View source for 1954 FIFA World Cup final

{{Short description|World Cup final, held in Switzerland}}
{{Redirect|Miracle of Bern|the 2003 film|The Miracle of Bern}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox football match
| title            = 1954 FIFA World Cup final
| image            = L'équipe d'Allemagne championne du monde de football en 1954.jpg
| imagesize        = 200px
| caption          = [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] are champions
| event            = [[1954 FIFA World Cup]]
| team1            = [[Germany national football team|West Germany]]
| team1association = {{flagdeco|FRG|size=30px}}
| team1score       = 3
| team2            = [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]]
| team2association = {{flagdeco|HUN|1949|size=30px}}
| team2score       = 2
| details          = 
| date             = {{Start date|1954|7|4|df=y}}
| stadium          = [[Wankdorf Stadium]]
| city             = [[Bern]]
| referee          = [[William Ling (referee)|William Ling]] ([[The Football Association|England]])
| attendance       = 62,500
| weather          = Rainy
| previous         = [[Uruguay v Brazil (1950 FIFA World Cup)|1950]]
| next             = [[1958 FIFA World Cup final|1958]]
}}
The '''1954 FIFA World Cup final''' was the final match of the [[1954 FIFA World Cup]], the fifth [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in FIFA history. The game was played at the [[Wankdorf Stadium]] in [[Bern]], Switzerland, on 4 July 1954, and saw [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] beat the heavily favoured [[Golden Team]] of [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] 3–2. Earlier in the [[1954 FIFA World Cup Group 2|group stage]], Hungary had defeated West Germany 8–3.

The 1954 final is often listed as one of the greatest matches in World Cup history, and also one of its most unexpected upsets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/16/sport/football/world-cup-football-top-ten/|first=James|last=Masters|publisher=CNN|title=World Cup: the top 10 matches|date=16 June 2014|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617225826/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/16/sport/football/world-cup-football-top-ten/|archive-date=17 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Beyond football, some historians ascribe the match a lasting impact on both [[History of Germany|German]] and [[History of Hungary|Hungarian]] post-World War II history, contributing in West Germany to a sense of regained international recognition after the lost [[World War II|Second World War]] and [[denazification]], and in Hungary to discontent with the communist-authoritarian regime in the run-up to the [[1956 Hungarian revolution]].<ref name ="forever"/> In Germany, the 1954 final is known as the '''Miracle of Bern''' (German: ''Wunder von Bern'', {{IPA|de|ˌvʊndɐ fɔn ˈbɛʁn|pron|De-Wunder von Bern.ogg}}).

The win earned Germany its first of four World Cup titles, with the other titles to follow in [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]] and [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] as West Germany, and in [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]] as [[German reunification|reunified Germany]]. West Germany was the third country to win a World Cup, following Uruguay ([[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]] and [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]]) and Italy ([[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]] and [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]]), although, different from Uruguay and Italy, West Germany won its maiden title as a guest rather than host. For Hungary, the second place in 1954 remains the best World Cup result to date, jointly with finishing runners-up in 1938. The 1954 tournament is the only FIFA World Cup thus far in which two teams from [[Central Europe]] contested the final, with another Central European team, of [[Austria national football team|Austria]], finishing third in the competition.

==Background==

===Hungary===
{{see also|Golden Team}}

Hungary's legendary ''Golden Team'' – also known as the ''Mighty Magyars'' – was the favorite to win the 1954 World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best teams never to win a World Cup: Hungary 1954|work=ESPNFC|date=6 May 2014|url=http://www.espnfc.us/blog/world-cup-central/59/post/1845212/best-teams-never-to-win-a-world-cup-hungary-1954|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220130222/http://www.espnfc.us/blog/world-cup-central/59/post/1845212/best-teams-never-to-win-a-world-cup-hungary-1954|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the five years prior to the final, it had remained unbeaten in 31 games (32 if counting a match against East Germany in 1952 that is not considered an official international). Hungary was also the reigning [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|Olympic Champion]] and winner of the [[Central European International Cup]] in 1953. In 1953, Hungary [[1953 England v Hungary football match|defeated England 6–3]] at Wembley, becoming the first team outside the United Kingdom and Ireland to beat England on home soil, and they [[1954 Hungary v England football match|thrashed England 7–1]] in [[Budapest]] just before the World Cup. Hungary did not have to play qualifiers for the 1954 World Cup, as opponent Poland withdrew for lack of prospects.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|p=103}}

The players of the Hungary national team were full-time professionals. Most played for the army club [[Budapest Honvéd FC]], or for [[MTK Budapest FC]], which, in the 1950s, was run by Hungary's secret police.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=54–56}} Several members of the Golden Team were well known and highly regarded for their skills, including forwards [[Sándor Kocsis]] and [[Ferenc Puskás]], attacking midfielder [[Nándor Hidegkuti]], half-back [[József Bozsik]], outside forward [[Zoltán Czibor]] and goalkeeper [[Gyula Grosics]]. Coach [[Gusztáv Sebes]], who was also Hungary's Deputy Minister for Sport, and MTK coach [[Márton Bukovi]] are credited with developing further the rigid [[Formation (association football)|WM formation]] that was standard in European football in the early 1950s.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=45, 46}} 

Innovations included pulling Hidegkuti – who was nominally listed as centre-forward – back into midfield to create space for the inside forwards, Puskás and Kocsis; employing Bozsik as deep-lying playmaker, with the other half-back, [[József Zakariás]], covering for Bozsik; requesting full-backs to assist in attack and wingers to assist in defence; and introducing flexible positional play that created confusion among opponents used to fixed roles and strict man-marking.{{sfn|Wilson|2013|pp=86–92}}

===West Germany===
The three German entities emerging from the [[Second World War]] – West Germany, East Germany and the [[Saar (protectorate)|Saar protectorate]] – were not admitted to [[FIFA]] until late 1950. As a result, Germany missed the [[1950 FIFA World Cup]]. In the early 1950s, [[Sepp Herberger]] – resuming the role as national team coach that he had already occupied between 1936 and 1942 – built the West German team around a nucleus of players from the club [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]], the German champions of 1951 and 1953, led by veteran playmaker [[Fritz Walter]].{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=93–96}} 

The players were semi-professionals (''Vertragsspieler''), who often worked in a second job or owned a business to support their incomes. Prior to the 1954 tournament, [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] had played only a few friendly internationals and a short qualifying campaign (against [[Norway national football team|Norway]] and the [[Saarland national football team|Saar]]).{{sfn|Heinrich|2004|pp=14–29}} This lack of international exposure left both national and foreign observers unclear about the quality of the German team. 

