not contain a bubbling Argentinian attack that by halftime had given the Albiceleste a 2–1 lead. The second half was a complete contrast to the first and Uruguay, backed by the crowd, surged back to equalise, and score two more goals for a 4–2 victory. The victory set off mob violence in Buenos Aires where groups hurled stones at the Uruguayan Embassy and set fires throughout the city. The World Cup had duly arrived.

1934 World Cup — Italy

Italy made the successful bid to host the World Cup of 1934. This was very much tied to the politics of the time and seen as a propaganda opportunity by dictator Benito Mussolini and his fascist government. Sporting a sailing cap, Il Duce himself attended matches in Rome. Despite the European and global political unease, Italy was a good choice to host the World Cup. The Italians loved football, had great stadiums and facilities, and a very good team. There were some high-profile absentees, namely again the British and Commonwealth contingent, and world champions Uruguay who were still miffed at the European boycott four years before and declined to attend and defend their title.

FIFA abandoned the tournament group qualifying format and converted to a straight knockout competition. It was unquestionably a much stronger tournament and included most of the best international teams of the period, including the so-called Austrian ‘Wunderteam’. The Italians opened in sensational style, annihilating the United States 7–1. Both South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil were eliminated in the first round after travelling over 8,000 miles. Italy would beat Spain 1–0 in a replay after drawing the first match 1–1 in the second stage. The Austrians defeated Hungary in a rough match 2–1 to reach the semi-finals.

It was unfortunate that the two best teams, Italy, and Austria, were drawn to play each other in the semi-final. The Austrians had beaten Italy soundly 4–2 in Turin only months before the tournament. A reputed statement by Mussolini to the Italian players before the game may have lifted their intensity with his threat of ‘win or die’! Whether this was true or not, the Italians did play the game with a frantic desperation. The result was a 1–0 victory to the hosts who appeared the fitter and livelier team on the day. Czechoslovakia defeated Germany 3–1 in the other semi-final.

The final was a very tight match between two very experienced and cagey teams. Czechoslovakia scored the first goal after 71 minutes and by all accounts should have won the game, squandering three great chances. Against the run of play, Italy equalised after 81 minutes through striker Orsi. The Italians finally claimed the championship in the 5th minute of extra time through centre forward Schiavio who drove the ball home. A beaming Mussolini presented the trophy to captain Combi and Italian coach Pozzo was rightly feted as a tactical genius.

1938 World Cup — France

If there were any doubts pertaining to Italy’s right to the tag of world champions, they were dismissed in 1938. In a world teetering on the abyss of a cataclysmic global war, the Italians triumphed again. Hitler had greedily swallowed up Austria with the Anschluss and the world seemed to be a time bomb waiting to go off. Spain, in a curtain-raiser to World War II, was embroiled in a divisive civil war and would sadly not be a participant at the 1938 World Cup. Global politics was matched by continued football infighting. Uruguay again refused to compete. Argentina also withdrew because France had been awarded the tournament over their bid. The Argentinian Football Federation’s decision not to attend resulted in a riot by Argentine fans that police had to stamp out. Italy was fortunate to overcome Norway in the first round whilst Brazil defeated Poland 6–5 in an epic encounter. The Brazilians unearthed a world-class striker in Leonidas who scored four goals in the match. In wet muddy conditions, Leonidas at one point had taken off his boots and proceeded to play barefooted but was made to put his boots back on by the referee. Not to be outdone, Polish forward Wilimowski also scored four in the match. Switzerland defeated Germany 4–2 in a replay. The German team were subjected to hostile crowd behaviour who tore down swastikas and hurled bottles at the German team bus. Hungary, France, and Czechoslovakia were the other impressive first-round winners.

Italy overcame the hosts France 3–1 in the second round; Brazil ousted Czechoslovakia 2–1 in a replay after they had drawn the first game 1–1. Leonidas, again the hero, scored two of the Brazilian goals. Sweden destroyed an outclassed Cuba 8–0 and Hungary were 2–0 victors over Switzerland.

In an amazing decision, Brazil were so cocky and confident of victory over Italy in their semi-final that they decided to rest the star of the tournament, Leonidas, and save him for the final. The decision backfired as Italy won the match 2–1. Hungary destroyed Sweden 5–1 in their semi-final match. Brazil defeated Sweden 4–2 in the match for third and fourth place. Leonidas scored another two goals to make him the tournament’s leading scorer, with eight goals. The Italians deservedly beat Hungary 4–2 in the final to retain the World Cup. It would be another 12 years before their tenure as champions would be challenged, as World War II loomed on the horizon.

