Editing 1958 FIFA World Cup (section)

==Group stage==

===Group 1===
{{Main|1958 FIFA World Cup Group 1}}

The West Germans, surprise world champions four years before, were still very strong, and fielded an exciting young forward in [[Uwe Seeler]]. The Germans had to contend with a real powerhouse in Argentina's team, competing for the first time since 1934. In fact, some experts{{who|date=December 2013}} thought Argentina had a very realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals or even winning the World Cup this time.
Czechoslovakia was a fairly strong team with a rich football tradition, and was considered to be no walkover for the West Germans or the Argentinians. 

Nobody expected much from tiny newcomers Northern Ireland. But the Northern Irish had already shown that they could be a danger by knocking out double world champions Italy in World Cup qualifying.
In the end, the Northern Irish pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup Finals history by qualifying for the quarter-finals, beating Czechoslovakia in a play-off. 

Argentina experienced a [[Disaster of Sweden|horrible blow]] finishing last in the group with a −5 goal differential. Arriving home, the Argentinian team met the wrath of several thousand angry football fans at [[Ezeiza International Airport|Ezeiza Airport]] in [[Buenos Aires]].<ref>''Mundo Deportivo'', 23 June 1958; ''El Grafico'', 27 June 1958.</ref>

{{#lst:1958 FIFA World Cup Group 1|Standings}}

* Northern Ireland finished ahead of Czechoslovakia by winning a play-off

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====Play-off====
{{#lst:1958 FIFA World Cup Group 1|1-PO}}

===Group 2===
{{Main|1958 FIFA World Cup Group 2}}

The second group saw the largest number of goals scored in a single group in the 1958 World Cup, with 31 goals in total (~5.16 goals per game). Just Fontaine of France scored 6 of his 13 goals in the tournament, making him the tournament's top scorer going into the quarter-finals.

The teams in this group had not seen significant success in past World Cups. France, even as hosts in [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]], did not secure notable achievements; Yugoslavia failed to match their 1930 semi-final run, and both Paraguay and Scotland entered the tournament as underdogs.

France won the group ahead of Yugoslavia and would go on to finish third.

{{#lst:1958 FIFA World Cup Group 2|Standings}}

* France finished ahead of Yugoslavia on goal average

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===Group 3===
{{Main|1958 FIFA World Cup Group 3}}

The Swedish hosts could count themselves lucky in ending up in a rather weak group, which they proceeded to win fairly easily with their powerful, workmanlike football. The group included [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] which had been considered by far the best team in the world some years ago, although the Hungarians could not beat [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] in the final of the [[1954 FIFA World Cup|World Cup in 1954]]. But the Hungarian team had been dealt a blow by the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956]] after which star players like [[Sándor Kocsis]] and [[Ferenc Puskás]] left their homeland. Striker [[Nándor Hidegkuti]] was still playing, but he was by now 36 years old and nowhere near his peak form.

In spite of Hungary's recent travails, they were still considered a strong side and were expected to advance from their group. The success of [[Wales national football team|Wales]] was a surprise but they drew all their group games and beat the Hungarians in a play-off match to follow Sweden into the knock-out stage. Wales played Brazil in the quarterfinals and became the recipient of young [[Pelé]]'s first World Cup goal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/8957288.stm|title=BBC Sport archive: 1958 - Wales 0-1 Brazil|date=1 September 2010|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

The 1–1 draw between Wales and Mexico was the first point scored by Mexico in a World Cup, having lost all eight matches in their previous three appearances in the World Cup, as well as their first match in this group against Sweden. To date, no other team has ever lost nine consecutive games in the World Cup.

The match between Hungary and Wales in [[Sandviken]] became the northernmost World Cup match in history.

{{#lst:1958 FIFA World Cup Group 3|Standings}}

* Wales finished ahead of Hungary by winning a play-off

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====Play-off====
{{#lst:1958 FIFA World Cup Group 3|3-PO}}

===Group 4===
{{Main|1958 FIFA World Cup Group 4}}

Despite setbacks in earlier tournaments, Brazil was still regarded as a formidable force, a reputation they would go on to justify. The Soviet Union, having clinched the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|Olympic gold]] in 1956, and Austria, securing the bronze medal at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, were also strong contenders. England, despite being weakened by the tragic [[Munich air disaster]] that claimed several players, remained a team of considerable strength.

In the end, this group had the highest average attendance (31,320 per game), even higher than Group 3 with the host nation, Sweden.

The quality of the football in this group did not quite live up to expectations, however. Only 15 goals were scored in the whole group, only one more than Group 3. And when England and Brazil drew 0–0, it was the first time in World Cup history that a game ended goalless. It was also the first time Brazil had failed to score in a World Cup finals match.

Brazil won the group without conceding a single goal. The teenage Pelé played Brazil's last game against the Soviet Union. He did not score but drew wild reviews for his play. The Soviet Union, in their first World Cup, took second place.

{{#lst:1958 FIFA World Cup Group 4|Standings}}

* The Soviet Union finished ahead of England by winning a play-off

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====Play-off====
{{#lst:1958 FIFA World Cup Group 4|4-PO}}