Herberger advocated clear roles in defence but permanent positional switches in attack – dubbed the "Herberger whirl" – to unseat the opponents' defenders.{{sfn|Escher|2016|pp=69–86}}

==Route to the final==

===Overview===
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center"
|- style="background:#99CCFF"
!colspan="2"|West Germany
!style="width:20%"|Round
!colspan="2"|Hungary
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#C1E0FF"
|style="width:25%"|Opponent
|style="width:15%"|Result
|[[1954 FIFA World Cup#First stage|First stage]]
|style="width:25%"|Opponent
|style="width:15%"|Result
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|TUR}}
|4–1
|style="background:#C1E0FF" |Match 1
|align="left"|{{fb|KOR|1949}}
|9–0
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|HUN|1949}}
|3–8
|style="background:#C1E0FF"|Match 2
|align="left"|{{fb|FRG}}
|8–3
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|TUR}}
|7–2
|style="background:#C1E0FF"|Play-off
|colspan="2"|
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|'''[[1954 FIFA World Cup#Group 2|Group 2]] runner-up'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border:none;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=20|{{abbr|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=20|{{abbr|W|Matches won}}
!width=20|{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=20|{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}
!width=20|{{abbr|GF|Goals for}}
!width=20|{{abbr|GA|Goals against}}
!width=20|{{abbr|Pts|Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC"
|align="left"|{{fb|HUN|1949}}
|2||2||0||0||17||3||'''4'''
|- style="background:#CCFFCC"
|align="left"|'''{{fb|FRG}}'''
|'''2'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''1'''||'''7'''||'''9'''||'''2'''
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|TUR}}
|2||1||0||1||8||4||'''2'''
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|KOR|1949}}
|2||0||0||2||0||16||'''0'''
|}
|style="background:#C1E0FF"|Final standings
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|'''[[1954 FIFA World Cup#Group 2|Group 2]] winner'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=20|{{abbr|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=20|{{abbr|W|Matches won}}
!width=20|{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=20|{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}
!width=20|{{abbr|GF|Goals for}}
!width=20|{{abbr|GA|Goals against}}
!width=20|{{abbr|Pts|Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|align="left"|'''{{fb|HUN|1949}}'''
|'''2'''||'''2'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''17'''||'''3'''||'''4'''
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|align="left"|{{fb|FRG}}
|2||1||0||1||7||9||'''2'''
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|TUR}}
|2||1||0||1||8||4||'''2'''
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|KOR|1949}}
|2||0||0||2||0||16||'''0'''
|}
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#C1E0FF"
|Opponent
|Result
|[[1954 FIFA World Cup#Knockout stage|Knockout stage]]
|Opponent
|Result
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|YUG}}
|2–0
|style="background:#C1E0FF"|Quarter-finals
|align="left"|{{fb|BRA|1889}}
|[[Battle of Berne (1954 FIFA World Cup)|4–2]]
|-
|align="left"|{{fb|AUT}}
|6–1
|style="background:#C1E0FF"|Semi-finals
|align="left"|{{fb|URU}}
|4–2 {{aet}}
|}

===Hungary===
[[File:Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf with 1954 World Cup memorial.jpg|thumb|275px|A well-known photograph of the 1954 final is installed in front of the Wankdorf's successor stadium, the [[Stade de Suisse]].]]

In the first stage, Hungary and West Germany were drawn into the same group (2).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1954switzerland|publisher=FIFA.com|title=FIFA World Cup 1954 Switzerland|access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref> Hungary opened the World Cup with a 9–0 win over South Korea. It then played Germany, winning 8–3, and therefore qualified for the quarter-finals. In the game, Puskás suffered an ankle hairline fracture from a foul by German central defender [[Werner Liebrich]] that made Puskás miss the quarter- and semi-finals.

In the quarter-finals, Hungary beat co-favorites [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] – runners-up of the 1950 World Cup – with 4–2, despite Puskás' absence. The hard-fought, grueling match became famous as the [[Battle of Berne (1954 FIFA World Cup)|Battle of Berne]]. In the semi-finals, Hungary defeated defending World Cup champions [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] 4–2 after extra time. Also this match is regarded a classic for the high quality of both sides' attacking game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/uruguay-v-hungary-1954-352539|publisher=World Soccer|title=World Cup memorable matches: Uruguay v Hungary 1954|date=7 June 2014 |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101817/http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/uruguay-v-hungary-1954-352539 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kocsis scored twice in both the quarter- and semi-finals.

From a statistical perspective, on the eve of the 1954 World Cup final, the Hungarian team held the highest [[World Football Elo Ratings#All-time highest ratings|Elo score]] for a national side to that date. Its rating was surpassed only in 2014 by Germany.