1950 World Cup — Brazil

Brazil had originally been awarded the right to host the World Cup of 1942, but the eruption of World War II had destroyed that opportunity. Europe, now in ruins in the wake of the war, opened the door for Brazil to again take up the option for the 1950 tournament. Despite qualification, South American countries Argentina, Peru and Ecuador withdrew, followed by India reputedly because they were informed that their players would have to wear boots. None of the Eastern European countries entered the tournament and Germany were barred. The mythic superiority of British football would finally be tested and found wanting at World Cup level.

England qualified as champions of the 1949–50 British Home Championship. Scotland also qualified by finishing second but were miffed on being runners-up to England and declined to go to Brazil. The Italians, having won the previous two World Cups, suffered a major blow when Torino, the best team in Italy for five successive seasons, had all its team members killed in a plane crash in 1949.

FIFA had decreed that the 1950 World Cup Final series would revert from a knockout competition to a pool of four groups with the winners of each group progressing to a final group stage, and the team subsequently on top of the ladder the eventual world champions. Brazil had fallen under the spell of football from its introduction in 1894. By 1950 it had taken on a near-religious devotion right across the country. If gifted with the ball at your feet, playing provided a way out of the slums for the poor. Black players in Brazil had long been afforded access to the game and their power, agility and flair for the sport made them naturals. Brazil built a massive new stadium, the Maracanã, specifically for the World Cup with a seating capacity of 200,000 fans. Imagine a stadium in 1950 with a capacity twice that of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Stadium! The opening of the tournament at the new stadium witnessed a massive traffic jam in Rio de Janeiro and the ceremony included a 21-gun salute for the Brazilian team. It was followed by skyrockets, balloons, the release of 5000 pigeons, and thousands of leaflets dropped from a plane.

Brazil justly opened in style, trouncing Mexico 4–0. Yugoslavia would finish second in Group 1 above Switzerland and Mexico. The much-anticipated English World Cup debut began well enough with a 2–0 victory over Chile. But nothing could have predicted their second match: in one of the World Cup’s greatest upsets, the United States beat England 1–0. Spain would also defeat England in their third match 1–0 to top Group 2 and eliminate England. World champions Italy were beaten 3–2 by Olympic champions Sweden, who topped Group 3. Uruguay was given a saloon passage in Group 4 with only Bolivia to beat, which they duly did in an 8–0 rout.

The final group comprised Brazil, Uruguay, Sweden, and Spain. In the opening game of the final series, Uruguay and Sweden drew 2–2 whilst Brazil demolished Sweden 7–1 in a display of awesome power with striker Ademir scoring four goals. Brazil would follow this with an emphatic 6–1 victory over Spain, whilst Uruguay struggled to overcome a resilient Sweden 3–2.

After two rounds, Brazil was undefeated with maximum points and a huge goal difference advantage. They seemed assured of lifting the trophy after their final match against Uruguay. Brazil only needed to draw the final match to be crowned world champions. But in the World Cup, as so often happens, things just do not run to the script. Before a massive and parochial home crowd, Brazil would go down 2–1 to Uruguay in what would be forever remembered as a day of shame for the country. Brazil attacked in wave after wave of assaults on the Uruguayan defence from the start of the game. On several occasions, only last-minute desperate lunges or goalkeeping saves kept Uruguay in the match. A resolute Uruguayan defence was finally breached two minutes into the second half. A passing exchange between three players allowed Friaca the space to score. Most assumed that this would open the scoring floodgates, but Uruguay continued to fight for every ball. In surviving and frustrating Brazil, the Uruguayans grew in confidence, and they drew level when Schiaffino latched onto a ball, giving Barbosa in the Brazilian goal no chance. In the 74th minute, Perez played a ball through to Ghiggia to sweep the ball past Barbosa to give Uruguay the lead and silence a massive stadium. Brazil surged forward in constant attack but could not breach the Uruguayan defence. Uruguay were crowned world champions for a second time.

1954 World Cup — Switzerland

The 1954 World Cup is remembered for producing one of the all-time great national teams in Hungary. In Ferenc Puskas, the ‘Mighty Magyars’ possessed a sublime attacking player with a ferocious shot. He is duly recognised as one of the truly all-time great players. Puskas was ably supported by other brilliant players including Koksis, Czibor, Hidegkuti, Bozsik, Lorant, and Grosics. Sadly, the tournament is also remembered for this great team falling at the final hurdle and not winning the Cup they justly deserved.

