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On this day: Visiting Hungary humble England at Wembley

Sixty-two years ago today at Wembley, England were hammered 6-3 at the hands of a Ferenc Puskas-inspired Hungary.

There are certain matches in the history of international football that will never be forgotten.

Uruguay beating their Brazilian counterparts in the 1950 World Cup final, Brazil thrashing Italy to lift the trophy 20 years later and Denmark's remarkable triumph over Germany at Euro 1992 are just three examples of games that rocked the footballing world.

A file picture taken 21 November 1953 shows Hungarian football legend Ferenc Puskas (C) training with French car maker Renault workers in the western Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt ahead of the match opposing Hungary to England at Wembley© Getty Images

However, the encounter that perhaps had the biggest impact of them all took place at Wembley 62 years ago today when England - the self-appointed masters of football - played host to Hungary.

The visiting Hungarians may have made the trip as Olympic champions that had not been defeated in the previous three years, but the fact that England had never lost a home encounter to non-British or Irish opposition meant that they were the big favourites to win this friendly.

But, while they may not have been household names on English shores, this was a Hungary team that was skippered by the great Ferenc Puskas, as well as containing the likes of Zoltan Czibor and Sandor Kocsis, both of whom would go on to make names for themselves at Barcelona.

An estimated 120,000 people packed into the London venue, yet they were stunned into silence within the opening 45 seconds when Hungary broke the deadlock. The ball fell kindly for Nandor Hidegkuti and he duly fired it beyond the reach of England goalkeeper Gil Merrick.

The home side equalised in the 13th minute through Sheffield Wednesday's Jackie Sewell, but from that moment onwards, the team that ended up being dubbed 'The Mighty Magyars' took complete control of proceedings.

Hidegkuti restored his side's lead in the 20th minute, before Puskas took centre stage. He made it 3-1 after his drag back had left England captain Billy Wright bamboozled and a second Puskas goal followed soon after as he flicked the ball inside the far post.

In response, Stan Mortensen reduced the arrears before the break with a low drive that got the better of Gyula Grosics in the away side's goal, although any hopes of an England comeback were extinguished by two quickfire Hungarian goals after the restart.

Midfielder Jozsef Bozsik scored the best goal of the afternoon with a shot from 20 yards out that arrowed into the top corner and then moments later the clinical Hidegkuti completed his hat-trick from close range.

The final say went to England when the country's future manager Alf Ramsey scored from the penalty spot, but the damage had long been done.

The late Sir Bobby Robson, who watched the match, later said: "The game had a profound effect, not just on myself, but on all of us. That one game alone changed our thinking. We thought we would demolish this team. England at Wembley - we are the masters, they are the pupils. It was absolutely the other way."

England: Merrick; Ramsey, Wright, Johnston, Eckersley; Dickinson, Taylor, Sewell, Matthews, Robb; Mortensen

Hungary: Grosics (Geller); Buzanszky, Lorant, Zakarias, Lantos; Bozsik, Hidegkuti, Budai, Czibor; Puskas, Kocsis

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Written by
Liam Apicella
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