===West Germany===
West Germany first played Turkey, winning 4–1. In the subsequent 3–8 loss to Hungary, Herberger rested several key players and played others out of position (for example, Fritz Walter as central striker instead of playmaker). The main purpose was to preserve energy for the upcoming decider against (once more) Turkey. However, by sparing his strongest eleven, Herberger may have obscured the real strength of the German team to its subsequent opponents, including Hungary. Germany won the decider against Turkey 7–2.{{sfn|Heinrich|2004|pp=38, 39}}

West Germany went as outsider into both its quarter- and semi-final matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.ard.de/special/helden1954/pages/2448.php?ch=1 |publisher=web.ard.de |title=Der Weg ins Finale – erst gedemütigt, dann der Durchmarsch |language=de |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627091425/http://web.ard.de/special/helden1954/pages/2448.php?ch=1 |archive-date=27 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the quarter-finals, West Germany beat highly regarded [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] – the Olympic silver medalists of 1952 – with 2–0. The team then went on to defeat [[Austrian national football team|Austria]] in the semi-finals, with an unexpectedly lopsided score of 6–1.

==Pre-match==
[[File:Wankdorf 1954 world cup final match clock.jpg|thumb|150px|The restored match clock has been installed in front of the [[Stade de Suisse]] as a memorial.]]

===Team preparations===
During the tournament, the Hungarian team took residence in a hotel in the town center of [[Solothurn]].{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=108–11}} This had several repercussions. As Hungary's semi-final against Uruguay was decided only after extra time, the team missed the return bus from Lausanne, and had to organize private cars that arrived only late at night. The evening before the final, a village fair took place in front of the hotel that lasted until the early morning hours and disrupted the players' sleep. Further, Herberger's assistant Albert Sing checked into the hotel, from where he reported about the Hungarian team preparations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Als beim WM-Final in Bern für die Ungarn die Seifenblase platzte |url=http://www.solothurnerzeitung.ch/solothurn/stadt-solothurn/als-beim-wm-final-in-bern-fuer-die-ungarn-die-seifenblase-platzte-128171122 |work=solothurnerzeitung.ch |date=12 November 2014|language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220102158/http://www.solothurnerzeitung.ch/solothurn/stadt-solothurn/als-beim-wm-final-in-bern-fuer-die-ungarn-die-seifenblase-platzte-128171122 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

By contrast, the German team resided in the tranquil lake town of [[Spiez]], where it was unaffected from such disturbances. The ''Spirit of Spiez'' became proverbial in Germany for describing the team's morale and comradeship.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=117–24}}

===Lineups and tactics===
Puskás returned to the Hungarian squad for the final, despite doubts about his fitness. Further, Sebes replaced the customary right winger [[László Budai]] with [[Mihály Tóth (footballer, born 1926)|Mihály Tóth]], as he considered Budai too exhausted after the semi-finals.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|p=138}} He also placed left winger Czibor on the right in the first half (switching with Tóth), to exploit Czibor's speed against Germany's left fullback [[Werner Kohlmeyer]].<ref name="bleibt">{{cite news |title=Wir haben verloren – das bleibt |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/jahre-nach-dem-wunder-von-bern-wir-haben-verloren-das-bleibt-1.314084 |work=sueddeutsche.de |date=11 May 2010|language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923112948/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/jahre-nach-dem-wunder-von-bern-wir-haben-verloren-das-bleibt-1.314084 |archive-date=23 September 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other than this, Sebes fielded his standard formation.

The German team had evolved in the course of the tournament, finding its final formation only in the semi-finals. In particular, central defender Liebrich and right winger [[Helmut Rahn]] secured places in the starting lineup only after strong performances in the quarter-finals against Yugoslavia. In the final, Herberger had Hidegkuti marked by a midfielder, [[Horst Eckel]], to prevent Hidegkuti from pulling Liebrich out of the defence when he dropped deep into midfield.{{sfn|Wilson|2013|pp=91, 92}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bundesligafanatic.com/interview-of-the-week-horst-eckel-on-the-miracle-of-bern-fritz-walter-and-modern-football//|first=Cristian|last=Nyari|publisher=BundesligaFanatic|title=Interview of the Week – Horst Eckel on the Miracle of Bern, Fritz Walter and Modern Football|date=10 February 2012|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513182832/http://bundesligafanatic.com/interview-of-the-week-horst-eckel-on-the-miracle-of-bern-fritz-walter-and-modern-football//|archive-date=13 May 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref> He also instructed left winger [[Hans Schäfer]] to cover Bozsik when Hungary was attacking, to help Fritz Walter – who normally would have been Bozsik's marker – preserve energy and concentrate on organising the German game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hans Schäfer: Wir sind keine Helden von Bern |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/fussball-wm2010/wm-finale-1954-hans-schaefer-wir-sind-keine-helden-von-bern/1868692.html |work=tagesspiegel.de |date=26 June 2010|language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220150204/http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/fussball-wm2010/wm-finale-1954-hans-schaefer-wir-sind-keine-helden-von-bern/1868692.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Conditions===
The match was played in heavy rain, conditions that the German side had christened "Fritz Walter weather",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.ard.de/special/helden1954/pages/2437.php?ch=1/ |title=Hoch gepokert und gewonnen |first=Markus |last=Wessel |access-date=23 August 2009 |publisher=[[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513011055/http://web.ard.de/special/helden1954/pages/2437.php?ch=1/ |archive-date=13 May 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> as Walter was known for playing his best football in the wet. In addition, the German team was equipped with boots supplied by [[Adidas]] that featured hitherto unknown, exchangeable, screw-in studs. The boots could be adapted to any weather, enabling the German players to wear their regular footwear despite the adverse conditions.