Switzerland, having survived World War II as a neutral country, were in better shape than most to host the tournament. After the debacle of 1950, common sense prevailed with FIFA stipulating that after an opening group stage there would then be a knockout quarter-final, semi-final, and final format to find a winner. Hungary had been the winners of the 1952 Olympic Games soccer final and were unbeaten in six years going into the tournament. Their wins included stunning victories over England 6–3 at Wembley and 7–1 in Budapest. This super team would go into the World Cup tournament as the hot favourites to lift the trophy. The ‘Cold War’ phase of global politics had now set in, and a divided Germany was now back as a contender through West Germany. Uruguay made the trip to defend their title. Scotland and England were the representatives for the British Isles. But British teams no longer commanded unsustainably lofty and mythical status. That myth had been firmly demolished by Hungarian victories over England. The English team still contained some useful players in Finney, Wright, Lofthouse and the ageless wing wonder Stanley Mathews at 39 years of age. Brazil arrived looking well on the way to forming the nucleus of a great team with Nilton and Djalma Santos as their two excellent fullbacks and a wonderful midfielder in Didi.

The World Cup kicked off and saw Yugoslavia and Brazil progress from Group 1. The Hungarians in Group 2 opened with a 9–0 victory over Korea and walloped West Germany 8–3 playing with only ten men for an hour of the match. The victory over Germany may well have decided the fate of the World Cup, as Puskas was cruelly tackled and would be sidelined for the remainder of the tournament until the final. The Germans qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating Turkey in a play-off match. Television had also taken an interest in the World Cup and matches were broadcast to Britain. Uruguay and Austria topped Group 3, including a game in which Uruguay slammed Scotland 7–0. England and Switzerland ended up qualifying in Group 4. The English, despite the efforts of Mathews, drew with Belgium 4–4 and then progressed after downing the hosts 2–0.

The quarter-finals proved eventful to say the least, and one game between Hungary and Brazil, the famous ‘Battle of Berne’, is remembered as notorious. West Germany defeated Yugoslavia 2–0, and Austria downed the hosts Switzerland 7–5 in a goal-scoring epic. World champions Uruguay deservedly defeated England 4–2. But it was the match between Hungary and Brazil that is remembered for its brutality rather than football. Despite having Puskas out injured, the Hungarians won the match 4–2. Three players were sent off. English referee Arthur Ellis was lauded as the hero in managing to see the game to its conclusion. An all-in brawl erupted between the teams after the game when the Brazilian players stormed into the Hungarian dressing room. The on-field violence paled into insignificance compared to what erupted as warfare in the dressing room, with bottles and boots used as weapons; the match and its aftermath forever recalled with infamy.

The Hungary and Uruguay semi-final match produced a classic between two top-class teams. Hungary was still without their major strike weapon in Puskas but triumphed 4–2 after extra time. Uruguay were magnificent in defeat and duly recognised by Hungarian manager Mandi who hailed them ‘the best team we have ever met’. It was the first defeat for Uruguay in a World Cup match in 24 years. In the other semi-final, West Germany unexpectedly triumphed over Austria 6–1. The big interest looming for the final to come between Hungary and West Germany was whether the Hungarians would risk fielding the world’s best player, Puskas, seeing as he had taken no part in a game since his injury in their first-round game against the Germans.

Many later argued that the decision by the Hungarians to play Puskas was the wrong decision. The match was played in torrential rain, and all seemed to be going to plan for the marvellous Magyars; after only eight minutes they were two up. The risk in playing Puskas seemed justified after his lethal left foot hammered home the first goal. A mistimed back pass gifted the second goal to Czibor. Only three minutes later the Germans struck back to make it 2–1 with Morlock jabbing the ball home. The Hungarians were not the well-oiled machine of the previous six years, and it was plain to all that Puskas was hampered by his ankle injury. After just 16 minutes, a German corner fell to the feet of Rahn who thundered the ball home.

The second half was noteworthy for the several chances Hungary failed to convert. Against the run of play, a German break down the left wing saw Schaefer cross the ball over into a crowded goalmouth that fell to the foot of Rahn, who smashed it home to put the Germans 3–2 in front. There was still more excitement and controversy to

come—despite

his limitations, Puskas raced onto a magnificent through ball to slot it home nonchalantly, only to be waved offside. The offside decision is still debated to this day, and many felt Puskas was onside. The Germans won and were remarkably awarded as world champions over a team recognised by all as possibly the greatest ever international team. Accusations of skulduggery have lingered with allegations of doping being levelled at the German team. One attendant later claimed to have found syringes in the dressing room. It was a sad end for the great Hungarian team which would completely disintegrate after the 1956 uprising in the country that was brutally smashed by the Soviet Union. Their three biggest stars, Puskas, Kocsis and Czibor, headed to Spain and contracts with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

1958 World Cup — Sweden

The 1958 World Cup in Sweden would produce an outstanding team and witness the arrival of Pelé as a footballing God. The Brazilian team of 1958 would be responsible for establishing a brand of attacking ‘samba’-like football that would be the hallmark of Brazilian football ever since. It was revolutionary.

