The 1954 World Cup was the first to be staged in Europe after the Second World War. This edition is synonymous with the ‘Miracle of Bern’ in the final and an unprecedented flood of goals. Unsurprisingly, Switzerland 1954 still holds the record for the highest goals-per-game average in World Cup history, with a remarkable 5.38 goals per match. Switzerland were appointed hosts unopposed at the FIFA Congress in 1946. The decision made sense: the country housed FIFA’s headquarters and 1954 marked the organisation’s 50th anniversary. This tournament also saw West Germany and Japan permitted to participate for the first time. Several nations, including East Germany, Poland, Argentina and Taiwan, withdrew or declined to take part in the qualification process. Facts and Figures of the 1954 World Cup Switzerland 1954 featured a number of unique quirks that set it apart from other editions. Here are some of the standout facts from the first post-war World Cup in Europe: * Seeded tea...
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