==Match==
===Summary===
[[File:Les deux capitaines de la finale de Coupe du monde de football 1954 (G. Walter, D. Puskas, arbitre Orlandini).jpg|thumb|150px|The captains Fritz Walter and Ferenc Puskás with referee Ling (Liebig football card from 1966)]]
Puskás put his team ahead after only six minutes, when Bozsik intercepted a pass from Liebrich and found Kocsis with a through ball. Kocsis' blocked shot fell to Puskás, and Puskás scored from close range.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=174}}<ref name="spielverlagerung"/>{{sfn|Puskás|1955|pp=173–76}}<ref name="FIFAClip">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/y=2014/m=7/video=60-years-ago-today-1954-world-cup-final-fr-germany-3-2-hungary-2398675.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610133402/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/y=2014/m=7/video=60-years-ago-today-1954-world-cup-final-fr-germany-3-2-hungary-2398675.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 June 2015 |title=WC 1954 World Cup Final: FR Germany 3–2 Hungary |website=FIFA.com }}</ref> Czibor added a second goal for Hungary a mere two minutes later, exploiting a misunderstanding in the German defense: Kohlmeyer secured a through ball from Bozsik but wrong-footed goalkeeper [[Toni Turek]] with a back pass, who failed to control the ball. Czibor sprinted in between and put the ball into the empty net.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=175}}

West Germany came back quickly. In the 10th minute, Fritz Walter played Rahn free on the left wing, who crossed low and hard into the center. The ball went through the legs of right fullback [[Jenő Buzánszky]], Zakariás lunged for the ball but could only deflect it, and forward [[Max Morlock]] converted from close range.<ref name="FIFAClip"/>{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=176}} Eight minutes later Morlock dribbled through the Hungarian defense, but center back [[Gyula Lóránt]] cleared for a corner. Fritz Walter played the corner short, Buzánszky cleared for another corner. The second corner kick came long and high, finding Rahn, who leveled the score.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=177}}

[[File:Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft 1954 (Com M03-0108-005-0025).jpg|thumb|The Hungarians celebrating their first goal]]
Hungary took control after the equalizer and came to several good chances. In the 23rd minute, left fullback [[Mihály Lantos]] chipped the ball into the box, Kocsis headed on to Hidegkuti, but Hidegkuti's volley was saved spectacularly by Turek.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=178}}<ref>Raupp 2019, pp. 108-109.</ref> Four minutes later, Hidegkuti fired another shot from the edge of the penalty box that hit the goal post.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=179}} Only towards the end of the first half did West Germany come to more chances. In the 42nd minute, Fritz Walter found Schäfer in the penalty box, who dribbled past Lóránt and forced a save at full stretch from Grosics. The loose ball fell to Rahn, but Buzánszky cleared on the goal line.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=179}}

Hungary came out attacking in the second half and created plentiful chances. Two minutes after the restart, Bozsik played Puskás free in the penalty box, but Puskás fired the ball straight at Turek.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=182}} In the 54th minute, Kohlmeyer cleared twice on the goal line from Tóth,{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=183}} and three minutes later Kocsis headed a cross by Tóth against the cross bar.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=184}} 

In the 67th minute, Turek saved a shot by Puskás with his foot,{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=185}} and in the 78th minute he left the goal line to block a through ball from Bozsik ahead of the onrushing Czibor. Hidegkuti picked up the loose ball but shot into the side netting.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=185}} West Germany's first good chance of the second half came in the 72nd minute when Fritz Walter played Rahn free after a corner kick, and Rahn's powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box was saved by Grosics.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=185}}

With six minutes left, Schäfer dispossessed Bozsik and played a high cross into the penalty box. Rahn picked up Lantos' short clearance, feinted a pass to center forward [[Ottmar Walter]] that wrong-footed the Hungarian defenders, moved into the penalty box, and drove the ball hard and low past Grosics for the third German goal.<ref name="FIFAClip"/>{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=187}} Two minutes later, Puskás appeared to have leveled the score once more when he converted a through ball from Tóth flicked on by Kocsis, but the attempt was ruled offside.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=188}} In the final minute of the game, Czibor had another chance to equalize, but his shot from close range was again stopped by Turek.{{sfn|Walter|1954|p=189}}

The whistle soon thereafter ended not only the match, but also the Golden Team's unbeaten run.

===Details===
<section begin=Final />{{Football box
|date={{Start date|1954|7|4|df=y}}
|time=17:00 [[Central European Time|CET]]
|team1={{fb-rt|FRG}}
|score=3–2
|report=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/switzerland1954/matches/match/1278
|team2={{fb|HUN|1949}}
|goals1=
*[[Max Morlock|Morlock]] {{goal|10}}
*[[Helmut Rahn|Rahn]] {{goal|18||84}}
|goals2=
*[[Ferenc Puskás|Puskás]] {{goal|6}}
*[[Zoltán Czibor|Czibor]] {{goal|8}}
|stadium=[[Wankdorf Stadium]], [[Bern]]
|attendance=62,500
|referee=[[William Ling (referee)|William Ling]] ([[The Football Association|England]])
}}<section end=Final />
<section begin=Lineups />
{| width=92%
|-
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{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size:90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width=25| !!width=25|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Toni Turek]]
|-
|RB ||'''7''' ||[[Josef Posipal]]
|-
|CB ||'''10'''||[[Werner Liebrich]]
|-
|LB ||'''3''' ||[[Werner Kohlmeyer]]
|-
|RH ||'''6''' ||[[Horst Eckel]]
|-
|LH ||'''8''' ||[[Karl Mai]]
|-
|OR ||'''12'''||[[Helmut Rahn]]
|-
|IR ||'''13'''||[[Max Morlock]]
|-
|CF ||'''15'''||[[Ottmar Walter]]
|-
|IL ||'''16'''||[[Fritz Walter]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|OL ||'''20'''||[[Hans Schäfer]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan=3|[[Sepp Herberger]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:FRG-HUN 1954-07-04.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size:90%; margin:auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width=25| !!width=25|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Gyula Grosics]]
|-
|RB ||'''2''' ||[[Jenő Buzánszky]]
|-
|CB ||'''3''' ||[[Gyula Lóránt]]
|-
|LB ||'''4''' ||[[Mihály Lantos]]
|-
|RH ||'''5''' ||[[József Bozsik]]
|-
|LH ||'''6''' ||[[József Zakariás]]
|-
|SS ||'''9''' ||[[Nándor Hidegkuti]]
|-
|OR ||'''11'''||[[Zoltán Czibor]]
|-
|IR ||'''8''' ||[[Sándor Kocsis]]
|-
|IL ||'''10'''||[[Ferenc Puskás]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|OL ||'''20'''||[[Mihály Tóth (footballer, born 1926)|Mihály Tóth]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan=3|[[Gusztáv Sebes]]
|}
|}

