The 1954 finals in Switzerland were memorable for what many regard as the finest exhibition of World Cup football by a Hungarian side featuring the legendary Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis, Nandor Hidegkuti and Josef Bozsik.

But while the 'Magical Magyars' dazzled with their skills they were also involved in an infamous and shameful encounter - dubbed `The Battle of Berne' - with Brazil in the quarter-finals.

The Hungarians began the tournament at full thrust scoring 17 goals in their first two games - South Korea and West Germany were thrashed 9-0 and 8-3 respectively - and comfortably won their group.

But then came the notorious meeting with Brazil when English referee Arthur Ellis sent off three players.

Brazil's Nilton Santos and Hungary's Bozsik were given their marching orders for fighting and Brazil's Humberto also saw red in a bad-tempered second-half.

Hidegkuti and Kocsis gave Hungary an early 2-0 lead but Djalma Santos pulled a goal back with a penalty before the break. Lantos made it 3-1 with another penalty.

Midway through the second half Julinho's solo goal gave Brazil hope but a minute from time Kocsis' second goal on the break sealed a Hungarian victory.

After the skullduggery on the pitch there was worse violence to follow in the dressing rooms after the match. Bottles and football boots were swung and Gustav Sebes had his cheek cut open.

Uruguay beat England by the same 4-2 scoreline in their quarter final clash in Basle but this game was not marred by violence.

England's side included Stanley Matthews, now aged 39, Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse and Billy Wright but they paid a heavy price for having a suspect keeper in Gil Merrick. He ought to have saved at least two of the Uruguayan goals.

Borges fired Uruguay ahead and although Lofthouse equalised, sparking a spell of English domination, Merrick was beaten by a Varela shot he ought to have stopped two minutes from the break. Schiaffino immediately made it 3-1 and England had a mountain to climb.

Tom Finney pulled a goal back after 67 minutes to throw England a lifeline and Matthews hit a post but Ambrois wrapped up victory for Uruguay with 13 minutes remaining courtesy of another Merrick blunder.

In the remaining quarter-finals, Austria beat hosts Switzerland 7-5 in a remarkable match in Lausanne and West Germany saw off Yugoslavia 2-0 in Geneva.

Hungary beat Uruguay 4-2 after extra time in the semi-finals - in one of the classic matches in World Cup history.

Injuries deprived Hungary of Puskas and Uruguay of Varela but they still produced an intriguing match that could have gone either way.

Czibor volleyed Hungary ahead in the first half and Hidegkuti made it 2-0 with a diving header shortly after the break.

But Uruguay rallied strongly and drew level with two goals from Hohberg to force the game into extra time.

But two Kocsis headers sealed Uruguay's fate and earned Hungary a final showdown with West Germany.

Puskas defied an ankle injury to play and Hungary were 2-0 up in eight minutes through goals from Puskas and Czibor. But Morlock and Rahn quickly hauled the Germans level and Rahn claimed a second half winner.