1962 World Cup in Chile: Czechoslovakia’s remarkable success, the battle for Santiago, Brazil’s second title

The 1962 World Championships were hosted by Chile and it was at this tournament that Czechoslovakia recorded one of the most significant successes across all world championships, winning silver medals. Brazil won gold and their second title overall, with the home country taking bronze. The tournament, however, offered many other curiosities, such as in the form of a raucous match between Chile and Italy.

A total of 16 teams took part in the 1962 World Cup in Chile, ten of them from the European continent – Spain, Yugoslavia, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, England, Germany, Hungary and the USSR.

The American continent had six representatives at this championship, namely Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia and Chile. The tournament was attended by 899,074 spectators, an average of 28,096 fans per game. Over the thirty-two matches at the 1962 World Cup in Chile, fans saw a total of 89 goals (2.78 per game).

Czechoslovakia’s great tournament, winning silver

The Czechoslovakian national team recorded one of the greatest successes in the history of the 1962 World Championships in Chile when they came away with silver medals.

Czechoslovakia entered the tournament with a win over Spain, then managed to draw with the later winners of the group stage (the Brazilians – ed.), but in the third group stage match the Czechoslovaks lost 1:3 to Mexico. Although Rudolf Vytlačil’s team was already certain to qualify.

In the quarter-finals of the tournament Vytlačil’s charges faced the determined Hungarians, whom they managed to defeat 1:0 and advance to the semi-finals. Adolf Scherer scored the only goal.

In the semi-finals, the Czechoslovak national team faced the second team of Group A, Yugoslavia. And despite this opponent they managed to advance. Josef Kadraba scored the first accurate shot, followed by Scherer’s equalising and decisive goal. Czechoslovakia thus defeated Yugoslavia 3:1 and advanced to the final.

In the final, the then team faced Brazil and even led 1:0 after Josef Masopust’s goal in the fifteenth minute. But then Amarildo, Zito and Vavá scored later in the match and the Brazilians won the gold medal. Czechoslovakia, however, won one of the most significant successes of our football in history.

For more information not only about Czechoslovakia’s performance, but about the 1962 World Cup in Chile in general, see the World Cup special attached above.

Golden Brazil

As we write above, the Brazilians were quite clear about the gold medals. They advanced from first place in Group C, beating Mexico 2-0, drawing with Czechoslovakia and beating Spain 2-1. In the quarter-finals, they won 3-1 against England, with the Brazilian star Garrincha scoring twice and another big name, Vava, scoring once.

Thanks to these two footballers, the Brazilian national team went through the semi-final match (4:2) with Chile somewhat smoothly and in the final defeated Czechoslovakia by another two-goal difference (3:1).

At that time, Brazil had indeed a tremendous offensive strength and this was what adorned them throughout the tournament. It should be noted that this topic is also discussed in detail in our above-mentioned special.

The big disappointment of Italy and Argentina, the home team bronze

Despite all the ambitions and expectations, the Italian national team failed to advance even out of the group, finishing with 3 points in third place in Group B behind Germany and Chile. The only win for the Italians came in their last match against Switzerland (3: 0).

Argentina also suffered the same fate in the group stage, finishing third in Group D behind England and first-placed Hungary. The Argentinians had the same number of points (3) as the first-named team, but it was England who advanced due to a better match (3: 1).

Like Italy, the Argentine national team had only one win, in the opening group match against Bulgaria (1: 0).

All in all, the home team made their fans very happy. Although Chile did not advance from the first place in their group, they still went far. In the quarter-finals, the Chilean national team faced the Soviet Union, which they defeated 2-1.

In the semi-final, however, Chile fell to Brazil (2: 4). The Chilean national team had to play the bronze medal match, from which they emerged victorious, beating Yugoslavia 1:0.

The 1962 World Cup in Chile offered another great and very attractive sporting spectacle, but in addition to that, all the participants also had a lot of political influence. You can find out more about this topic in our special, as well as what happened in the match between Chile and Italy, which is still known as the “Battle of Santiago”.

1. episode: 1930 World Cup in Uruguay

2. episode:: 1934 World Cup in Italy

3. episode: WSC 1938 in France

4. episode:: World Cup 1950 in Brazil

5. episode:: 1954 World Cup in Switzerland

6. episode:: WSC 1958 in Sweden

8. episode:: WSC 1966 in England

9. episode:: World Championship 1970 in Mexico

10. episode:: MS 1974 in Germany

Sources: FIFA, ESPN