{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%;"
|
'''[[Assistant referee (association football)|Assistant referees]]:'''
<br />[[Vincenzo Orlandini]] ([[Italian Football Federation|Italy]])
<br />[[Sandy Griffiths]] ([[Football Association of Wales|Wales]])
<includeonly>|}</includeonly><section end=Lineups />
|style="width:60%; vertical-align:top;"|
'''Match rules'''
*90 minutes.
*30 minutes of [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]] if necessary.
*[[Replay (sports)#Association football|Replay]] if scores still level.
*No substitutions permitted.
|}

===Statistics===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" style="width:100px"|Statistic<ref name="spielverlagerung"/>
!scope="col" style="width:70px"|West Germany
!scope="col" style="width:70px"|Hungary
|-
!scope="row"|Goals scored
|3||2
|-
!scope="row"|Total shots
|15||26
|-
!scope="row"|Shots on target
|10||16
|-
!scope="row"|Blocked shots
|8||7
|-
!scope="row"|Corner kicks
|7||5
|-
!scope="row"|Fouls committed
|10||7
|-
!scope="row"|Offsides
|9||3
|-
!scope="row"|Sendings-off
|0||0
|}
A match analysis by the website ''spielverlagerung.de'', produced 60 years after the game based on data extracted from [[Herbert Zimmermann (football commentator)|Herbert Zimmermann]]'s live radio commentary, shows Hungary ahead in most categories, except goals scored.<ref name="spielverlagerung">{{cite web |url=http://spielverlagerung.de/2014/06/06/liveanalyse-des-wm-finals-1954///|first=Tobias|last=Escher|publisher=spielverlagerung.de|title=Liveanalyse des WM-Finals 1954 |date=6 June 2014|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612203652/http://spielverlagerung.de/2014/06/06/liveanalyse-des-wm-finals-1954///|archive-date=12 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Hungarian superiority was especially pronounced during minutes 20–40 and 45–70, while West Germany had good phases towards the end of the first and second halves.

The analysis also suggests that many Hungarian attacks went through the centre, in most cases orchestrated by Bozsik, who played numerous accurate through balls to Hungary's forwards. By contrast, the German team attacked almost exclusively from the wings, with Fritz Walter playing a key role as ball distributor and flexible offensive player generating numerical superiority in select portions of the pitch.

Further, the data point to an excellent defensive performance by Liebrich, who – according to Zimmermann's commentary – blocked six shots, intercepted nine passes, and won all of his 10 one-on-one duels.

==Controversies==

===Refereeing decisions===
Several calls by the English referee [[William Ling (referee)|William Ling]] came under scrutiny after the final. These included:

* ''Germany's second goal.'' Grosics attempted to clear the corner kick by Fritz Walter in the air, but collided in the six-yard box with Schäfer. As a result, the ball went through to Rahn, who converted. Had Ling called a foul on Grosics, the goal would not have counted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://longballfootball.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/historical-football-2-das-wunder-von-bern |title=Historical Football #2 – Das Wunder von Bern |publisher=The Long Ball |date=11 September 2013 |access-date=15 December 2016 }}</ref>
* ''Hungary's disallowed third goal.'' Eyewitness accounts differ on whether Puskás was offside. The official television footage allows no clear verdict, as it fails to show Puskás' position at the moment when the ball was passed. The Hungarian players claimed that Ling first wanted to allow the goal, but changed his mind after talking to Welsh linesman Benjamin Griffiths.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=205}}

===Doping allegations===
Immediately after the match, rumors emerged that the German team had taken performance-enhancing substances. Several members of the team fell ill with [[jaundice]], presumably from a contaminated needle, and of them, winger [[Richard Herrmann]], died just eight years later of [[cirrhosis]], at the age of 39.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/sports/soccer/Doping-Study-Throws-Shadow-Over-Germanys-Success.html |title=Doping Study Throws Shadow Over Germany's Success |last=Hughes |first=Rob |website=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |date=6 August 2013 |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref> Members of the team later claimed they had been injected [[glucose]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Das Wunder von Bern: Tor-Rekord und Doping-Verdacht |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/news/sport/fussball-das-wunder-von-bern-tor-rekord-und-doping-verdacht-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-140325-99-01581 |work=sueddeutsche.de |date=3 May 2014 |language=de |access-date=14 February 2015 |archive-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929061107/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/news/sport/fussball-das-wunder-von-bern-tor-rekord-und-doping-verdacht-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-140325-99-01581 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the team physician Franz Loogen said in 2004 that the players had only been given [[Vitamin C]] before the game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Erzürnte Weltmeister: "Vitamin C, sonst nichts"|work=Spiegel Online|date=31 March 2004|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/erzuernte-weltmeister-vitamin-c-sonst-nichts-a-293370.html|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806040117/http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/erzuernte-weltmeister-vitamin-c-sonst-nichts-a-293370.html|archive-date=6 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In 2010, {{ill|Erik Eggers|de}} of the [[Humboldt University of Berlin]] challenged the validity of these claims, stating: "Vitamin C is not injected. This is very unusual. They could have just eaten an orange instead."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/oct/27/west-germany-1954-drugs-study |title=West Germany's 1954 World Cup win may have been drug-fuelled, says study |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB|via=[[Reuters]] |date=27 October 2010 |access-date=30 December 2022 |quote="The most important indication, though, is that vitamin C is not injected. This is very unusual. They could have just eaten an orange instead."}}</ref> As the co-author of a study conducted by the [[University of Leipzig]], he also hypothesized that the German players, unbeknownst to them, may have been injected with Pervitin ([[methamphetamine]]) – a stimulant given to soldiers in World War II.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-10-26-3288531362_x.htm |work=[[USA Today]] |title=Researcher raises doping spectre over 1954 WCup |date=26 October 2010|access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref>

