Host country Finland Venue(s) 6 (in 5 host cities) Runners-up Yugoslavia | Dates July 15 – August 2 Champions Hungary | |
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Teams 25 (from 5 (plus Great Britain) confederations) | ||
The Football tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics was won by Hungary.
Contents
- Preliminary round highlights
- First round highlights
- Quarter finals
- Semi finals
- Bronze Medal
- Gold and Silver Medals
- Goalscorers
- References
The games signalled the arrival (to Western Europeans at least) of the Hungarian national football team – the "Magical Magyars". Ferenc Puskás later said of the 1952 competition: "It was during the Olympics that our football first started to flow with real power." It was during the Games that Stanley Rous of English Football Association invited the Hungarians to play a friendly at Wembley the following year.
Preliminary round highlights
The preliminary round saw Hungary record a narrow victory against Romania, whilst there was an 8–0 victory for Italy against the United States, and a 5–1 victory for Brazil against The Netherlands. Great Britain succumbed to Luxembourg 5–3, whilst Egypt defeated Chile 5–4. Yugoslavia were drawn against the Indians, who decided to play without boots; Yugoslavia won 10–1.
First round highlights
The First round saw Scandinavian countries join the competition; the hosts Finland were beaten 3–4 by Austria, whilst Sweden defeated neighbours Norway 4–1. The game of the round was between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union; Yugoslavia had been 5–1 ahead with 30 minutes of the match to go, only for the Soviet captain Bobrov to score a hat-trick and inspire his team to an eventual 5–5 draw. A replay resulted in a 3–1 victory for Yugoslavia; the Soviet side had been expected by Moscow to win the 1952 Games, and their defeat by Yugoslavia was not mentioned in the Soviet press until after Stalin's death the following year.
Quarter finals
Sweden defeated Austria to ensure a Scandinavian presence in the semi-finals. Germany surprisingly beat Brazil 4–2 after extra time, whilst Yugoslavia won comfortably in a 5–3 defeat of Denmark. Hungary demolished Turkey 7–1 to complete the four semi-finalists.
Semi finals
In the first semi final, Hungary saw off Sweden with a comprehensive 6–0 victory, whilst Yugoslavia beat Germany 3–1 to set up a Hungary-Yugoslavia final.
Bronze Medal
There was some consolation for the Scandinavian countries as Sweden defeated Germany 2–0 in the third place play-off to secure the bronze medal.
Gold and Silver Medals
Two goals from Puskás and Zoltán Czibor saw Hungary beat Yugoslavia and take the gold medal.