A window into the past: 1962 Chile or World silver with a glint of gold

Although sixty years have passed, it is impossible to forget. And it mustn’t. In 1962, the Czechoslovak team won silver medals at the World Championships in Chile, defeating the defending champions Brazil 1:3 in the final.

Many years have passed, but the patina that covers this achievement has not faded, on the contrary, it still shines, because this success has not been followed up. That is why it must be remembered. The book Chile 1962, subtitled World Silver with a Glitter of Gold, is published by Time.

After all these years, is it still worth discussing what has happened in the stadiums of the South American country? The answer can be found right in the publication.

Intelligent and pure football. This is how Sepp Herbergger, the coach of the 1954 West German champions, described the game of the defeated Czechoslovak finalists in the 1962 World Cup final. He had a lot to say about it, as his underrated team beat the highly favoured Hungarians in the gold medal match with a squad full of stars.

He stood up to them with a collective performance.

It’s strange, but it seems as if German teamwork is what characterises the best football teams ever born in Czechoslovakia or its two successor states.

There seems to be a connection between the Germanic and Slavic approach to things, although the stereotypical characterizations speak mainly of the differences.

As it turns out, even after 60 years, there is much to talk about, much to explore, and even much to discover. This is evidenced by the following example.

In a reflection, someone recently suggested to consider the then Czechoslovakian team as the best team that did not win the World Cup. Even in competition with the Hungarians of 1954, the Dutch of 1974 and the Argentines of 2014. It is an honour. It’s not glory. It’s an award, a recognition, a tribute. It’s nothing to build on. It’s nothing to build on defeat… But!

What defeat! On the way to the final in Santiago, the Czechoslovakians achieved so many victories. If it wasn’t for some of them, there would be no silver. Yes, that team has learned to win, that’s why they could afford to surprise even the famous and amazing Brazilians in the final, before giving them an honourable concession.

The reader will find similar reflections, interviews with still-living legends, stories of heroes in their subsequent football careers and other interesting insights that have escaped a little attention in the course of the falling years in Chile 1962 – World Silver with a Glint of Gold, published by Time.