In 2013, the ''[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]'' publicized details from the finished, 800-page study, in which Eggers and his team stated that the use of [[amphetamine]]s became "normal" in German football from the end of the 1940s, and reaffirmed their previous claim that an unspecified number of players of the 1954 team received injections of Pervitin.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/08/03/report-west-germany-systematically-doped-athletes-olympics/2615323/ |title=Report: West Germany systematically doped athletes |work=USA Today |language=en-US |location=Berlin |date=3 August 2013 |access-date=31 December 2022 |via=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Der Spiegel]]'', Eggers also claimed that the [[German Football Association]] hampered their research by not allowing the team to access their archives.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/interview-with-erik-eggers-about-doping-in-west-german-sports-a-916988.html |title='They Blocked Our Work' |website=[[Der Spiegel (website)|Spiegel International]] |translator=Ella Ornstein |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=31 December 2022}}</ref>

In any case, doping was not illegal in 1954, with doping controls introduced by FIFA only in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|title=A brief history of doping|work=fifa.com|url=https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/brief-history-doping-514062|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122214944/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/brief-history-doping-514062|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>

==Radio commentaries==
As television was available only in a few homes or public places in 1954, the radio reports by [[György Szepesi]] and [[Herbert Zimmermann (football commentator)|Herbert Zimmermann]] were the main vehicles for transmitting the World Cup final live to the Hungarian and West German populations. Both commentaries became legendary for their passionate, emotional reporting styles, and are sometimes credited with contributing to the charged atmosphere in both countries after the final.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=10–14}}{{sfn|Oswald|2006|pp=369, 370}}

Szepesi – who later became the chairman of the [[Hungarian Football Federation]] – had been a household name in Hungary since his report of the Golden Team's 6–3 victory over England in 1953.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/6-3-inside-the-budapest-bar-named-for-hungarys-mos.html |title=6–3 – Inside the Budapest Bar Named for Hungary's Most Famous Football Result |first=Peterjon |last=Creswell |publisher=Paste Magazine |date=22 December 2016 |access-date=22 January 2017 }}</ref> He started his commentary of the World Cup final with cautious confidence, reinforced after Hungary's opening goal: "Puskás shoots... GOAL... A WONDERFUL GOAL! ... There is the lead. Öcsi's [i.e., Puskas'] foot is fine, this one could see with this shot. ... And now: calmly, boys, just as we played at the 8–3". Doubts started creeping in after Germany shortened the lead – "the clouds are piling up in front of the mountains... hopefully this is not a bad sign" – and grew stronger at half time – "it will be even more difficult than the matches before, more difficult perhaps than against Brazil and Uruguay".{{quote without source|date=August 2023}}

Szepesi's doubts gave way to desperation with Germany's winning goal – "dear listeners, Rahn's shot is in the goal, in the right corner, six minutes before the end... The boys are standing there, distraught. The crowd screams. Six more minutes. The Hungarian team has played brilliantly – I cannot say anything else. My tears are flowing, but believe me, the boys gave it all." – and Puskás disallowed equalizer – "Puskás, you have the ball!!! SHOT!!! GOAL!!! ... OFFSIDE, offside; Griffiths indicated offside, my listeners, Griffiths has given offside – oh what a pity... what a pity". At the final whistle, Szepesi was fighting for composure: "end of the game. West Germany's team is World Champion. Dear listeners, it is hard for me to say anything, believe me... But let's recognize that the West Germans were very fair and won deservedly. ... We have been unbeaten for four years. Now we have lost. This is not a tragedy, my listeners... this is a defeat in a football match".{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=13, 15, 43, 103, 135}}

By contrast, Zimmermann kept expectations low at the outset, and continued in this vein after Hungary took the lead: "this is a great day, this is a proud day – let's not be so presumptuous to think it would have to end successfully". A measure of pride entered his voice after Germany's first – "today it is no 3–8. Today it is not a B-team. Today Germany's strongest squad is playing" – and second goal – "we have equalized, against Hungary, the technically most gifted squad that one knows!". Self-esteem grew as the match progressed – "six minutes still to play in Bern in the first half. Score: 2–2. This is more than what we dared to hope in our wildest dreams" – including after Buzánszky cleared Rahn's shot on the goal line: "now, dear Hungarians, we have to say: now you have been lucky". When Turek stopped Hidegkuti's volley from close range, Zimmermann famously called him a "god" and "devil" in the same sentence: "shot – saved by Turek! Turek, you are a dare-devil, Turek, you are a football god!".<ref>Raupp 2019, pp. 109, 126-128.</ref> 

Proverbial in Germany are Zimmermann's description of the winning goal – "Bozsik, time and again Bozsik, the right half-back of the Hungarians, with the ball. He has lost the ball this time, to Schäfer... Schäfer has crossed, header... cleared. From the deep Rahn ought to shoot – Rahn shoots - GOAL!! GOAL!! GOAL!! GOAL!! ... Goal for Germany! ... Call me crazy, call me mental, I believe also football laymen should have a heart!" – and his jubilation at the end of the match: "Over! Over! Over! ... Over! The game is over!".{{sfn|Oswald|2006|pp=380}}{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=11, 12, 73}} Zimmermann also complimented the Hungarian team: "Next to them stand the Hungarians... the Hungarians, calm, collected. Kudos to these boys, who can lose so gracefully, who have demonstrated to be true World Champions: when they once get beaten, they carry the defeat with dignity."{{quote without source|date=August 2023}}