The hosts Sweden had finally relented to allow professional football to be introduced to the country and this decision was responsible for bringing many of their star players home from Italy. The Soviet Union would be making their first appearance and the team included legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin. All four British teams: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland would take part. The English were disadvantaged as some of their greatest players had perished on the tarmac at Munich after the plane carrying Manchester United crashed on the runway in early 1958. Among those killed were England fullback and captain Roger Byrne, striker Tommy Taylor and the incredibly gifted halfback, 21-year-old Duncan Edwards. France would be a surprise packet with two world-class forwards in Real Madrid’s Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine. West Germany, the reigning world champion team, had lost most of its championship players through jaundice in the intervening World Cup years, which had sharpened the claims that they were drug-assisted in 1954.

England opened with a 2–2 draw against the Soviet Union; whilst Brazil, the favourites for the tournament, overcame Austria 3–0. Hosts Sweden were impressive 3–0 victors over Mexico. Northern Ireland downed Czechoslovakia 1–0. Reigning champions West Germany defeated Argentina 3–1. The French were very impressive defeating Paraguay 7–3 with goal machine Fontaine bagging three.

In their second match, England played a commendable 0–0 draw with Brazil after employing a double centre half formation and with very tight marking of Didi in the middle of the park. Brazil still had not unleashed the astonishing duo of Pelé and Garrincha at this point of the tournament. They did in their third match against the Soviet Union, and the 2–0 scoreline did not do justice to their dominating display. In fact, a player delegation led by Djalma Santos to coach Feola had demanded Garrincha’s inclusion on the team sheet. The bandy wing wonder did not disappoint. He had the Soviet Union fullback Kuznetsov completely bamboozled and twisted in knots trying to unravel his swerving, twisting runs. At one point late in the game, the Soviet Union team resorted to a mass defensive focus on Garrincha alone as he was surrounded by five players. But the marvel shimmied his way in and out of all of them to the crowd’s utter delight.

Meanwhile, England were unbeaten following a draw 2–2 with Austria but were then knocked out by the Soviet Union 1–0. France and Yugoslavia were through to the quarter-finals from Group 2. Sweden were impressive as hosts and the top team in Group 3, and the Welsh overcame Hungary 2–1 in the play-off match to progress to the next stage.

The quarter-finals produced results that ran to the expected script. France demolished the brave Irish 4–0 with Fontaine again bagging two goals. Champions West Germany downed Yugoslavia 1–0 and Sweden were too good for the Soviet Union, 2–0. Brazil had to overcome a resolute Welsh team 1–0 in their toughest match. Pelé scored the winner, and he later reflected that it was the most crucial goal of his entire international career.

The semi-final match between Sweden and West Germany erupted in arguments between officials before the game even kicked

off—issues

over seating and the bias and incitement of the Swedish crowd by cheerleaders. The crowd revved up to fever pitch, bringing back memories of Viking hordes as they thundered constantly with roars of heja, heja, heja. Labelled as the slowest team in the competition, Sweden proved too strong for the Germans.

Brazil overcame France 5–2 with the incredible Pelé scoring a second half hat-trick in the other semi-final. The French demolished West Germany 6–3 in the third-place play-off match with Just Fontaine bagging four goals to give him 13 for the

tournament—a

record that stands to this day.

The final was played in gloomy, wet and overcast conditions, yet greatly brightened by a brilliant Brazilian team. The Swedes took the lead through Liedholm, but the home crowd’s joy was short-lived as Garrincha began to terrorise the Swedish defence down the flank. He set up Vava twice from electrifying runs to give Brazil the lead. Ten minutes into the second half, 17-year-old Pelé scored one of the truly great World Cup goals. In a packed Swedish goalmouth, he caught the ball on his chest, let it fall to his thigh before bouncing it up and over his head, leaving the Swedish defender at his back dead. He caught the ball on the volley and smashed it into the Swedish goal 3–1.

The Brazilians were now an orchestra in full chorus. Zagalo went past two Swedish defenders to score the fourth before Sweden scored a second consolation goal. Then Pelé rose like a coiled cobra from its basket to power home a fifth goal for Brazil. The Brazilian supporters were chanting samba, samba, samba leading up to the final whistle that finally proclaimed them as world champions. Overcome with emotion, the players wept with joy and completed two laps of the stadium first holding the Brazilian and then the Swedish flag. They had become the global ambassadors of jogo bonito, the beautiful game.

