Diary

FIFA retained the mini-league system but couldn't resist a little tinkering. Instead of each team playing all the others in the groups, two were seeded and would play only the two non-seeds - and any matches drawn after ninety minutes would go to extra-time. Arbitrary and confusing.

Cris Freddi's Complete Book of the World Cup

 

Belgium managed a very early goal, the bustling Anoul scoring after a scramble in the penalty area, but were overhauled soon enough. Broadis squeezed in the equaliser before colliding with the onrushing Gernaey, then Lofthouse jerked himself at a cross from Taylor an dheaded in. In the second half Broadis hit Matthews' deflected cross so hard it bent the keeper's wrist on the way in. And Guerney had to make 'some really brilliant saves.'    This was Matthews' first match against Belgium since 1947, when he'd made all five of England's goals. Now he pulled their defence inside out, preposterously quick and supple for a man of 39. But England still hadn't solved their old problem at centre-half, where Owen was now limping. Anoul ran past him to pull a goal back, then Merrick failed to hold a shot by the fiery Coppens.    In extra-time, Broadis' cross and Taylor's dummy set up Lofthouse for a 'crushing drive' that went in off the far post - but Dickinson headed in a Dries free kick 'when no-one was anywhere near him.' As in darkest 1950, England were left needing to win their last group match to be sure of qualifying.

Cris Freddi's Complete Book of the World Cup

20 June 1954 - Comunale (Cornaredo), Lugano - 26,000 - Erich Steiner (AUT)         ITALY (1) 4      Pandolfini pen 41, Galli 48, Frignani 58, Lorenzi 78     BELGIUM (0) 1      Anoul 81 ITALY Giorgio Ghezzi, Ardico Magnini, Giovanni Giacomazzi, Maino Neri, Ornero Tognon, Fulvio Nesti, Benito Lorenzi, Egisto Pandolfini (c), Carlo Galli, Gino Cappello, Amleto Frignani. Lajos Czeizler (HUN). BELGIUM Léopold Gernaey, Marcel Dries, Louis Carré, Fons Van Brabdt, Constant Huysmans, Vic Mees, Jef Mermans (c), Pol Anoul, Rik Coppens, Hippolye Vanden Bosch, Pieter Vanden Bosch. Dugald (Dug) Livingstone (SCO). Italy expected a harder time than this. Lorenzi, one of the personalities of the tournament, dummied his man on the left and crossed for Galli to score with a superb diving header. Frignani lobbed the ball in when Galli's pitiful ground shot was appallingly fumbled by Gernaey, then hit a corner which was glanced on by Galli for Lorenzi to score with a teasing header. Dries had founded Frignani to concede the penalty, which Pandolfini hit hard and almost straight as Gernaey moved to his right. Anoul got in a low cross-shot before the tackle came in.    The dramatic improvement may have had something to do with the selection of a Hamlet (Frignani) as well as a Homer (Tognon). Hippolyte and Pieter Vanden Bosch were brothers.    Carré was winning his 39th consecutive cap on the way to becoming the first player from any country to win 50 in a row.

Cris Freddi's Complete Book of the World Cup

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CG