Soccer World Cup History: 1962 World Cup Chile

Number of participating teams: 16

Top scorer: Brazil’s Garrincha and five other players finished tied with 4 goals

Number of games: 32

Total goals scored: 89

Average goals per game: 2.78

Highest scoring game: Hungary’s 6-1 win over Bulgaria on June 3

Total attendance: 776,000

Average attendance: 24,250

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The format of the competition stayed the same: 16 teams were divided into four groups with the top two advancing to the quarterfinals. Games took place in four cities: at the foot of snow-capped mountains in Santiago, the sandy beaches of Vina del Mar, Arica (a northern town bordering Peru) and Rancagua.

THE FINAL

Though the Brazilians were favoured, the Czechs were not to be taken lightly. They had, after all, upset Hungary and Yugoslavia in the previous two rounds, and entered the contest brimming with confidence. Adolf Scherer and Josef Masopust combined to devastating effect early on, tearing the Brazilian defence to pieces, and when Masopust scored at the 15-minute mark, a third upset by Czechoslovakia seemed a distinct possibility.

Unfazed, Brazil took all of two minutes to even the score, Amarildo beating Czech goalkeeper Vilem Schroif from an impossible angle. Far from overawed, the Czechs pressed forward and put up a solid resistance against the encroaching Brazilian attack. They had Brazil on the back foot in the second half when the game turned in the 68th minute.

Pegged back on the sideline, Amarildo rounded a Czech defender with a nifty move and with open space in front of him to work with, he delivered a cross to Zio who scored on an easy header. 2-1 for the champions. Brazil put the game away nine minutes later when Schroif fumbled a lob into the penalty area and Vava was there to score on an effortless tap in.

Group 1