1962 World Cup — Chile

The World Cup was surprisingly but justly awarded to Chile to host the 1962 tournament. Chile had suffered a catastrophic earthquake in 1960 that measured 9.5 on the Richter scale and over 50,000 lost their lives. In the wake of this tragedy, Chilean Football Federation president Carlos Dittborn famously made this plea to FIFA: We must have the World Cup because we have nothing!’

Chile built a magnificent new stadium in the capitol Santiago, and other games would be hosted by the sea at Vina del Mar, Rancagua and in the back blocks of Arica, close to Peru. This was expected to be the World Cup of Pelé, but fate would deny the now 21-year-old greatest player on the planet of making his expected impact. There were critics citing ticket rorting, corruption, and complaining about the facilities. But as Brian Granville stressed, the country was a complex contradiction in so many ways, ‘at once squalid and sophisticated, backward yet

subtle …’

There would again be no Australian participation due to the fact that Australia was banned from playing international football at the time. This decision followed complaints from international clubs that their players were being poached to play in Australia and no transfer fees were paid to the clubs. Dozens of Austrian and Dutch players headed to Australia and FIFA stepped in and banned Australia from playing any international football. The ban was a great disappointment to a young skilful Aboriginal winger, John Moriarty, who had been selected in an Australian team tour of Asia. Moriarty would go down in history as the first Aboriginal player selected to represent his country, but sadly with the implementation of the ban the tour was cancelled and Moriarty’s chance to take the field in the green and gold was over.

The World Cup tournament held in 1962 was at the height of the Cold War and the year was also significant with the world standing on the brink of obliteration due to the Cuban Missile Crisis and the stand-off between Kennedy and Khrushchev. The opening match witnessed much fanfare with speeches from the Chilean President, FIFA president and the president of the Chilean Football Federation. Chile opened in style much to the delight of a crowd of over 65,000 by downing Switzerland 3–1. The tournament was notable for several significant matches and events. The Chile v Italy match deserves to rank alongside the 1954 ‘Battle of Berne’ for violence, mayhem, and provocation. Two Italian players were sent off, another suffered a broken nose and there was a flood of spitting in the face of opposition players. English referee Ken Ashton would later state the players and match were uncontrollable. Even with nine men, the Italians held out until ten minutes from the end before conceding a headed goal from Ramirez, and then Toro added a

second—a

minute from the final whistle.

Meanwhile, the world’s best player Pelé had hobbled from the field after the 0–0 draw with Czechoslovakia and was out of the World Cup. But with the King departing, Brazil had another player of royal status waiting to take up the crown and seal. The ‘Little Bird’ Garrincha was ready to take flight and dominate the World Cup like no other player until Diego Maradona’s 1986 performance in Mexico.

In the quarter-finals, Brazil downed England 3–1, but it is best remembered as Garrincha’s game. He scored Brazil’s first goal after 34 minutes, heading a corner kick. Garrincha terrorised the English fullback Ray Wilson in a remarkable display. England did draw level after 38 minutes when a header from Jimmy Greaves came back off the crossbar for Gerry Hitchens to score. Five minutes into the second half a strongly hit Garrincha free kick bounced off the chest of English goalkeeper Ron Springett to the foot of Vava for him to easily convert. Only five minutes later, Garrincha took another swerving, powerful free kick that tore into the top right corner of the net. England were not disgraced in this match, but Garrincha was a player on another level altogether.

Yugoslavia overcame West Germany 1–0 in their quarter-final. The hosts Chile gained a result that delighted their supporters, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1. In gaining a place in the semi-final, Chile had exceeded all the expectations of their fans and the football world. Czechoslovakia somehow managed to defeat Hungary in the remaining quarter-final. The Hungarians dominated the game and deserved to win but they were a team without luck, and they also struck a goalkeeper in Schroiff who was brilliant.

The semi-finals pitted Brazil against hosts Chile, and Yugoslavia to face Czechoslovakia. Even without Pelé, the World Cup of 1962 was largely a formality as Brazil were a class above the other teams they would face.

Czechoslovakia defended in numbers in their semi-final. They slowed the game down and attempted to catch Yugoslavia on the break. The first goal came just after halftime when Yugoslavian defender Popovic turned the ball over on the left, and from the cross Kadraba’s bullet shot rebounded to the striker who headed home. Yugoslavia equalised 20 minutes later when the giant forward Jerkovic headed home past Schroiff who was left in no man’s land from a high ball lobbed forward. Yugoslavia now looked the certain winner and pushed forward in waves. Yet the Czechs, biding their time and riding more than their share of luck, suddenly broke from a failed Yugoslavian attack and Czech captain Ladislav Noval split the Yugoslavian defence with a dissecting pass that found Kadraba in space. When faced with the only challenge, he slipped the ball to the side and Scherer guided the ball past the keeper to put the Czechs in front again. The game was handed to the Czechs when, under no pressure, Yugoslavian defender Markovic blatantly handled the ball. Scherer tucked the penalty away that saw the Czechs through to their second World Cup Final.

