This day in World Cup history - July 4

Jul 4, 2006, 9:41 GMT

Berlin - This day in World Cup history - July 4

July 4

1954 - The miracle of Berne. Germany beat Hungary - who were till that date considered invincible - 3-2 in the final in the Swiss city. The Hungarians were leading 2-0 after just eight minutes, but the Germans had equalised just ten minutes later. Striker Helmut Rahn scored his second for Germany six minutes from the end to give Germany their first title. Just over two weeks before Hungary had trounced Germany 8-3 in a group match.

1961 - Referee Valentin Ivanov is born. The Russian established a new world record in the match between Netherlands and Portugal in the round of 16 at the finals in Germany when he sent off four players and flashed 16 yellow cards. Ivanov's handling of the game beat the 16 yellow cards and two red cards that Spanish referee Antonio Lopez Nieto issued in the group match between Cameroon and Germany in Shizuoka during the 2002 finals.

1973 - Australian Tony Popovic is born. The defender is a member of the Australian squad at the 2006 World Cup. He plays only 41 minutes in the group phase against the Brazilians. The Socceroos lose 2-0, but still go through to the next stage where they come within a few seconds of holding the more fancied Italians to a draw in the second round.

1982 - Poland take on the Soviet Union in a match in the second group phase in Barcelona. The match is politically highly charged as the Solidarity trade union was making political inroads into Polish society - much to the annoyance of Moscow. A huge banner saying Solidarnosc is hung in the stadium, but the Soviet delegation demand that it is taken down. Officials agree in the 65th minute of the game and the Soviet players are booed every time they touch the ball thereafter. The game ends goalless and Poland advance to the semi- finals.