Spurs at the World Cup | 1958

It all starts with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the famous Azteca (now known as the Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City on Thursday, 11 June (8pm UK).

Co-hosted by USA and Canada, this will be the 23rd World Cup, the inaugural tournament back in 1930.

As we build up to the summer’s football fest, we take a look at the Spurs players to feature on the greatest stage of all…

Spurs at the World Cup | 1958 – Danny Blanchflower

Danny Blanchflower will always be remembered as one of our greatest and there was a great deal of pride around White Hart Lane when he had the chance to appear on the biggest stage of all in 1958.

So many great players - the likes of George Best and Ryan Giggs are always famous examples - never had the opportunity of gracing a World Cup Finals. Blanchflower was a key figure in Northern Ireland’s team in the late 1950s and with his drive, commitment and inspiration, he helped his nation to the final stages in Sweden in 1958.

Northern Ireland began their first-ever World Cup in fine fashion, beating Czechoslavakia 1-0 thanks to Wilbur Cush’s 16th-minute goal in Halmstad, before losing 3-1 to Argentina, despite taking a third-minute lead. With Blanchflower at the heart of the side, they then held Germany to a 2-2 draw with striker Peter McParland scoring both goals, and that result led to a play-off with the Czechs to determine who would join Germany in the next round, after both sides had finished level on points.

McParland was again the hero, adding another double to his tally, as the Irish edged home 2-1 after extra time to set up a quarter-final against the much-fancied French. It proved a step too far for Blanchflower and his team-mates, with France running out 4-0 winners to send Northern Ireland back home, although they returned with heads held high.

Blanchflower captained our Spurs side to the famous ‘Double’ in 1961, but during the course of that season, he was also attempting to get his Northern Ireland side back to the World Cup, for the 1962 tournament. It wasn’t to be though, as Germany won their qualifying group and so brought to an end Danny’s association with the World Cup.

Signed from Aston Villa in December 1954, Danny was Bill Nicholson’s voice on the pitch and the team’s leader in the glory, glory days of the early 1960s, lifting the title in 1961, the FA Cup in 1961 and 1962 and European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963. He made 382 appearances before retiring in 1964.

Mel Hopkins, Cliff Jones, Terry Medwin

Wales’ first appearance in the World Cup Finals was also in 1958 with three of our players playing key roles. Mel Hopkins (signed in 1952) and Terry Medwin (1956) were established at the Lane and joined by mercurial winger Cliff Jones in 1958.

All three went to Sweden - full-back Hopkins and Jones featured in all five matches the Welsh played in Sweden, as they reached the quarter-finals only to lose to eventual champions Brazil, while Medwin played in four games, scoring a vital winner in their Group Three play-off against Hungary to book their place in the last eight.

The quarter-final is part of Wales footballing folklore. All three of our players lined-up against the eventual champions, spearheaded by a young Pele, 17, and featuring all-time greats Garrincha and Didi. Hampered by the loss of one of their all-time greats, John Charles, Wales went toe-to-toe with the Seleção, losing via a deflected goal from Pele – his first at the World Cup.

“That day, our full-back Mel Hopkins never gave Pele a kick, he was magnificent against him,” recalls Cliff. “But I feel to this day, that if John Charles was fit and playing, it could have been a different result.”

Cliff made 378 appearances for us, 1958-68, scoring 159 goals. Mel made 240 appearances, 1952-64. Terry made 215 appearances and scored 72 goals, 1956-63.