On May 29 in sports history, one significant event took place in 1954 during the FIFA World Cup final in Bern, Switzerland. The match was played between West Germany and Hungary, two of the strongest teams of the era.
Hungary, known as the "Mighty Magyars," were the overwhelming favorites to win the tournament. Led by legendary players like Ferenc Puskás and Sándor Kocsis, they had not lost a match since 1950 and had beaten West Germany 8-3 in the group stage earlier in the tournament.
In the final, Hungary took an early 2-0 lead within the first eight minutes, and it seemed like they were on their way to a comfortable victory. However, West Germany fought back with determination. Max Morlock scored in the 10th minute to make it 2-1, and then Helmut Rahn equalized in the 18th minute, bringing the score to 2-2.
The match remained tied until the 84th minute when Helmut Rahn scored his second goal of the game, giving West Germany a surprising 3-2 lead. Despite Hungary's efforts to equalize, West Germany held on to their lead, securing a historic upset victory.
This match became known as the "Miracle of Bern" due to West Germany's unexpected triumph over the heavily favored Hungarian team. It marked West Germany's first World Cup title and is considered one of the greatest upsets in football history. The victory also played a significant role in helping to restore German pride and unity in the post-war era.
