THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
THE SHADOW
Sweden, 1958. Four months before the tournament, Manchester United's plane crashed at Munich; goalkeeper Harry Gregg survived and went on to play at the World Cup. Argentina suffered their worst defeat, 6–1 to Czechoslovakia, and had coins thrown at them when they flew home.
THE REVOLUTION
Brazil arrived with a team psychologist, João Carvalhaes, coach Vicente Feola and a switch from the W-M to 4-2-4. A 17-year-old Pelé came in for the third group match and never left the side. He scored a hat-trick in the 5–2 semi-final win over France. Just Fontaine scored 13 goals, a record that still stands.
THE FINAL
Råsunda, 29 June 1958. Brazil's kit clashed with Sweden's, so they played in plain blue shirts bought in Stockholm that morning, the crest hand-sewn on. Sweden led through Liedholm; Vavá scored twice, Pelé twice and Zagallo once. Brazil 5–2: their first World Cup.
MORE FROM THE WORLD CUP UNIVERSE
THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.