==Post-match and aftermath==

===Reaction in Hungary===
The loss came at a shock to Hungarian public. Spontaneous demonstrations erupted in Budapest and were directed not only against the team, but also the communist-authoritarian regime controlled by general secretary [[Mátyás Rákosi]], which had used the Golden Team's prestige to boost its own reputation.{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=142–4}} Goalkeeper Grosics characterized the post-match atmosphere in Hungary as follows:

{{Blockquote|"''The reaction in Hungary was terrible. Hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets in the hours after the match. On the pretext of football, they demonstrated against the regime ... in those demonstrations, I believe, lay the seeds of the 1956 uprising.''"<ref name="forever">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/a-game-that-changed-germany-and-hungary-forever-the-miracle-of-bern//|title=The miracle of Bern – a game that changed Germany and Hungary forever|first=Amlan|last=Majundar|publisher=theHardTackle|date=11 October 2012|access-date=7 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014011141/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/a-game-that-changed-germany-and-hungary-forever-the-miracle-of-bern//|archive-date=14 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Sebes was severely criticized for the team's selection and tactics, and blamed the negative reaction in part on Szepesi's emotional radio report. Sebes achieved that Szepesi was temporarily removed from commenting football matches for the [[Magyar Rádió|Hungarian State Radio]].{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=137–41}} The authorities revoked player privileges, such as the tacit approval of smuggling Western goods back to Hungary. Grosics – who some Hungarians blamed for the third German goal – was accused of espionage and treason, put temporarily under house arrest, and transferred against his will from [[Budapest Honvéd FC]] to the provincial team [[FC Tatabánya]].{{sfn|Kasza|2004|pp=147–50}}

===Reaction in Germany===
The unexpected win evoked a wave of euphoria throughout Germany, which suffered from a lack of international recognition in the aftermath of World War II, and where expressions of national pride were still tainted with the recent past.<ref>Schiller, Kay: Siegen für Deutschland? Patriotism, nationalism and the Germany national football team, 1954–2014. In: Historical Social Research 40 (2015), 4, pp. 176–196. URN: https://dx.doi.org/10.12759/hsr.40.2015.4.176-196; (full text in English) http://www.gesis.org/hsr/abstr/40-4/11schiller/</ref><ref>Diethelm Blecking: The 1954 "miracle of Bern": the political instrumentalization of a legend. In: Historical Social Research 40 (2015), 4, pp. 197–208. URN: https://dx.doi.org/10.12759/hsr.40.2015.4.197-208 (full text in German, abstract in English) http://www.gesis.org/hsr/abstr/40-4/12blecking/.</ref> Some publicists described the 1954 victory as a turning point in [[History of Germany since 1945|post-war German history]], notably Arthur Heinrich<ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.polisci.wisc.edu/schatzberg/ps616/Heinrich2003.pdf|title=The 1954 Soccer World Cup and the Federal Republic of Germany's Self-Discovery|first=Arthur|last=Heinrich|publisher=Sage Publications|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506232943/http://users.polisci.wisc.edu/schatzberg/ps616/Heinrich2003.pdf|archive-date=6 May 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{sfn|Heinrich|2004|pp=169–79}} and [[Joachim Fest]]. In Fest's words:

{{Blockquote|"''It was a kind of liberation for the Germans from all the things that weighed down upon them after the Second World War ... July 4, 1954 is in certain aspects the founding day of the German Republic.''"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/01/05/iraq.asia.six.games/|title=Five games that changed the world|first=James|last=Montague|publisher=CNN|date=13 January 2011|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729034347/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/01/05/iraq.asia.six.games/|archive-date=29 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

This World Cup final was also the first time since the [[World War II|Second World War]] that the [[Deutschlandlied|Germany national anthem]] was played at a global sporting event.{{sfn|Heinrich|2004|pp=100–03}}

===''Mighty Magyars'' and ''Heroes of Bern'' after 1954===
Hungary's Golden Team remained largely intact until the failed [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956]], except that coach Sebes was replaced with Bukovi in early 1956. After the revolution, Puskás, Czibor and Kocsis emigrated and, ultimately, continued their careers in Spain, playing for [[Real Madrid]] (Puskás) and [[FC Barcelona]] (Czibor and Kocsis), respectively. At the [[1958 FIFA World Cup]], only four players from the Mighty Magyars still featured – Bozsik, Budai, Grosics, Hidegkuti (Grosics would additionally play at the [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 World Cup]] as captain of the team) – but were unable to repeat earlier success. In the 1960s and beyond, Hidegkuti, Puskás, and Lóránt became prominent international coaches, managing clubs such as [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] (Puskás), [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] (Hidegkuti), and [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] (Lóránt). Lóránt's admission to the [[German Sport University Cologne]] was arranged by Herberger.<ref>{{cite web|title=Er entdeckte den totalen Fussball|author=Gyula Lóránt|work=Der Spiegel|date=18 March 1977|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-40941673.html |access-date=13 December 2016 |language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411122117/http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-40941673.html|archive-date=11 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Several other Golden Team members had success as coaches in the domestic [[Nemzeti Bajnokság I|Hungarian league]].

