Groups of Death in World Cup History

The 1958 World Cup in Sweden witnessed the first true Group of Death, with three traditional soccer powers competing and the USSR and England needing a one-game playoff to decide who would advance. Brazil progressed from Group 4 -- and ultimately won the Cup -- behind the deft dribbling of Garrincha and the precocious Pelé, who made his debut as a 17-year-old prodigy in Brazil's third group match against the Soviets, who also moved on by beating England in a playoff. Austria, overmatched by the three titans of the group, managed just a 2-2 tie against an England side weakened by the death of star Duncan Edwards in the Munich Air Disaster.