Brazil, inspired by teenage sensation Pele, became the first team to win the World Cup outside their own continent.

English-born manager George Raynor succeeding in steering host nation Sweden to the final.

But the Brazilians, blessed with the combined attacking talents of Pele, Garrincha and Didi proved too strong.

This was the most representative tournament to date as 46 of the 53 original entries played 89 qualifying games and no team - other than the host nation and holders - had a bye to the finals.

England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all reached the finals and while the Scots disappointed, finishing bottom of their group, Wales and Northern Ireland made the quarter finals and England, who had lost Roger Byrne, Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor in the Munich air disaster the previous February, only failed to do so when losing a play-off against the USSR for second place in their group.

West Germany won a fiercely contested Group one, striker Rahn hitting the net in every match as his team remained unbeaten despite stiff competition from runners-up Northern Ireland and a Czechoslovakian side who thrashed Argentina 6-1 in the final match in this section.

Group two saw France progress on goal difference despite losing to Yugoslavia, the brilliant Just Fontaine leading the way with six goals in three matches.

Hosts Sweden delighted the crowds in Stockholm by beating Mexico 3-0 on the opening day of the tournament and never looked back, battling their way to the quarter-finals.

Wales drew their three group games but beat Hungary 2-1 in a play-off for second place behind Sweden.

Brazil cruised into the latter stages without conceding a goal in Group four. England had, like Wales, drawn their group games including a creditable 0-0 against Brazil.

They met the USSR in Gothenburg with a quarter final place at stake but went down 1-0.

Brazil needed a Pele goal to see off gallant Wales in the quarter finals and Northern Ireland, ravaged by injuries, were beaten 4-0 by France, Fontaine claiming two more goals.

Fans in Stockholm went wild again as the hosts sent the USSR packing with two second half goals separating the sides and West Germany moved through to the semi-finals, Rahn typically scoring the only goal as they beat Yugoslavia in Malmo.

Veteran stars grabbed the glory in Gothenberg as Sweden reached the final, in controversial circumstances. The home side came from behind to win with second half goals from 37-year-old Gunnar Gren and Kurt Hamrin after German left-back Juskowiak had been sent off for retaliation.

Brazil enjoyed the better of a free-flowing semi-final against the French in Stockholm, Pele's hat-trick spurring them on to a 5-2 victory.

France gained a measure of compensation by smashing six past German keeper Kwiatkowski in the third-place play-off, including four from Fontaine who finished up with 13 in total.

But Pele, Garrincha and Didi took centre stage in the Stockholm final.

Not even home advantage and bad weather could save Sweden from the silky skills of the South Americans.

A goal from Liedholm after just four minutes put them ahead before, prompted by the brilliance of Garrincha, Brazil took control.

Pele and Vava scored two apiece as the valiant home side fell apart and crashed to a 5-2 defeat.