Football: 1958 World Cup - Brazil get first title

PARIS - Brazil finally won their first World Cup at the 1958 tournament held in Sweden.

In their first-round match against the Soviet Union, the South Americans introduced two new players, a bandy-legged little winger called Manuel Francisco dos Santos, known as Garrincha, and a 17-year-old called Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or more simply, Pele.

France, another revelation, boasted a star striker of their own in Just Fontaine, who was to set an astonishing World Cup scoring record of 13 goals in a single tournament, but they were swept aside 6-3 in the semi-finals by Brazil as Pele fired in a hat-trick.

Hosts Sweden rode the support of the home fans into the final by beating holders West Germany in the last four. But in the final they too were undone by the boys from Brazil, Pele and Vava grabbing two each in a 5-2 demolition.

At the end of the match, the Swedish crowd rose to salute the Brazilians, and in particular their young prodigy Pele, who was writing the first of many glorious chapters in World Cup history.

true

A boy wearing a Brazilian jersey and a girl remain at a road decorated for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO

Final

June 29, 1958 - Sweden 2 Brazil 5

1958 WORLD CUP LEGEND

Valdir Pereira DIDI

Brazil: b. 1928, d. 2001

Midfield star of the 1958 and 1962 World Cups who as a coach led Peru to the 1970 World Cup quarter-finals.

Spent six months in a wheelchair as a 14-year-old after a kick on his right leg resulted in an abscess and almost meant an amputation.

Perfected the curving free-kicks known as 'folha seca' (dry leaf) through hours of solitary practice.

Rated the world's best player in 1958 and joined Real Madrid, where Alfredo di Stefano waged a determined campaign to boycott him.

He eventually returned to Brazil and helped Botafogo win the 1961 and 1962 league titles as well as playing in Brazil's six games in the 1962 World Cup for a second winner's medal.

1958 WORLD CUP SCORERS

Just Fontaine (FRA) 13

Pele (BRA) 6

Helmut Rahn (GER) 6

Peter McParland (NIR) 5

Vava (BRA) 5

Agne Simonsson (SWE) 4

Kurt Hamrin (SWE) 4

Zdenek Zikan (CZE) 4

Lajos Tichy (HUN) 4

1958 WORLD CUP TRIVIA

- This was the first World Cup without the founder, Jules Rimet, who died on October 16, 1956 in Paris aged 83.

- For the first and only time all four British countries qualified, with Wales and Northen Ireland, who ousted Italy, making their debuts. The Soviet Union, featuring the legendary Lev Yashin in goal, were also making their first appearance in the World Cup finals.

- The first ever recorded 0-0 draw in the World Cup was in Group Four when England held mighty Brazil in Gothenburg.

- Brazil introduced a revolutionary new way of playing, with a 4-2-4 formation based on dynamic wing play.

- Brazil's 5-2 victory over Sweden remains the highest score in a World Cup final.

1958 WORLD CUP WINNING SQUAD

Brazil

Goalkeepers: Castilho, Gilmar

Defenders: Bellini (capt), De Sordi, Djalma Santos, Nilton Santos, Orlando, Zozimo

Midfielders: Didi, Dino, Mauro

Forwards: Canhoteiro, Dida, Garrincha, Gino, Joel, Mazola, Moacyr, Pele, Pepe, Vava, Zagalo

Coach: Moreira