The Brazil v Chile semi-final can best be summed up as ‘the Garrincha show’. The ‘Little Bird’ was simply unstoppable, and he dominated the game. After only nine minutes, Zagallo drove a cross into the Chilean penalty area and an outrageous attempted overhead kick by Amarildo saw the ball miscue off a defender and fall to the foot of Garrincha some 20 yards out. The world’s greatest winger deftly flicked the ball to the left and sent in a screaming drive into the top corner of the net.

Garrincha should have been awarded a penalty soon after when his swerve left his defender cold, and the Chilean nearly pulled the Brazilian’s shirt off, but received no sanction from the referee. Shortly after, Garrincha timed his run to perfection to meet a corner kick and send the ball crashing into the Chilean net. Garrincha was not a tall man but his incredible capacity to spring into the air and his timing of runs to meet the ball in the air were things to behold. Many years later, Tim Cahill perfected a similar ability. Chile, to their credit, did not surrender without a fight. Brazil gave away a free kick and Toro gave Gilmar in the Brazilian goal no chance with a powerful, swerving shot. Chile would go in at halftime down 2–1 but were still in with a chance. However, the game was resolved only two minutes after the restart when Vava met Garrincha’s dropping corner kick with his head. Escutti could only get a hand to it but not stop its path into the net.

The Chileans continued to press forward and the intensity of their tackles on their Brazilian opponents increased. A good exchange of passes between Sanchez and Ramirez saw Sanchez hit a first-time shot that struck Zozima’s outstretched arm. The referee pointed to the spot and Sanchez converted. Garrincha was by now receiving special attention from the Chilean defenders who felt the best method of halting his progress was through numbers and brutality. Three times the brilliant wing raider was hacked down by Rojas. Brazil was for once a little rattled by the treatment on the pitch and the intensity of the Chilean support.

The Brazilians’ fourth goal probably came at a good time for them. Zagallo found himself in space on the left after a patient build-up and his dipping cross found Vava darting between two defenders to head home past Escutti from close range. Chile now knew the game was over, but decided they would at least win the fight and proceeded to maim the Brazilian players at every opportunity. Landa was sent off after a crude assault upon Zito. Garrincha reacted to another savage tackle from behind by Rojas by felling the assailant and found himself also heading up the tunnel. Garrincha, the tournament’s greatest star, found himself subjected to a barrage of abuse and missiles from the crowd and Sanchez, who spat over the Brazilian star.

It appeared at this point that Brazil would now face Czechoslovakia in the final without the world’s two greatest players in Pelé and Garrincha. But following their victory, two days of intense negotiation (including diplomatic intervention) saw Garrincha’s sending off rescinded and he was free to take his place in the final. This seems incredible today, and to their credit the Czechs did not complain against this decision. The third-place final saw home side Chile, with the backing of a delirious crowd, beat a jaded Yugoslavia just going through the motions 1–0.

The final itself was memorable in that possibly Czechoslovakia’s player of the tournament, goalkeeper Viliam Schroif, made two howlers and let in two soft Brazilian goals. The game began against the expected script with the Czechs taking the lead. After only 14 minutes a brilliant combination move between Scherer and Masopust split the Brazilian backline and Masopust was through to calmly stroke the ball past Gilmar. Brazil responded almost immediately with an equalizer conjured by Amarildo only two minutes later. The second half saw the Czechs withdraw into their defensive shield that had proven so successful in the quarter and semi-finals, relying on sudden counterattacks. Brazil shook from their slumber as Amarildo twisted past his defender on the left and sent in a perfect cross to the far post for Zito to head into the empty net.

Thirteen minutes from time, the game was sealed when Brazilian fullback Djalma Santos put his boot to the ball from deep in his own half to send it high into the air with the sun behind it. Schroiff, clearly blinded, held up his hands as if groping for something, caught it but then dropped it straight at the feet of Vava to score. Brazil 3, Czechoslovakia 1. Brazil had retained the World Cup without the flair of 1958 and thanks largely to the one-man show of Garrincha.