The West German players became instantaneously famous in Germany as the ''Heroes of Bern''.{{sfn|Heinrich|2004|pp=87–94}} Several received lucrative offers to play abroad, but none accepted, continuing instead as semi-professionals in German clubs. Herberger overhauled the national team after the tournament. Hence, of the winning 1954 side, only Eckel, Rahn, Schäfer, and a 37-year old Fritz Walter still played at the 1958 World Cup, reaching the semi-finals, and Schäfer would also play in 1962. Few of the 1954 World Champions went into coaching; an exception is Liebrich, who is credited with saving his home club Kaiserslautern from [[Bundesliga]] relegation in 1965 – with Lóránt becoming Liebrich's successor in the following season. Some players had difficulties to cope with fame, and struggled at times with economic problems and alcoholism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.das-wunder-von-bern.de/helden_rahn.htm|title=Helmut Rahn: der Boss|publisher=das-wunder-von-bern.de|access-date=13 December 2016|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614135705/http://www.das-wunder-von-bern.de/helden_rahn.htm|archive-date=14 June 2006|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.das-wunder-von-bern.de/helden_kohlmeyer.htm|title=Werner Kohlmeyer: Fussballer & Leichtathlet|publisher=das-wunder-von-bern.de|access-date=13 December 2016|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614140920/http://www.das-wunder-von-bern.de/helden_kohlmeyer.htm|archive-date=14 June 2006|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1990, after the fall of the [[Iron Curtain]], the [[German Football Association]] invited the surviving members of Hungary's 1954 team to join celebrations for Fritz Walter's 70th birthday.<ref name="bleibt"/> In the years that followed, both teams organized annual get-togethers, which Grosics described as follows:

{{Blockquote|"''I believe the friendship between the former Hungarian and German players can be called the world's most extraordinary. We met regularly over years and decades, alternately in Hungary and in Germany. I believe that these friendships were formed not only by the sport, but that high regard for the human beings also played a part. Between us such a relationship developed which, as I would like to stress once more, is unthinkable among national team players.''"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tyskforlaget.dk/WundervonBern/geschlagene_ungarn/grosics-ungarn.htm|title=Grosics: Waren überzeugt, die WM zu gewinnen|publisher=Tyskforlaget|access-date=9 December 2016|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717201629/http://www.tyskforlaget.dk/WundervonBern/geschlagene_ungarn/grosics-ungarn.htm|archive-date=17 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

In January 2015, the last surviving of the Golden Hungarian team, Jenő Buzánszky, died. The last surviving player from the match, Horst Eckel, died on 3 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ovalmauls.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/last-survivors-of-each-world-cup-final-1930-54/|title = Last survivors of each World Cup final (1930-54)|date = 12 July 2018}}</ref>

== In film ==
* ''[[The Miracle of Bern]] (Das Wunder von Bern)'', a 2003 German film directed by [[Sönke Wortmann]], had over six million cinema visitors.

==See also==
*[[Germany at the FIFA World Cup]]
*[[Hungary at the FIFA World Cup]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book |last=Escher |first=Tobias |title=Vom Libero zur Doppelsechs - eine Taktikgeschichte des deutschen Fußballs |year=2016 |publisher=Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag |location=Reinbek bei Hamburg |language=de |isbn=978-3-499-63138-2 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Heinrich |first=Arthur |title=3:2 für Deutschland – die Gründung der Bundesrepublik im Wankdorf-Stadion zu Bern |year=2004 |publisher=Verlag Die Werkstatt |location=Göttingen |language=de |isbn=978-3-89533-444-3 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Kasza |first=Peter |title=Fußball spielt Geschichte – das Wunder von Bern |year=2004 |publisher=be.bra verlag |location=Berlin |language=de |isbn=978-3-89809-046-9 }} {{Cite book |title=''Also published in Hungarian as:'' A Berni csoda – amikor a foci történelmet ír |year=2004 |publisher=Alexandra.hu |location=Pécs |isbn=978-9633688236 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia|editor1-last=Bösch |editor1-first=Frank |editor2-last=Borutta |editor2-first=Manuel |date=2006 |title=Emotionale 'Volksgemeinschaften': Das "Wunder von Bern" 1954 als Rundfunkereignis in Ungarn und Deutschland |encyclopedia=Die Massen bewegen: Medien und Emotionen in der Moderne |publisher=Campus Verlag |location=Frankfurt am Main |language=de |isbn=978-3-593-38200-5 |last=Oswald |first=Rudolf }}
* {{Cite book |last=Puskás |first=Ferenc |title=Captain of Hungary |year=1955 |publisher=Cassell & Co. |location=Stroud, Gloucestershire }}
* Raupp, Werner (2019). Toni Turek – „Fußballgott“. Eine Biographie (in German). Hildesheim: Arete Verlag. ISBN 978-3-96423-008-9. 
* {{Cite book |last=Sebes |first=Gusztáv |title=A magyar labdarúgás |year=1955 |publisher=Sport Lap- és Könyvkiadó |location=Budapest |language=hu |asin=B0018CL3XW }}
* {{Cite book |last=Walter |first=Fritz |title=3:2 |year=1954 |publisher=Copress Verlag in der Stiebner Verlag GmbH |location=Munich |language=de }}
* {{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Jonathan |title=Inverting the Pyramid – the History of Soccer Tactics |year=2013 |publisher=Nation Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1-56858-738-7 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131220184456/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/switzerland1954/index.html Tournament overview] 
*[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,948399,00.html "Mourning the Miracle of Bern"]

{{1954 FIFA World Cup}}
{{FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany national football team matches}}
{{Hungary national football team matches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1954 Fifa World Cup Final}}
[[Category:1954 FIFA World Cup]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup finals]]
[[Category:Germany national football team matches]]
[[Category:Hungary national football team matches]]
[[Category:West Germany at the 1954 FIFA World Cup|Final]]
[[Category:Hungary at the 1954 FIFA World Cup|Final]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Bern]]
[[Category:20th century in Bern]]
[[Category:July 1954 sports events in Europe]]
[[Category:Hungary–West Germany relations]]