This tournament aroused big expectations on the South American lands. Even before the first whistle there were surprises and uncertainties. The Brazilian team seemed to be the most prominent, renowned and scary. Although already in the second match they lost their main figure Pele.

Uncertainty? Yes, because after having played two times consecutively in the Champions League, the American federations obtained the right to hold the World Cup in South America. But Chile didn’t get this right so easily. They had started the process of urban modernization, but everything changed on 21 May 1960. The Great Chilean earthquake happened in Valdivia, which wiped out numerous cities. And the death toll was more than 50 thousand. But different football federations helped to make this World Cup real.

56 teams in the qualifying stage was a record. France and Sweden failed in qualification, which was the first sensation of the tournament. The other surprise for the organizers was the Peruvian failure. Colombia eliminated them despite all the predictions.

Brazil appeared as the front-runner for the World Cup title. But their main figure, Pele, was a problem. He was 21 and the first round exacerbated his injury.

Pele played only in the group stage

With Zagallo and Pele’s goals Brazil won Mexico 2-0. After the second match against Czechoslovakia Brazilian number 10 couldn’t continue further. The King didn´t play a match at this World Cup afterwards.

The other prominent match was Chile vs. Italy. There was a range of violent actions that weren't sanctioned by the referee. Chile won 2-0 and made it to the second round. Four teams went straight to the final round: Brazil, Chile, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. The home team was placed third after beating Yugoslavia 1-0. Brazil even without Pele obtained the second title after beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final. Forwards Garrincha and Vava were the greatest figures. Didi, who later became coach of the Peruvian team at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, and defender Zozimo Alves Calazaes, who became a coach for Sport Boys and in 1976 made them runners-up, also played in this match.

Despite the Brazilian triumph, the 1962 World Cup was remembered as a sad event with numerous incidents. For example, on the third day of the tournament there had already been 34 injured footballers. On the fourth day it increased to 50 and in total there were three leg fractures, a broken septum and thigh. Nevertheless, as it always happens in football, everyone enjoyed every game and lived with the World Cup passion.

Garrincha was the best Brazilian player. He scored 4 goals.

Peru without the World Cup

In 1961 the Peruvian team had an objective to beat Colombia in both away and home matches to get to the World Cup 1962 in Chile. Peru could rely on crowd support even down South in Chile as they would have played in Arica, where they could feel like home as it was so close to the Peruvian border. However, it didn't happen and Colombia was the country that went further. At the same time they got into the World Cup for the first time.

Marcos Calderon was the coach of La Blanquirroja. He felt very confident about winning of coffee growers and getting into the Cup, so for these matches he didn’t invite the footballers who were abroad: Victor “Conejo” Benitez Morales and Miguel Loayza, who played for Boca Juniors, Juan Seminario from Zaragoza and Juan Joya from Penarol.

Peru lost 1-0 in the away match in Colombia. But during the home match that took place in Lima, the two-colour equalised 1-1 against coffee growers and Peru was left behind.

Source: Todo Sport