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION AND FINALS 1966–ENGLAND

1965 — A Year of Turmoil

At the midpoint of the turbulent 1960s, both Australia and the Western world realised that the economic boom following the end of World War II was unravelling and issues both at home and abroad showcased disquiet, unease, and outright objection. The twin voices of decolonisation and self-determination echoed across the globe. Against the backdrop of the enormously divisive War in Vietnam and a country still embedded within the fabric of the still functioning ‘White Australia’ policy, Australia’s soccer team would be drawn into football combat with teams from Asia to qualify for the 1966 World Cup Finals to be held in England. It was the very concept of Anglo superiority and strength that lay at the heart of a poorly organised and equipped lead-up to the qualifying games by the Australian team.

The FIFA-imposed ban of Australia playing internationally was lifted in 1963. This followed an Australian negotiating team headed by Victorian Theo Marmaras paying out some $37,000 in transfer fees and compensation to affected international clubs hit by the Australian poaching player scandal. Following the fees being paid, FIFA reinstated Australia to the international fold in July 1963. One significant outcome of this period was the formation of the Australian Soccer Federation (now known as Football Australia) that took charge of the game from 1961.

Following their reinstatement into the international football community, the Australian Soccer Federation wasted no time in organising several visiting international club teams to Australia including Everton, Chelsea, and Torpedo Moscow. The games against Chelsea resulted in two draws, 2–2 and 1–1. There were calls that it was a second-string Chelsea XI that manager Tommy Docherty brought to Australia. But when one looks at the quality of those young players, including Osgood, Hinton, Harris, McCalliog, Houseman, Graham and Shelito, it is clear these players would be real stars of the English game over the next decade.

The real focus, however, was the possibility that Australia could take part in the qualifying rounds for the 1966 World Cup Finals in England. Initially the Southern Zone (as it was called) looked to stage a round of qualifying games to find the winner to get to the England World Cup Finals. The Zone included 15 countries from the African Federation. But global politics would have an impact, with a team from South Africa wishing to take part. South Africa was given a special entry into the same group as Australia, South Korea, and North Korea because the other African countries would not play against them. But then FIFA, bowing to global political pressure, suspended the South Africans from the tournament because of their apartheid policies. The 15 African nations then withdrew, upset because they were not guaranteed their own spot in the

finals—the

Southern Zone quickly descended into a qualifying farce.

The process of trying to organise a qualifying tournament between the only three countries left (South and North Korea and Australia) delivered FIFA a headache that would endure for several months. In early January of 1965, the tournament was announced to be held in Australia. But this decision was quickly challenged by both Korean nations that it favoured the Australian team. Only a week later, it appeared that there would be a qualifying game between Australia and South Korea to be played in London, with no mention of the North Koreans. A month later, it was further announced that Hong Kong had been selected as the location to host the tournament between North Korea, South Korea, and Australia. A previous attempt to hold such a tournament in Malaysia had been rejected by both the President of Malaysia and the president of the Malaysian Football Association Tunku Abdul Rahman because visas would not be granted to players from a communist country.

The dispute raged on until the end of February; this time it was Australia raising objections on the grounds that South Korea had recently won the Asian Cup staged in Hong Kong, defeating a highly rated Israeli team in the final. As such, South Korea had an unfair experience of the Hong Kong grounds, crowds and weather. Further disarray occurred when it was announced that Hong Kong would not grant North Korean players visas to take part. Nothing was resolved and the tournament was again delayed.

In July it was announced by FIFA that a location had been selected and that a qualifying tournament would be staged in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Two weeks later and adding to the roller-coaster ride of trying to organise a tournament, FIFA announced that it was waiting for notification that South Korea would take part at all. Adding to the drama, South Korea eventually withdrew. It was a politically motivated decision of not wishing to play against their communist neighbours and adversary in the Korean War of 1950–1953.

Finally, in mid-October after several months of delays, objections and visa refusals, the secretary of the Australian Soccer Federation Ian McAndrew confirmed that Australia would meet North Korea in Phnom Penh in November for the final spot in the 1966 World Cup Finals in England. The Australians wasted no time in selecting a squad of 20 players who would immediately go into a four-week camp in Cairns to acclimatise to the expected humid Asian conditions they would face in Cambodia. The team would be coached by Tiko Jelisovic with Jim Bayutti as manager. Bayutti for his part was quietly confident that despite the expected 90-degree heat and extremely high humidity, ‘Australia will do well.’ He added that qualification to the World Cup Finals in England would ‘be a shot in the arm for Australian soccer’. He was adamant that coach Jelisovic would have the Australian team as the fittest to ever play for Australia.

