Morale was at rock bottom as Nazi supporters and detractors were expected to live alongside each other as neighbors, and children were forced to reckon with their parents' generation's shameful past. The after effects of World War II had been catastrophic as Germany was split into four zones and lingering sanctions from the Allies restricted economic growth. But this was much more than just football." "Yes, it was a defining moment for the sport. "It was a defining moment for the entire country,” football writer and historian Uli Hesse told DW.
West German captain Fritz Walter and his Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Puskas shake hand pre-match Image: picture-alliance/AP
And one that simultaneously helped rebuild a nation's identity. The stage was set for a mauling, but what occurred was perhaps the greatest upset the World Cup has ever seen. Opponents Hungary, meanwhile, were undefeated in four years, boasted some of the standout stars in world football and were a professional outfit. The Germans were semi-professional at best, required by the German football authorities to hold down a ‘proper' job alongside their club contract to kick around a ball. West Germany captain Fritz Walter and his team had overcome hefty odds just to be at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland, and few gave them any chance against the Mighty Magyars of Hungary. As Ferenc Puskas lined up for the 1954 World Cup final, the world's greatest footballer at the time stood opposite a man trained as a banker who also ran a laundrette.
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