It has long been assumed that Australia went into the qualifying games against North Korea in Cambodia completely blind of the Koreans’ ability. But a month before the tournament, journalist Les Channing, with long experience in Asia and following the game, delivered some prophetic advice: ‘Frankly speaking, something more than mere speed and stamina will be required to defeat the North Koreans. The North Koreans have a good knowledge of modern football techniques. Their play is a combination of speed, stamina, strength, superb ball control on the ground and in the air. Tigerish first-time tackling, crisp shooting, and excellent teamwork.’

It appears that no one noticed or heeded Channing’s advice or warning. Up in Cairns, the Australian team preparing for the games to come seemed relaxed and at ease. They played two games; one against a North Queensland select team and the other opposing a local team from Ingham. Both games were won with ease and by big margins. The team was staying at the local YMCA and the players were compensated for time away from work by being paid the ‘handsome’ sum of $5 a day! They would train three times a day every day for a month. Johnny Warren was a young player in the squad and reflected many years later that he and his team-mates had no idea of North Korea and were very confident of beating the opposition and making the World Cup Finals in England. There may have been an elevated confidence in the players as Warren recalled that the players were ‘talking about what they were going to do after the World Cup in England, where they would holiday, what they would go and see in Europe. Everyone seemed to think it was a mere formality to go and beat the North Koreans.’

Suspense and rumour were still running rampant in the weeks leading up to the qualifying games. One report in early November hinted that North Korea was unlikely to even turn up for the matches. The reports from Europe highlighted another threat on the horizon. A proposal was forwarded to FIFA that the nine teams who had finished runners-up in the European qualifiers should go into a draw to play-off against the winner of the Australia versus North Korean game. Les Channing again wrote an insightful article with crystal ball-like accuracy, stating ‘that both Australia and North Korea deserved their place and could put up a good performance in the finals’ (and he was to be vindicated by North Korea).

Australia at last set off to Cambodia and had a one-day stopover in Thailand on the way. The short stop in Bangkok allowed the team the opportunity to experience similar weather conditions to those they would face in Cambodia. They held a training session on the Bangkok Military College soccer field, and they played a short inter-squad game. Captain Les Scheinflug was still carrying an injured ankle from their time in Cairns and did not take part in the game. The squad later attended a popular Thai kickboxing tournament.

On arrival in Cambodia, the Australian team were subjected to the real conditions they would face. They had a team training run in 90-degree heat and oven-like humidity. Johnny Warren stated that arriving in Phnom Penh was like ‘landing on another planet’. Phnom Penh at the time was regarded as a charming mix of an oriental city with a strong French flavour. The War in Vietnam had yet to impact the region.

After the training session, the Australian team were allowed to relax by the hotel pool. But despite the heat, coach Jelisovic barred any of the players from entering the water and cooling off. He was adamant that they would suffer stiffness in their muscles from swimming. Coach Jelisovic and manager Jim Bayutti also snuck into a North Korean training session at the National Stadium. Jelisovic confidently stated after the session: ‘We shall beat them.’

There would be a lot of distractions faced by the Australian squad in Cambodia. They were treated like kings by their Cambodian hosts. They were taken on a bus tour through the city streets lined with thousands of people, in some places three-deep. This was an amazing turnout for the Australian team, and no one could envision what impact this had on the team. The bus had a police escort of cars and motor bikes with flashing lights and blaring sirens. The players were overcome by the crowd’s reception and waved non-stop as they drove by. One player noted later: ‘Now I know how the Queen feels after a Royal procession.’ The Governor of Phnom Penh, Tap Pan, had granted the team the ‘Freedom of the City’ award at a lavish official reception for the players, officials and accompanying journalists. Australian Soccer Federation president W.G. Walkley was presented with a special medal struck for the occasion. Mr Walkley and his wife were also granted the use of the Mercedes Benz limousine of the President of Cambodia (Norodom Sihanouk) for the duration of their stay.

The team’s next training session was cancelled after a thunderstorm flooded the training ground. They were to have held a scheduled full practice match at the session. News was also slowly filtering through to the Australian players and officials that the Koreans might not be the lightweights everyone had assumed. They had played a staggering 34 international games over the previous three years, winning 30, drawing two and losing just two. Over 13,000 Cambodian spectators attended the Australian team’s training sessions. This was larger than crowds attending most of their club games back in Sydney and Melbourne at the time. The Cambodian press were reported as encouraging the Cambodians to support the Koreans as fellow Asians in the Cup tie. Australia’s White Australia policy was still in vogue and this response was not unexpected. The Australian press, for their part, confidently and unanimously asserted that the Australian team were far too big, strong, and aggressive for the Koreans. It was announced that the Australian team would all sing along to Waltzing Matilda as their national anthem when taking the field.

North Korea 6, Australia 1

(Halftime: 1–0)

Scorer: Scheinflug (penalty)

Stade